Nesting guinea

[cmbird]

Looking for advice on a nesting guinea. She has been on her nest since beginning of July. I put some additional eggs under her from a guinea that was killed. I have candled them and some are mostly dark with a little lighter area at the top while others are clear. Guessing the clear ones aren't any good. Should I give her more time? Will soon be 6 weeks since she started sitting on her nest. She is very determined to stick with it!

 

[Percheron chick]

Did she start sitting 6 weeks ago or did she start collecting eggs 6 weeks ago? It easily takes 2-3 weeks for them to have enough eggs. I would not touch the eggs even if she's relatively tame. Just let her continue. They have an amazing ability to know when to give up.

 

[cmbird]

She starting sitting on them all day/night 6 weeks ago. At that time I also put additional eggs near her that belonged to another guinea who had been sitting but was killed. She pulled them under immediately. None of the eggs are broken or stink. I will leave it alone then and be patient.

 

[313759]

Do all guineas sit or is it another thing that isn't that common?

 

[Percheron chick]

Aboult half of mine have wanted to raise keets.

 

[cmbird]

I had 4 out of 6 nesting, unfortunately I lost 3 females, 2 of which had nests. I'm new to this guinea thing, they are much different than geese. Thanks Percheron Chick for the info.

 

[FrogRaku]

It sounds like the ones that you've candled that are dark are near hatching. I'd leave her for a few more days. (Guinea eggs only take 28 days to hatch, so I'm assuming they're newer eggs than the orignals 6 weeks ago.)

 

[Shiza]

I agree, your eggs should hatch around 28 days. But I've had some even 5 days sooner. Up to 3 days later. It all depends on the temp. The colder, the longer. Hotter, sooner.

What troubles me is this time of year. The mornings have been rather cold and damp for a keet. A Hen will take her new born babies out of the nest regardless of the weather. That's why they're considered terrible moms. It's too extreme for a baby.

I bought plain, plastic Easter Eggs from Walmart. When I find a nest (a needle in a haystack) I take those eggs and replace them with the Easter eggs, when the hen's gone. It only takes about 6 eggs. Everyday, I go out when she leaves and I take that days egg.
I keep them on the floor of my basement where it's nice and cool. Rocking them everyday.

The very night that I catch the Hen being broody, and she won't leave, I run her off and take all the eggs away. They then all go into the incubator.

Leaving a hen broody is just asking for trouble. I know FOR A FACT that mine would be killed in a matter of days. A coon will know just how to find her.

It sure is fun learning about those silly birds!

 

[FrogRaku]

Like Shiza said - guinea mamas will take the keets out with dew on the ground or in the rain. Fortunately, mine nested in the coop, so I was able to just not let them out until the dew dried and rustle them in if it rained for the first few weeks. I went with the saying, "a wet keet is a dead keet."

 

[duluthralphie]

I am going to be the dissenter here.

You may want to pull her off the nest if it has been 6 weeks and there are no new eggs. Rotten eggs will kill good embryos if left long enough.

I had a turkey that sat on eggs for 10 weeks, I pulled the eggs out and replaced them and the rot killed the new eggs too... I had to break her broodiness or she would have sat until she starved to death.


I had the same thing happen with a white rock. So,,I would think about pulling her off soon.