first guinea egg!

[LadyLuck]

My daughter found a guinea egg this morning

Can guineas learn to use the same nesting boxes as the hens do or should I fix her a little hidden safe spot (perhaps in the same spot the first egg was found)? I just want her to keep laying in the coop and not make a nest out in the woods. They free range during the day and come to the coop with the chickens at night.

A nest or box for guineas would need to be on the ground, yes? They roost on perches in the coop during the night, but from what I've read will only nest on the ground.

thanks !

 

[PeepsCA]

More than likely any place that you choose for your Guinea Hen to lay her eggs won't be where she chooses to lay... lol. They are extremely secretive and prefer to choose their own very private spot. With the laying season rapidly coming to an end really soon with shorter day light hours and lower temps you may not have to worry about her laying very many eggs this season, but next year (Spring) you will want to keep track of where she wanders off too each day, or she may disappear... either hunkered down on a pile of well hidden eggs, or as a predator's meal (with a side of eggs). My Guinea Hens prefer to nest on the ground, deep in the bushes/thistles/poison oak if I allow it (which I do not). During the laying season here I keep them in the coop/pen until most if not all of the Hens have laid in the coop each day, then I let them out to free range. Since I've started doing this I have not lost a Hen to a predator (I have 45+ Hens).