Guinea eggs on day 21 and moving?

[CluckYeah8908]

I saw at least one egg moving around. They are still in the turn tray, is it time for lock down?

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Guinea fowl incubate for 28 days. If they are really 28 days, yes, remove them from the turner. If they are really 21 days, either you are mistaken or at least one egg had developed partially before collection and placement in the incubator.

 

[CluckYeah8908]

Guinea fowl incubate for 28 days. If they are really 28 days, yes, remove them from the turner. If they are really 21 days, either you are mistaken or at least one egg had developed partially before collection and placement in the incubator.

I purchased them on eBay and put them all in the incubator exactly 21 days ago. I’ve never incubated guinea eggs before so i don’t know if them rocking back and forth is normal at day 21. They definitely weren’t developed at all when I first got them

 

[red horse ranch]

Guinea eggs will rock some many days before hatching. They are getting into hatching position. 21 days is a little early but they may have started developing before you got them. Doesn't hurt to take them off the turner now anyway.

p.s. It is common for guinea keets to hatch on day 27 or even earlier. Doesn't always take the full 28 days.

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Hmmm. Okay. So two choices.

I think you should leave them in the turner. Even if the egg is rocking for whatever reason, I'm not inclined to think that it's because it's ready to hatch. 21 days is still too early for a viable keet to hatch. It would be like a chicken hatching at 16 days or a person being born at 6-7 months of pregnancy. Since chicks are not human babies and do all the work of hatching on their own, I don't really think this keet is hatching. However, if you do see any sign of it pipping or hatching, do remove it from the turner. It would take a lot for it to be ready to hatch now. It would have had to incubate in its original location, survive the shipping, then start growing again in your incubator. Not impossible, I suppose, but not likely.

While it's unlikely to my way of thinking that the keet is hatching now, you can go ahead and pull the turner out and hand turn the eggs for the remaining week. I never use turners and aim for five turns a day, though sometimes I can only get three in. Just in case you want to be extra careful. Hand turning would allow the keet to hatch if it's ready and would still do the turning required for the survival of all the rest of the eggs that are, presumably, only 75% incubated.

 

[CluckYeah8908]

Hmmm. Okay. So two choices.

I think you should leave them in the turner. Even if the egg is rocking for whatever reason, I'm not inclined to think that it's because it's ready to hatch. 21 days is still too early for a viable keet to hatch. It would be like a chicken hatching at 16 days or a person being born at 6-7 months of pregnancy. Since chicks are not human babies and do all the work of hatching on their own, I don't really think this keet is hatching. However, if you do see any sign of it pipping or hatching, do remove it from the turner. It would take a lot for it to be ready to hatch now. It would have had to incubate in its original location, survive the shipping, then start growing again in your incubator. Not impossible, I suppose, but not likely.

While it's unlikely to my way of thinking that the keet is hatching now, you can go ahead and pull the turner out and hand turn the eggs for the remaining week. I never use turners and aim for five turns a day, though sometimes I can only get three in. Just in case you want to be extra careful. Hand turning would allow the keet to hatch if it's ready and would still do the turning required for the survival of all the rest of the eggs that are, presumably, only 75% incubated.

Update: so, this morning it looks like 3/7 have internally pipped. We are on day 22. I’m confused on why they are hatching so early

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Update: so, this morning it looks like 3/7 have internally pipped. We are on day 22. I’m confused on why they are hatching so early

They must have been partly incubated before they were shipped to you.

 

[red horse ranch]

I've had keets hatch on day 26 and I've heard of them hatching on day 25. Even if they have internally pipped it may still be several days before hatching. It's possible that your incubator is running a little hotter than the thermometer shows. That could make them hatch a little early. But you don't need to stress out about what day it is. Take them off of the turner if you haven't already. It's not too early to take them off. Up the humidity to 55 to 65% and wait for nature to take it's course!

 

[CluckYeah8908]

UPDATE: 2 have externally pipped!! This is day 24. Look at that little beak!

 

[red horse ranch]

That's a mighty big hole for a pip. It looks to me like it may be shrink wrapped and unable to unzip. So it just keeps picking at the same hole and making it bigger. Watch it closely for the next several hours because you may need to help. Make sure your humidity is around 65% and be very cautious if you do decide to help the baby. ALWAYS stop if you see fresh blood.