Guinea Hen Not Coming Home To Roost

[mrbstephens]

This is the second night that one of my guinea hens hasn't come home to roost. The same one both nights and I heard her "buckwheat"-ing in the distance somewhere a little before dusk. I was worried that something had gotten her last night, but she returned first thing this morning to join the flock without a single mark on her. Now she hasn't come home again. Is she possibly sitting on a nest of eggs? Would she be getting off of them during the day and then sitting on them only at night?

 

[critters]

Thats a real possibility....have you noticed during the day if any other guineas,
like her mate, are hanging around in the same area? But to me it does sound
like she is nesting...

Good luck with that...I'm sure someone that really knows what they are talking about
will see your post and give you their opinion on her...

 

[mrbstephens]

I hear the "egg song" coming from the same directions where I've heard the evening "buckwheat." I think it's in my neighbor's yard or thereabouts. I live in the woods so when the guineas take off for the day they are completely out of my sight.

 

[mrbstephens]

This morning she didn't come home, but I followed her boyfriend to where she was. She was out eating birdseed under the neighbor's birdfeeder. I looked around, but didn't see anything obvious as far as a nest. There is a ton of shrubbery and brush over there. Many many places available for nesting. I'll try again later to see if I can find it. Unfortunately, I may need to leave things as is which would mean leaving her vulnerable to predators.

 

[critters]

hopefully she will come strolling into your yard in about
a month with a whole group of baby keets.

....but if anything like me, I'd still look for that nest....

 

[PeepsCA]

You need to stalk her, before a predator does.

Trick her and call her for treats, shake that feed scoop, refill the feeder... whatever will get her attention. !st thing AM and then late afternoon/early evening are the times I like to try doing this. Then be sure watch which direction she comes from and which direction she takes off towards (but be nonchalant about it, lol). Then be sneaky and follow her... or just walk around nest hunting a couple times a day, the male will start screaming at you if you are in the right vicinity of the well hidden Hen on her nest. Don't give up, you just gotta be smarter (and just as stubborn) than the average Guinea Hen!