Egg laying already?

[annaserv]

So I let my young guineas out yesterday and they did their usual run through the yard and when I walked passed the area they ran through, there was a egg laying on the ground (a shellless one at that). My guineas are only a little over 4 months old, seems a little early for egg laying. and I was under the impression they were seasonal layers (spring and summer)

So maybe their out of sync with the seasons because they still young? I didn't think I'd have to worry about locating nests this year. Hopefully no one decides to try sitting and hatching this year. We lost most of our females years ago to predators grabbing them off the nests, so I'm not really looking forward to nesting season.

Just wondering if this is normal.

 

[damselfish]

Ours have laid eggs throughout the summer, and they may still be laying them for all I know (haven't found this month's hidden nest yet).

I read back when we first got them that they are supposed to have a double season, May and October. Perhaps this is just in their native habitat. In any case, ours clearly didn't read that article.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The guinea 'season' is from March/April to October/November, they lay all spring and summer and into fall.
I doubt they are actually 'laying', in that you probably won't have to worry about looking for nests. It does seem awful young to start, but I've not had guineas that long. I was under the impression that they didn't start until about 1 year old, but I think that's more of a seasonal thing.

 

[damselfish]

Ah, so it's May (or March) to October, as opposed to a little of each...

Thanks Shelley!

 

[annaserv]

I thought it seemed ridiculously early, especially since my regular hens took about 6 months to start laying. I have all my poultry down at a different farm so I can blame them for the egg and it was still warm.

Well every time I see them I do head counts anyways so I'll know if they are up to nesting.

 

[annaserv]

Oh no, I found their nest....... with around 30 eggs in it and a grumpy hen on it. I wonder if I just raid part of the nest, leaving about 5 eggs, if they'll still lay there. I'd hate for them to start in a brand new spot I can't find. I want to let my clucks sit on some eggs next spring but I'm out of room for this year for little keats. All three of my coups are spoken for, beside by the time they hatch our daytime highs will probably be in the 40's and only getting colder.

 

[cw]

you can teach them to lay with the chickens

then you wont have to look for there nest out in the wilderness.
and our guineas started layin before
are barred rocks,(they were raised together)

 

[annaserv]

Oh I wish mine could do that. But the guineas have never even seen a chicken yet. My chickens are on our farm that's a 1/2 mile away. I don't want them to terrorize my mellow Cochin hens and they'd probably leave my little banty rooster battered and abused.

Love that picture!

 

[annaserv]

I left them 10 marked eggs in their nest and made their favorite treat...scrambled eggs, little did they know

Wow, those shells sure are hard.

 

[Lollipop]

When you check the nest again and collect the eggs, go ahead and take 5 more out, then the next time, only leave 2. Guineas can`t count and 2 will be plenty. No since wasting good eggs.......Pop