Guinea Hen Laying

[Unicornlife3316]

At 13 eggs, it just means that she is closer to going broody than if it was her 3rd egg.

That’s true!!

So.. a friend is letting me borrow an incubator.... when do I put them in?

 

[R2elk]

That’s true!!

So.. a friend is letting me borrow an incubator.... when do I put them in?

It is preferable to set eggs that are no more than 10 days old. While not recommended, I have set eggs that were as much as 21 days and still had a successful hatch.

Turn the incubator on and give it a day to stabilize and then set the eggs after they are warmed to room temperature.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

So...... I think she’s gone broody.
She got out on me this morning while I was trying to let the others out and she’s been on her nest since 8:30 AM and it’s current 12:45 PM....

Should I make water available for her? Food?
I’m thinking about just building a pen around here and keeping her as safe as possible from predators as she’s decided to sit these eggs. Her males are NOT leaving her side.

 

[Jpajinag]

A friend of mine here in Louisiana puts a large pen with food and water over her guineas if she finds them setting. So far that has worked well. We have 10 month old guineas from her that built a nest outside and we collected those eggs. She then started a nest in the hen house and started setting when she had about 24 eggs. The problem we ran into was the chickens were climbing Inc ad laying eggs behind her in the nest. After a week of setting she quit. I gave it 24 hrs but all eggs were cold and when candles all 36 (the other guineas continued to lay in her nest as well) had blood rings. I think next time I will build a pen and contain her where ever I find her. Good luck.

 

[R2elk]

So...... I think she’s gone broody.
She got out on me this morning while I was trying to let the others out and she’s been on her nest since 8:30 AM and it’s current 12:45 PM....

Should I make water available for her? Food?
I’m thinking about just building a pen around here and keeping her as safe as possible from predators as she’s decided to sit these eggs. Her males are NOT leaving her side.

That can work as long as your predators do not include digging predators that can get under the pen.

Personally I would keep all of the guineas in until after she lays her egg for the day.

The other problem with food near the nest is that it can attract predators and rodents. You will know tonight if she has gone broody if she stays on the nest instead of returning to the coop.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

That can work as long as your predators do not include digging predators that can get under the pen.

Personally I would keep all of the guineas in until after she lays her egg for the day.

The other problem with food near the nest is that it can attract predators and rodents. You will know tonight if she has gone broody if she stays on the nest instead of returning to the coop.

OK .. guess I will see what happens tonight. She’s right behind our goat barn, considering nothing has gotten the eggs yet, it is apparently a safe -ish area for her...

 

[Guinea21]

You can try but it probably won't work. Guinea hens really don't like their nest being messed with. What is more likely to happen is that she will abandon those eggs and eventually start another nest which will be in the coop if you keep her shut in until after she has laid each day.

I have only 2 remaining out of 5 and my female started making nests out in my woods. The 1st one was abandoned because my hens kept bugging her and kicking her off her nest. It was very frustrating so she built a nest further out in the woods close to a tree that contained an eagle nest gggrrrrr. They are not quiet birds when they lay eggs so the eagles quickly became aware of their location. I was terrified for her and him as the eagles are huge. So I examined the structures of both nests and went to work on a 3 x 6 nest box in their nightly pen. I weaved the beginning nest structure from fresh cut bushes to make a large stable ring. Then I put moist leaf grass and dirt as the filling in this deep ring. I have zero wood chips or hen beding in the nest area. Turns out she does not like that stuff. All the while I was planning this I sat outside and listened for the time she laid her eggs. Which for her is at noon. I had to obstacles to over come.. 1st guineas are ground nesters.. but I live where it floods so every nest box I have is a min of 4 feet tall. 2nd is I risked her rejecting the eggs after I moved them. So move day came and I secretly moved her eggs to the box and put the 4 of them to the nest replicating how she had them in her nest while she was free ranging my property at 1130 I went outside with a large bag of flock party worms and called for them I put a good size pile on the Sandy floor and they both took the bait... I walked out of the pen and closed the door. I felt Soo bad for her she wanted out and she stood there begging to get out after they ate the worms. The male was the one to discover the nest.. he made his little happy home sounds and she joined him and laid her egg. I immediately went back to the coop and opened their gate. I did this for 5 days now she needs no coaching and lays her eggs in the nest I made for her. I am hoping soon she will start sitting them I know they won't sit until they have a pile.. she has 11 now. I will update you all if she starts sitting.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

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I have only 2 remaining out of 5 and my female started making nests out in my woods. The 1st one was abandoned because my hens kept bugging her and kicking her off her nest. It was very frustrating so she built a nest further out in the woods close to a tree that contained an eagle nest gggrrrrr. They are not quiet birds when they lay eggs so the eagles quickly became aware of their location. I was terrified for her and him as the eagles are huge. So I examined the structures of both nests and went to work on a 3 x 6 nest box in their nightly pen. I weaved the beginning nest structure from fresh cut bushes to make a large stable ring. Then I put moist leaf grass and dirt as the filling in this deep ring. I have zero wood chips or hen beding in the nest area. Turns out she does not like that stuff. All the while I was planning this I sat outside and listened for the time she laid her eggs. Which for her is at noon. I had to obstacles to over come.. 1st guineas are ground nesters.. but I live where it floods so every nest box I have is a min of 4 feet tall. 2nd is I risked her rejecting the eggs after I moved them. So move day came and I secretly moved her eggs to the box and put the 4 of them to the nest replicating how she had them in her nest while she was free ranging my property at 1130 I went outside with a large bag of flock party worms and called for them I put a good size pile on the Sandy floor and they both took the bait... I walked out of the pen and closed the door. I felt Soo bad for her she wanted out and she stood there begging to get out after they ate the worms. The male was the one to discover the nest.. he made his little happy home sounds and she joined him and laid her egg. I immediately went back to the coop and opened their gate. I did this for 5 days now she needs no coaching and lays her eggs in the nest I made for her. I am hoping soon she will start sitting them I know they won't sit until they have a pile.. she has 11 now. I will update you all if she starts sitting.

I’ve been dealing with guinea nesting issues as well. Your creative approach is inspiring, and you must be a good woodworker to have whipped that awesome nest box up on the fly!

 

[Guinea21]

I’ve been dealing with guinea nesting issues as well. Your creative approach is inspiring, and you must be a good woodworker to have whipped that awesome nest box up on the fly!

It was the love of my birds that made me do it. the materials are left over wood from my brothers construction sites I just had to buy screws and hinges.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Well... she’s abandoned her first nest with 18 eggs in it. Laid a random egg in her pen and I haven’t seen her lay/sit since ‍
Guess these are dud eggs and I’ll try to give her a better place to lay for next time!