Are your guineas laying yet?

[Sydney65]

It might be a little harder at the beginning on the laying season to find any nests. I found it easier to let them out late and watch the girls. You’ll see them scurry off with their man in tow. Then you’ll see him stand guard while she’s out of sight laying her egg or sitting on a nest of eggs.
The male standing guard is always the biggest give away.

So far I’ve gotten lucky finding their nest. My only turkey hen disappeared for hours. I had my whole family looking for her. We were just about to give up and accept that something or someone had to have taken her I was so bummed out and ticked off.
As I was walking out of the trees and brush on the back part of the property I saw my girl laying next to a big rock under some branches!
I was so relieved I nearly cried
She made a nest and laid her second egg of the year. After that five guineas decided they would lay their eggs there too. And I’ve been finding eggs there since then.
Im glad because I would otherwise never look there for a nest. My guineas have always chosen tall grass over woods for making nests.

Lol..about 3 wks ago I let the girls out and ofcourse, off to the field they went. When I called, out came 5 guineas, while one remained in the weeds calling. I walked where they'd all been,and at the same time she came waddling out, out shot a full size rabbit from the same spot. I had an image of 6 guineas and a rabbit starring each other down. Lol. Since then, girls have been in lockdown full time.

 

[My2butterflies]

Lol..about 3 wks ago I let the girls out and ofcourse, off to the field they went. When I called, out came 5 guineas, while one remained in the weeds calling. I walked where they'd all been,and at the same time she came waddling out, out shot a full size rabbit from the same spot. I had an image of 6 guineas and a rabbit starring each other down. Lol. Since then, girls have been in lockdown full time.

Haha

I’ve heard people voice concerns multiple times that guineas will chase off other wildlife. But I think it’s the opposite. I think local wildlife feels safe around them.
Mine have bunnies, squirrels, and a male pheasant that all hang around them. I rarely see the pheasant, but he has been hanging out closer and closer to the house with the guineas all around the woods.

 

[Vonnie7]

Hi I’m on the east coast and wondering when my guinea is going to start laying. Last year she started at the end of March and this year I thought she was going to do the same since the male has been chasing her around and she has been checking out where the other birds lay. Not sure if she is starting later as this is her second year laying or if she has a good hiding spot for her nest this year. Anyone else’s guineas still not laying?

Mine are laying. I live in Texas.

 

[My2butterflies]

You can’t see two of the eggs because they were laid near the nest, but not in it. That’s the problem with everyone wanting to use the same nest, sometimes you just can’t hold it in long enough to get your turn
9 guinea eggs and one turkey egg

While walking the tall grass looking for any dropped eggs I stumbled across this rabbit nest.

Im always impressed with how well hidden many of them are. I’ve been over this exact spot so many times and never saw it. The guineas even lay right here nearly daily. I think the only reason it’s so visible is because the babies were either just fed or already leaving on their own but returning to the safety of the nest between adventures outside.
I normally see them outside the nest at this size.

 

[Sydney65]

Yes, we have that shared nest going on, so I find them buried in the walkway. So far have only stepped on one. Haven't decided if I want to incubate or not; if I do, I can only pick 7 of >20. So I just stare at them, toss the walk way ones in w/ the rest.

 

[Jmiller89]

So we were not planning on hatching out any guineas but when our hen went broody we thought, why not let her do her thing. She was being a good mom for the first week. Now she seems to be off the eggs at least half of the time. What the heck happened? Is this normal for guineas or is she just a bad mother?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So we were not planning on hatching out any guineas but when our hen went broody we thought, why not let her do her thing. She was being a good mom for the first week. Now she seems to be off the eggs at least half of the time. What the heck happened? Is this normal for guineas or is she just a bad mother?

What’s your setup like? Is she roosting at night or staying on the eggs?

 

[Jmiller89]

What’s your setup like? Is she roosting at night or staying on the eggs?

Initially she was staying on the eggs. Idk now, I’ve been trying not to disturb her. She stopped laying the first week and hasn’t laid anymore since. She is in a standard chicken coop with a 20 x 8 run attached. Temps were a little warmer when she first started coming off but they’ve cooled back down and she’s still coming off.