Weird guinea egg... day 18

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

It’s day 21 for this egg. What day should I lockdown? It is a staggered hatch so I’m very concerned. I think In 4 days I will take out the automatic turner for it. I work though and will not be home during the day to turn the eggs that still need turned, and I do not have another incubator. I’m also very concerned it won’t be able to pip and will suffocate because I won’t be home to help it. Do you think it will pip in the small end since that’s where the air cell is? The air cell is still on top but has grown a bit in size. It is still alive and moving.

 

[R2elk]

It’s day 21 for this egg. What day should I lockdown? It is a staggered hatch so I’m very concerned. I think In 4 days I will take out the automatic turner for it. I work though and will not be home during the day to turn the eggs that still need turned, and I do not have another incubator. I’m also very concerned it won’t be able to pip and will suffocate because I won’t be home to help it. Do you think it will pip in the small end since that’s where the air cell is? The air cell is still on top but has grown a bit in size. It is still alive and moving.

I lock down my guinea eggs on day 25.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

I lock down my guinea eggs on day 25.

Ok thanks. I was thinking around then but wanted to be sure.
here’s some pictures of the egg today. The air cell has grown some.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

These videos are pretty bad quality but it was moving around when I candled it.

 

[yakitori]

ooh, I had (as in ate) a duck egg yesterday that had the air sac on the pointy end too. Something seemed off when I peeled the egg, but I couldn't put a finger on it. I guess you learn something new everyday!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Ok thanks. I was thinking around then but wanted to be sure.
here’s some pictures of the egg today. The air cell has grown some.

Wow! I hope it hatches! Have you read the assisted hatching article on BYCs? I would think that their egg has a high chance of needing assistance, and I understand that this is a particularly important egg...

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

ooh, I had (as in ate) a duck egg yesterday that had the air sac on the pointy end too. Something seemed off when I peeled the egg, but I couldn't put a finger on it. I guess you learn something new everyday!

Wow! I wonder if this is a common occurrence?

Wow! I hope it hatches! Have you read the assisted hatching article on BYCs? I would think that their egg has a high chance of needing assistance, and I understand that this is a particularly important egg...

Thanks so much for all your help. Yes I am very familiar with Pyxis’s article. I have done many assisted hatches but they have all been on ducklings. Is the process much different for guineas? I’m unsure because this is my first try at hatching them. Yes I do think this egg will need assistance but am worried since I work during the days. Day 28 is on a Thursday so I will not be home till around 3:30pm I will think about this more closer to hatch day... but do you think I should make a safety hole in the egg before I leave in the morning on day 28? Will it internally pip like a normal egg? I’m not sure how this is going to go...
I really really hope it makes it because yes it is a very special egg that is very important to me.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

It’s day 24 for this guinea egg and i am going to go into lockdown tomorrow, but I have a couple of questions first. Will this guinea internally pip like normal or not? Since this hatch is a staggered hatch, how will I turn the eggs that still need turned during this one’s lockdown? Can I quickly open the incubator during this one’s lockdown to turn the other eggs, as long as this egg isn’t externally pipped? Will I have to make a safety hole for this egg so it doesn’t suffocate? The other eggs are a couple of guineas on day 10, one on day 20, and 1 call duck egg on day 9. I’m not sure how hatch is going to go for this egg... what should I keep the humidity at during this egg’s lockdown?

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

I forgot to mention that the aircell is still upside down, but it has grown a lot in size and gotten bigger. There is no signs of shadowing or internally pipping and I’m not even sure if this egg will do that? I will post pictures of it later. Thanks

 

[R2elk]

It’s day 24 for this guinea egg and i am going to go into lockdown tomorrow, but I have a couple of questions first. Will this guinea internally pip like normal or not? Since this hatch is a staggered hatch, how will I turn the eggs that still need turned during this one’s lockdown? Can I quickly open the incubator during this one’s lockdown to turn the other eggs, as long as this egg isn’t externally pipped? Will I have to make a safety hole for this egg so it doesn’t suffocate? The other eggs are a couple of guineas on day 10, one on day 20, and 1 call duck egg on day 9. I’m not sure how hatch is going to go for this egg... what should I keep the humidity at during this egg’s lockdown?

If the egg is going to hatch, it will internally pip prior to making an external pip. It may not internally pip for as many as 3 more days.

Regardless of all the do not open the incubator during lockdown warnings, it is okay to open the incubator during lockdown. Keep the openings brief and allow the temperature and humidity to stabilize between openings.

It is not an absolute requirement to raise the humidity for lockdown for a single egg. I have had keets and poults hatch in my cabinet incubator while under incubation parameters and even while the auto turner was running. I don't recommend keeping an auto turner on.