Guinea actually hatching her own eggs - what about the keets?

[meburges]

Will I need to bring them inside to protect them or can/will she do it ? Thinking about fencing in the area she chose to go broody and has her clutch. Best idea ?

 

[ziggywiggy]

The first time I ever had Guineas, about thirty years ago, one of my hens disapeared and returned later with 15 keets. I went from three to 18.
Yes they will set, but preditors will get them. So if you can put a fence around her, I'd do it. Or, if you have no concern about preditors, just leave her alone until she hatches and then pen them.
The eggs should be fine as long as you're in a fairly moderate climate. She will turn them daily and watch over them and believe me she will let you know if something tries to mess with her eggs.

 

[featheredfriendlover]

she will set.
but you will want to get her and her babies and bring them into a WARM area because the grass can chill and kill the babies if they are under 2 weeks old.
once they get 2 weeks old and up they should be fine and are one of the hardiest of all fowl.
cole.

 

[Nash56]

I have had guinea hens raise the keets themselves but rain or wet grass are killers for guinea keets. I would try to get her in or take the babies

 

[Akane]

Guineas are rather poor parents. It would be best to either confine her and any that hatch to a pen or remove the keets. They tend to drag their keets off into poor terrain, wet grass, puddles, etc... and lose a good portion of them.

 

[Kev]

Best to move mother and keets to a keet proof pen. As in keets can't get out of it. She will be a good mother for them in this pen. Best to have no perches or any way for her to roost off ground, just in case she is not the best mother and decides to roost off ground before the keets are "ready" for that.

Be warned.... mothers with new babies are VERY protective of their babies and will not hesitate to attack you. Repeatedly, from head to toe and back up to the head. It is extremely shocking if you are not used to mother animals or only had experience with chicken mothers.. the guineas really do fly UP at your head, on purpose.

 

[shelleyd2008]

That's funny....my guinea hen hatched 9 babies a few months ago. She didn't mind me being near her, she would just usher them away. But my 4 year old son was not so lucky. He went 'just to see' and mama and daddy both attacked!

Wish I could have seen it, that'll teach him not to tease them

Everytime he is in the yard playing, the guineas go nuts! They don't like him one bit

But in answer to your question, you should either take the keets away, or pen them and mama up. She will most likely lose all of them if not. Mine was down to 1 baby after about 6 weeks, and I finally caught that one. Sadly, the little fella didn't make it. Hoping the eggs in the bator hatch

 

[Kev]

Next time, try catching her & keets to put in a pen.............

Video from other thread.. guy collecting keets .

p.s. my guinea hen raised all keets in dog kennel real well. She did hiss and spread wings ready to attack with some charges at me as soon as the door was opened so I could do the food and water though. Every time.

 

[Hay]

In the video, there is I think a little keet running off shortly before the video ends.