Hatching Eggs 101 by
@Sally Sunshine
I have hatched shipped eggs following all the recommendations and not following the recommendations. I have not found any noticeable difference between the methods.
I allow shipped hatching eggs to warm up to room temperature. At this point, I put them in the incubator. Once the incubator is closed, I switch on the auto turner. With shipped Guinea eggs, I normally would get about a 60% hatch from viable eggs.
If the eggs are individually bubble wrapped, be careful to not spin the eggs while unwrapping them. This can be harmful to the eggs.
With a new incubator, be sure to run it for several days in a temperature stable room to make sure that it is working properly. Double the incubator temperature with a calibrated thermometer. Check the humidity with a salt tested hygrometer.
I incubate my guinea eggs between 30 to 35% humidity and raise the humidity to 65 to 70% at lockdown. I do not bother with lowering the temperature by 1°F at lockdown.
If you are hand turning the eggs, it should be 180° at every turn but the direction of the turn should be alternated. Turn the egg clockwise during one turn and counter clockwise at the following turn. It is helpful to put a mark on opposite sides of each egg along with a direction arrow showing which direction the egg should be turned.
Since guinea eggs can hatch anywhere from day 26 thru day 28, you want to put them in lockdown no later than day 25. Some people put their guinea eggs into lockdown on day 24.
You can check on air cell development either by weighing the eggs at the start and on regular intervals during the incubating phase, or you can do it by candling.
I've enjoyed the past year with my crew; a few times I wldve gone crazy w/o this forum. Thanks for the encouragement! The uncubator has arrived and is warming up, so ....here we go!
