Broody Guinea, I think I messed up any tips for getting her back on nest?

[Joe.G]

Ok, So tonight I found my guinea sitting on her nest inside one of my barns, She is in a secure place there and would be safe, great place for a nest, well the only problem is there were some chicken eggs in teh nest because on or two of the chickens have been laying in there and I didn't get them out in time so tonight I came home and I went in and she stood right up and I removed teh eggs, But then she just went and roosted with the rest of the chickens.

What can I do? Will she go back? If I lock her up where her nest is will that help make her sit? I would like for her to hatch them. Any tips would be great thanks.

 

[tomingreeneco]

If there are not 30-40 eggs in nest she is probably not ready to go full broody yet.

 

[PeepsCA]

Is she still laying new/fresh eggs in the nest each day, or has she been broody on the pile of eggs for a while?

You can't let them see you messing with their nests... that usually makes them abandon the nest and eggs. And there's usually no going back once they've decided their nesting spot is no longer safe and private enough.

 

[Joe.G]

I am not sure how long she was setting, I think just started yesterday, It was dark out so I don't think she was laying I do think she was sitting.I'll have to count her eggs and see if she cont to lay I didn't want the chicken eggs to screw things up.

 

[PeepsCA]

Hopefully she's still laying eggs there and will eventually go broody... maybe you just caught her on the nest while she was there laying an egg. My hens tend to take longer on the nests the closer they get to going broody. Has she been missing? If not, she's not setting yet.

Cross your fingers, and try not to bug her if she gets back on the nest. If you need to check the nest I'd toss some food/treats where she can see the flock eating it so she gets off the nest on her own, then you'll need to be sneaky and check the nest real quick.

Good luck!

 

[Joe.G]

Well she was free ranging for a bit this morning but then around noon I stopped home and she was sitting, I checked her again just now and she is still sitting so well see.

Now Should I keep her locked in there or not, I don't want the other chickens to bother her.

 

[PeepsCA]

Personally I would not lock her in until she is no longer getting off the nest for more than a few minutes at a time and she is in full on broody mode... otherwise she may go nuts pacing, wanting out, kicking eggs everywhere... then it's over for that nest of eggs.

When she is off the nest tho, be sneaky (don't let her see you, like I mentioned previously) and check to make sure no other chicken eggs have been added to the pile. You may want to mark all the eggs in the nest so you can better keep track of whether any other Hens (chicken or Guinea) are adding an fresh eggs to the pile or not. (Once you close her in you will of course not have to check for additional eggs any more).

Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[Joe.G]

Ok, sounds like a plan. She was out again this morning, I ll check to see if she is sitting again leter.

 

[Joe.G]

Yesterday she spent a lot of time on the nest, today not much at all and she is not on nest tonite she is roosting. WIll she make up her mind soon? Is she damaging the eggs by doing this?

 

[PeepsCA]

Guinea eggs are a little forgiving for the first few days... she does need to make up her mind soon tho, lol. Do you have an incubator, just in case?