First egg! Is this normal

[sunnie7]

I have 6 out of my 15 guineas left and they free range all the time. I have no clue which are females vs males. I’ve noticed them laying around quite a bit when I’m home and outside in the evenings. Like they are practicing to lay maybe?! I’ve been trying to search for nests but we live on 5 acre as and they go all over our property and the forestry across the road but here lately they have been hanging around home more. Then today I found my first egg. I had been looking for a hidden nest somewhere more in the woods and this was just right out in the middle of nothing and close to our house....is this normal?! Will they usually all lay in the same place or no? What time of day do they usually lay? I work during the week but I’m hoping this weekend to be able to watch them more and try to figure out where they might be laying.

 

[R2elk]

I have 6 out of my 15 guineas left and they free range all the time. I have no clue which are females vs males. I’ve noticed them laying around quite a bit when I’m home and outside in the evenings. Like they are practicing to lay maybe?! I’ve been trying to search for nests but we live on 5 acre as and they go all over our property and the forestry across the road but here lately they have been hanging around home more. Then today I found my first egg. I had been looking for a hidden nest somewhere more in the woods and this was just right out in the middle of nothing and close to our house....is this normal?! Will they usually all lay in the same place or no? What time of day do they usually lay? I work during the week but I’m hoping this weekend to be able to watch them more and try to figure out where they might be laying.

It is normal for first time layers to drop their egg wherever they happen to be at the time. Once they finally realize what is going on, they will start making a nest. It is very common for guinea hens to have a communal nest.

 

[sunnie7]

It is normal for first time layers to drop their egg wherever they happen to be at the time. Once they finally realize what is going on, they will start making a nest. It is very common for guinea hens to have a communal nest.

Do they usually lay in the mornings? How long does it usually take them to lay an egg? I’ve been noticing they go off my property and into the forestry in the mornings and by early afternoon they come back. I have so many trees down there would be tons of places they could hide a nest. I’m worried I’ll never find it! They did keep laying down a lot like this today but I checked most areas I saw then in for eggs and didn’t find any.

 

[R2elk]

Each hen is its own individual and will normally lay at the same time every day. many lay in the morning. Some lay in the middle of the day. I had one that laid her egg at 4 PM every day.

Some people get their hens to lay in the coop by keeping them shut in until after they have already laid their eggs. If your guinea hens are morning layers this could work well for you.

 

[sunnie7]

Each hen is its own individual and will normally lay at the same time every day. many lay in the morning. Some lay in the middle of the day. I had one that laid her egg at 4 PM every day.

Some people get their hens to lay in the coop by keeping them shut in until after they have already laid their eggs. If your guinea hens are morning layers this could work well for you.

I no longer coop them....I did for awhile but then made the guinea coop my chicken coop. We have guineas for tick control so I free range them all day. They now roost under my kids really tall playhouse and they actually stay hidden pretty well under it.

 

[Joev1973]

Put golf balls in the nest where you want your eggs. When you collect eggs dont take them all leave some behind so they dont switch nests on you