You should probably try to fence them if you can, because as you said, they are VERY susceptible to predators right when she first tries to move them. I have had guineas for about 7 years, but have never had one raise a litter herself. The last one who had a litter to hatch was killed trying...
Absolutely! My favorite is a Light Brahma hen who is blind, I pick her up every morning and put her in front of the hanging feeder, so she doesn't even have to walk to breakfast! The other is a speckled Sussex who got attacked by dogs and lived in my utility room for weeks while she was...
I usually mark the eggs I want them to sit on, so as to keep the others separate. I don't know how long they'll stay broody, but it seems like forever, even the hens I keep taking the eggs away from! I have had hens to hatch guinea eggs, which have to incubate a week longer than chicken eggs...
I was selling for 2$ a dozen last summer when feed prices were way up, but as they came down, so did the price of eggs in the grocery stores, so mine were not selling- even to my regular customers, si I dropped the price to 1.50$ and they started selling again. I did talk to a lady at a local...
Trooper is an excellent choice of name for this little guy. He will probably enjoy the noise and cuddling if the other birds aren't too much older than he(she). Glad things are looking up. Janet
Sorry, I was mistaken in calling it yolk- albumen is the correct term. The longer you leave it in the incubator, of course, the drier it will get. They should be completely dry before you take them out as they are very susceptible to dampness and drafts. Glad he looks like he's going to be...
give him time, and he'll be o.k. in the 'bator for a full day or more- just think if you ordered them in the mail-it's a day or two before you get them! The reason he still looks wet is he still has yolk on his feathers- but be patient- he'll get it off sooner or later!
mine usually start when they hear another one crow- some at a very young age- if you don't have another roo- try making crowing noises to them- it may encourage them to start- as previously posted- most people are trying to figure out how to make them NOT crow-lol good luck! Janet
Hard as it was to do, you did the right thing. He's not suffering any more. Guineas are very tempermental to hatch- I have done a couple of clutches in the 'bator and had so-so luck- twisted feet- sudden death-etc. I have also let a chicken hatch some and had better luck that way! I have...
your first pic shows part of the little guy's intestines or vent protruding- he probably won't make it- sorry to say. The other one looks pretty normal- if you helped in the hatch, part of the feathers may have pullled off inside the shell. this bird may be o.k.- good luck!
I let most of mine out when I get home from work, but about 8 or 9 let themselves out daily by flying over the 4' chainlink fence that makes up their pen. The 2 male guineas will fly out, but the females stay in until I open the gate. The ones who let themselves out daily have about an acre...
I have read that as a chicken gets ready to molt, their egg shell colors get lighter. Could have something to do with the enzymes in their little bodies changing?
HTH Janet
DE is diatomaceous earth powder. I have read pro and con points on this, but I tend to use it myself in the adult coop. The only thing I would worry about in a brooder setting is them breathing the dust, as on of the con points I read is it can dry their lungs out if exposed too soon after...