Found nest!!!!! Need info please.

[TarHeelBlue]

Our guineas are about a year old. They started laying last year, but not much that we know of. Now we have found a nest with about 30 eggs in it. Saw a guinea sitting on them yesterday, but today when I got home, peeked in and no guinea to be found. I'll check again later today. Do they leave the nest often, and for how long if they are serious about hatching their little "brood"? Should I leave the eggs? (My bator is full, but I have a spare that I could prob start up if needed)

 

[peacockfarmer1]

the guinea sitting on them may have just been laying another egg or trying to
when i have a hen setting(chicken hen i have not ever let a guinea hen set) they get off the nest for about 5 to about 10 minutes a day to eat, poop, drink
if you want them to set leave the nest and just give them time

 

[TarHeelBlue]

I sure hope they do. I did see one go to the nest earlier today, but now it is empty - no guinea. Maybe she was laying another egg. Any idea how many before they decide it is time to hatch them? Or do they just lay a bunch and leave them there? This is new to me and I do want them to set on the nest, so guess I should just watch and wait?

 

[PeepsCA]

Depending on how many Hens are laying in that pile, it could get HUGE before they start sitting on them, usually 20-24 eggs per Hen is the norm for my flocks. If you can be sneaky about it, I'd go put a mark on all the eggs in the nest, so you know which are new eggs if they decide to abandon it at some point before they sit... that way you can salvage the fresher ones for your incubator. Be sneaky tho, if they see you fussing with the nest that could make them lay elsewhere!

 

[caral07]

If you let them set you run a huge risk of something getting them, so I would gather them. I have had 10 of my 19 girls get caught on 8 diffrent nest while setting; and the bad part is it usely happens during the middle of incabation.

 

[TarHeelBlue]

Thanks. I had just about decided that. Will probably gather tomorrow

 

[ColbyNTX]

Most hens that get snatched up by predators is off the nest. If they are in a secure location then let them sit but if its just out in the field then I wouldn't let her sit unless you have a good pyreneese. I have had guineas hatch eggs when I didn't know where the nest is and show up with 18-20 keets. They usually don't make good mothers and our wet AM grass is hell on keets. Also the hens are very protective if you or something comes too close to their keets but guineas are really dumb and seem to not keep the clutch togather. They end up leaving some behind to get snatched up by preadtors. If you have them in a large pen then they will raise them fine but freeranging they don't have a very good chance.

 

[fishman65]

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.

 

[CCourson05]

I just found a nest with 75 eggs in it. Sadly, the broody hen abandoned the eggs when I crushed half the nest with a dozer.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

CCoursin, I just saved your Thread Killer butt....

I found a nest last week with 15 eggs and collected them and put them in the incubator. Here's my question.....why did the hen stop laying in that nest after I did that??