Uh oh... found an egg today! ... - A journal of sorts, from finding eggs to hatching them... Update

[PeepsCA]

So so so pretty. Such delicate little keets...and the bucket is great. They "swirl".

I like to do the bucket shots because there are no corners for them to pile up on top of each other in, they pretty much have to stay in one spot for some pics, plus the white bucket really sets off and captures their true colors. (And it's where I put them when I am changing the bedding in their brooders, lol).

 

[daylily]

I've gotten such a kick out the last ten or so posts on this forum. The "butt-sweet" thing is too much, and daylily, I've had dreams about my guinea eggs, too. I can't remember it exactly (it was definitely an anxiety dream), but I woke up one morning thinking that maybe this guinea thing was getting out of hand. And the "Chicken Math" I had to break down and tell my coop-building husband about. It was just too good not to share. Yep. Chicken Math. It's a fact!!!!

Just the other day he said, "Hey, honey, we can build the new guinea coop a little smaller......" and I said, "Well, yes, honey, we sure could, you're right, but doesn't it make sense that while we're already at it, we should go ahead and double the size? It might be a bit more expensive in materials, but the extra work you'd have to put into a new coop later would MORE than make up for it." I'll be darned but if he didn't agree.

Ha. Chicken Math indeed!! Chicken logic, Guinea logic, "fowl-a-holic" logic for sure.

Today, I was driving home from beautiful south Georgia, and saw along the way hundreds of barns, farms, sheds, coops, and I was extremely jealous of each and every one. Why? Because I envied them all their out-buildings that could be used for housing guineas. There were many falling-down structures along the highway, and I wondered why in the world people didn't tear those down and re-use the materials for guinea coops!

I think I need to "see somebody". Anyone else ever feel that way, or is it just me?

JLeigh - I thought I was the only one who was envious of all those outbuildings!!!! LMAO

I could kick myself and husband that we didn't buy this great little "House" with a screened porch that was already on skids l2 years ago for a guinea coop,feed room, artist studio for me, greenhouse, potting shed. It was the cutest "little house' It needed some work but mostly a paint job! It had 5 rooms very small and one was a mini kitchen. I think it was a old summer cabin. It was just what I had always wanted!

But I have the plans for the one I want, all made out of recycled materials. It's going to be bigger than the other little house but I WILL get this one! When? Who knows but it better be soon! I have some art commissions starting to come in again and the house has NO room to work. Besides I want to be near my Guineas. Yup , I am certifiable!

 

[daylily]

PeepsCA ~ Those are the prettiest little keets. Gosh I wish I lived closer to be able to get some of your keets! Your right the bucket shots are great.

I don't think anything is going to hatch!

Today is day 28 and nothing. No pips, no movement of the eggs. I'll give it a couple of more days then stop. My husband feels so bad for me. He hopes I'll go ahead and try again. I want to but not without a real incubator and egg turner and with a fan. I really am bummed out. Should I look on here for someone that sells eggs? I don't seem to be able to find where my guineas are laying again. The raccoons found the last nest and ate all the eggs. I would really love to get some of the various colors. The question is Eggs to hatch or live keets? Anyone?

 

[StevenW.]

Woohoo! Guinea eggs came in the mail today! I got 28! Can't wait for some of them to hatch out in a couple weeks! )

 

[JLeigh]

Oh to have sheds and barns and garages....sigh.

Peeps, now added to my shopping list is a bucket for when I change the bedding. You're costing me a lot of money!

 

[StevenW.]

The coop on the left is probably where the guineas will be going.. I have a pair of juv. Embden goslings in there but they will probably be going in the with the sebastopol geese.

 

[PeepsCA]

Woohoo! Guinea eggs came in the mail today! I got 28! Can't wait for some of them to hatch out in a couple weeks! )

Umm Duckie, Guinea eggs take 26-28 days... that' s a little more than a couple weeks. Maybe you should use your calculator? Teehee

Congrats on the eggs, hope you get a great hatch... I'm dying to see what colors hatch from those eggs!

 

[PeepsCA]

PeepsCA ~ Those are the prettiest little keets. Gosh I wish I lived closer to be able to get some of your keets! Your right the bucket shots are great.

I don't think anything is going to hatch!

Today is day 28 and nothing. No pips, no movement of the eggs. I'll give it a couple of more days then stop. My husband feels so bad for me. He hopes I'll go ahead and try again. I want to but not without a real incubator and egg turner and with a fan. I really am bummed out. Should I look on here for someone that sells eggs? I don't seem to be able to find where my guineas are laying again. The raccoons found the last nest and ate all the eggs. I would really love to get some of the various colors. The question is Eggs to hatch or live keets? Anyone?

Thanks Daylily, it took me several years and lots of Guinea hoarding to finally get my colorful hatches, lol.

I'm sorry to read that your hatch probably failed... I'd wait until day 30, then candle them again and then decide if it's time to give up. If the temp fluctuated and was too low very often, the dark filled eggs could just be behind in development. I think you could make some changes to your home made incubator set up and have a better luck next time tho. Maybe you can even rig a tray some how to set the eggs on so you'd be able tilt them all at once 3 Xs a day without opening the 'bator each time... you just have to get creative, and maybe check out the home made incubator section in the learning center articles for ideas if you haven't already.

I'd start keeping your Hens in the coop/pen until they lay their eggs each day and then let them out. Shipped eggs are just so iffy, but new colors are great at the same time... I just stress over reduced hatch rates from the rough handling they typically get during shipping, plus the warm temps they may face during transit. If you are going to have something shipped, I'd go with keets, just to avoid a disappointing hatch with shopped eggs.

Anyway keep us posted on what happens on day 30, and what you decide to do next. Don't give up on hatching completely tho!

 

[PeepsCA]

Oh to have sheds and barns and garages....sigh.

Peeps, now added to my shopping list is a bucket for when I change the bedding. You're costing me a lot of money!

LMAO, hey now, don't blame me for your weaknesses!!! (and btw... I got my bucket free

)

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
I'm bad when it comes to record keeping or writing things down.. I sometimes forget when the eggs are suppose to hatch and BAM! You have a chick in the incubator screaming its head off! Then you go Whoops! How'd that happen??