- Jun 14, 2012
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Questions...help please...X-post with incubating & hatching forum...
Hi all,
I have 3 female guineas who have been tag-brooding a nest for over a month now. I noticed that all were outside together a little bit ago and decided to go inside to investigate since i haven't been able to get at the nest in weeks...wanted to candle a couple to see if any were developed/developing. Much to my surprise, one egg was cracked and I could see movement inside. When mama squawked, it answered back with chirps! Several more appear to be developed. So...now what? I have brooded chickens before but they were already hatched...do I take the eggs in anticipation of them hatching and bring them into a brooder box inside? Let the mamas take care of them? I know they are notoriously poor mums. I don't really have a set up to keep a mom and the littles separate. I had suspected that they were going to be duds based on my one opportunity to check them and the brooding seemed to be going on far longer than a month.
I can raise the keets, its just a matter of taking the eggs now or waiting until they hatch.
Can they be outside in the coop 24/7? Its high 70s low 80s during the day and 60s-70s at night...the coop stays warmer at night.
At what rate (# per day) might they hatch? The hens laid anywhere from 1-3 eggs per day when I was "stealing" them initially. I have a clutch of approx. 25 eggs.
Hi all,
I have 3 female guineas who have been tag-brooding a nest for over a month now. I noticed that all were outside together a little bit ago and decided to go inside to investigate since i haven't been able to get at the nest in weeks...wanted to candle a couple to see if any were developed/developing. Much to my surprise, one egg was cracked and I could see movement inside. When mama squawked, it answered back with chirps! Several more appear to be developed. So...now what? I have brooded chickens before but they were already hatched...do I take the eggs in anticipation of them hatching and bring them into a brooder box inside? Let the mamas take care of them? I know they are notoriously poor mums. I don't really have a set up to keep a mom and the littles separate. I had suspected that they were going to be duds based on my one opportunity to check them and the brooding seemed to be going on far longer than a month.
I can raise the keets, its just a matter of taking the eggs now or waiting until they hatch.
Can they be outside in the coop 24/7? Its high 70s low 80s during the day and 60s-70s at night...the coop stays warmer at night.
At what rate (# per day) might they hatch? The hens laid anywhere from 1-3 eggs per day when I was "stealing" them initially. I have a clutch of approx. 25 eggs.
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