Guinea nesting questions

Enno

Hatching
6 Years
Jan 18, 2014
8
0
7
I have 3 female guineas that are about 10 months old and because of them inherited the neighbors 6 males :)
Recently we penned them up for a few days and collected eggs. We put them under a Silkie hen so the Silkie hen can do what they do best.
I went out today to just check on everybody and I noticed the guineas clustered in an area of heavy brush. I walked over and found a nest... Before I saw the nest I noticed there were about 4 eggs outside the nest in a semi circle about 5 foot from the nest.... Could this be the momma guinea taking BAD eggs off the nest? Or maybe distraction for a predator? or just one of our girls being dumb?Should I go out and put them back in the nest?
Right now there are about 24 eggs in the nest. The birds free range at night but go inside to roost (the neighbors roosters don't come in) Should I leave the girls outside so they can sit on the eggs when the nest is full?
Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in Advance
Enno
 
I would say they haven't accumulated enough eggs yet to set. I have a hen who is sitting on 30+ eggs. 2 other hens join her during the day and they have about 15 eggs but they return to the coop at night. My first so I'm just trying to leave them alone and see how it works out. Have the cocks been around long enough to know if all the eggs are fertile? If there is any chance that they are mostly duds, I would try to remove the eggs and let her start over but you risk her moving her nest and you might not find it.
 
We had one of the Cocks show up 3 months ago and then another 2 months ago... Now the whole neighborhood hangs out at my house.
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I'm hoping they are all fertile.... Also hoping the Austrolorp rooster hasn't........

They started sitting on them full time yesterday afternoon. One stayed out all night and stayed with them. The other hens went in with the chickens last night... I wonder if I should kick them all out in case the one on the nest wants a break? We live pretty rural so there is a chance of predators but it is pretty well hidden.

Thanks
Enno
 

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