Can Guineas fly???? And other questions...

tnctx said:

@R2elk
Well, I’ve been practicing herding my Bonehead babies and they seem to be getting used to me ”guiding” them. That’s not to say that they go the direction I want them to…quite the contrary…more like they are guiding me but I’m getting more exercise!
I have a question about the two adult Guinea fowl that we bought before the babies. We discovered that one is a male and the female has been nesting for over two weeks now in a nest that she made in some tall grass along side a building. She refuses to leave the nest to eat or drink so I’ve been providing food and water to her. The male stays with her most nights. I have no idea how many eggs she is sitting on - she hisses and snaps at me when I go near her, but I keep giving her food and water. Is there anything else I should do other than wait to see if eggs start hatching? Thanks for any feedback/advice.

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R2elk said:

Just because you don't see her leave the nest does not mean she is not leaving the nest. Do not provide food and water at the nest. It attracts undesirable guests.

It usually takes 26 to 28 days for keets to hatch.

In the meantime prepare a "brooding area" where you can provide safety, food and water to her and the keets. You may want to keep the male in the same place. Observe his behavior to the keets. If he assists in their care keep him with them, if not, remove them. New keets hatched into a flock usually get tended to by most of the flock.

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R2elk said:

Just because you don't see her leave the nest does not mean she is not leaving the nest. Do not provide food and water at the nest. It attracts undesirable guests.

It usually takes 26 to 28 days for keets to hatch.

In the meantime prepare a "brooding area" where you can provide safety, food and water to her and the keets. You may want to keep the male in the same place. Observe his behavior to the keets. If he assists in their care keep him with them, if not, remove them. New keets hatched into a flock usually get tended to by most of the flock.0

tnctx said:

Will do! Thanks so much, @R2elk

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@R2elk PS…If any of the eggs hatch, will she just come out of the nest with them after a day or two? The grass is very long and thick; I can’t see her even when I get close…I can only hear her hiss and see flashes of her head as she snaps at me. We have Redtail hawks close by and I don’t want one to make a meal of the babies.

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tnctx said:

@R2elk PS…If any of the eggs hatch, will she just come out of the nest with them after a day or two? The grass is very long and thick; I can’t see her even when I get close…I can only hear her hiss and see flashes of her head as she snaps at me. We have Redtail hawks close by and I don’t want one to make a meal of the babies.

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