GuineaFowling
Songster
My guinea hen is broody AGAIN. I let her hatch early this year but didn't expect anything because the hens ruined her eggs by setting on them 3 weeks early while the guinea was still laying eggs for her clutch. The hens (two notorious leghorns) took turns brooding on them and even pushed guinea momma off when she was in to lay more eggs. They did not set on the eggs at night and this was early in the year so nights were cold and in the morning the eggs would be freezing. After finally kicking the hens out momma guinea went broody and set for a good long time. On a warm afternoon I walked into the coop to feed her from her nest box since she hardly came out and a baby was sitting in front of her. My guineas are really tame and enjoy showing off their babies so she allowed me to hold it and made the happiest noises. No other eggs hatched and after day three momma guinea left the nest to feed the baby. The keet and its mother were coop bound until the baby was big enough. I would occasionally let them out to play but would watch them closely. The keet disappeared on week two and I have a feeling it was the cats. Later in the year the momma guinea layed two more clutches which I got rid of and now this is her fourth clutch in the year and she is desperate for babies so I let her go broody. Her clutches in the past were delayed and most of the babies died after the first pip. They all had a bad hatch rate but I could blame my hens for that. I no longer have chickens and since I had blocked the nest box my guinea hen is laying on the floor of the coop beside the bale of hay. What I don't know is if they are going to hatch. I haven't seen my male mate with her even though they are inseparable. And on top of that, they are turning seven in march so I don't know how high or low the fertitlity rate is. How low would it be for 6 year old birds. Has anyone had two six year old guineas mate and hatch a good clutch of babies?
