Found nest!!!!! Need info please.

[cracking up]

They'll start a new nest somewhere else if you take all of their eggs. It makes sense that they wouldn't lay where there are predators (you). If you leave a couple they'll usually keep laying.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
I agree with CCourson, she thought it was raided by perdators. I usually leave 4 marked eggs in the nest and then collect the fresh eggs daily. Eventually the Hen will go broody on just the 4 marked (dead) eggs tho

(I'm not sure if all Guinea Hens are prone to this behavior, or just MY hens, lol). I'd go scout around, your Hen has probably started a new nest in a safer spot (or what she thinks is safer anyway).

 

[TarheelBirdy]

Well, that makes perfect sense! I guess I thought that, unless they were broody, they didn't really care about the eggs.

I did find the new nest. I'm going to be smarter about it this time. Thanks!

 

[Charley]

I'm new to birds - Just got chickens two years ago. Had four chickens hatch out over Easter. Mama hen is doing a wonderful job.

Last year got some guinea keets. Haven't found any of their nests 'til yesterday. Saw a bird sitting in a briar just about 8-10' from the lawn. She later went in the coop with the chickens (they all free-range and go in the coop at night - usually). Noticed about 2 dozen eggs in the nest spot.

I'm dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to these birds. I don't have an incubator, but would love for the birds to try and hatch them out. However, I don't think they sit on them at all during the day (I know they aren't at night), unless they are laying another egg. I thought the eggs had to always stay warm? Someone please educate me on how these unwarmed eggs remain viable?

I would love to eat the eggs in future. If I find a nest, can I do a float test like you would a chicken egg to see if they are still good?

If I'm lucky enough to get them to hatch out some eggs, will they teach their keets to go in the coop like they do?

We do have coyotes and such and to be honest, I'm amazed the nest is there at all.

The ticks are so bad this year, that I don't want to venture out of the lawn to look for eggs period. We are really thick with them. That's what we got the guineas for last year, and they did great. However, this year, we are full of them.

Thanks for any help.

 

[carmentk]

I keep mine penned up until 3 pm. That way they lay in the coop and i get to collect all the eggs for the incubator. And sell the rest. They will set on there eggs but not the best setters.

They are just not as domesticated as chickens. Over the past 15 years I've had one successful "wild" hatch and one in the pen by guinea moms. I now use banty cochin hens to hatch out my guinea keets. I have one chicken mom with 7 keets, and 5 more on eggs ready to hatch weekly. They make great foster-moms and the keets grow up with a little less wander lust - at least until the hormones kick in.

 

[RingedTeal]

We have a hen with 11 keets and three more hens with 71 eggs between thm.

 

[daylily]

Due to my lack of due diligence of collecting eggs, I now have a hen that has gone broody on the nest. She only has about ten eggs or so right now but she didn't come in with the others.

So now what do I do? Continue to let her sit? Or make her go back to the coop and raid the eggs? Do you take them food and water while they are sitting? I'll try to send some pics along of her nesting spot which I think is great.

​

Should I put something else over it? My camera was on the ground when I took the last shot. Owls won't find her but weasels and coyotes could. Recommendations please!!!!!!!


Daylily

 

[PeepsCA]

Do you want keets? If no, then raid the nest, chase her feathered butt back to the coop. If you do want keets, then either take the eggs and incubate them, or build something around her that is super predator proof and that will also contain the keets for a while after they hatch out, and then hope she stays put. And yes of course provide feed and water for her... (and then starter feed and a shallow waterer for the keets when they hatch out). Guineas hate changes to their nesting areas and being disturbed while nesting tho, so you may be wasting your time with the building project... it's hard to say how it will turn out for you tho, every Hen is an individual, but equally unpredictable, lol

 

[daylily]

Thanks PeepsCA, her feathered butt is back in the coop. But not without a fight.

There were 12 eggs just as I suspected, oh they were soooo warm. It is still in the 30's at night here and high 40's in the day and this week is all rain. I 'm so happy she is in the coop. Only having three now, I really don't want to take any chances and my husband felt better knowing she wasn't going to be out another night.

I going to incubate the eggs and get it over with. I want more of the little nuts!

So I have looked into all the home made bators and am going to go with one of those. I have a dozen more in the fridge I will try as well. At least that should give me some keeps if some are blanks.

Daylily.

 

[carmentk]

Daylily, what a clever mom! Wish you could have left her. But she's safer in the pen. Good luck with your hatch.