Guinea nesting

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I have nine, 8 month old guineas - 8 female and 1 male. They free range with access to a 6x8’ coop that they are quite attached to. I’d like to add to the flock eventually, but maybe not this year, as I think that I’ll need to build a bigger coop to add on. For this year, my primary goal is not to lose hens that set up hidden nests and then get eaten by our many predators. During this past week, several guineas have been using a rounded out area of the coop floor beside a metal garbage can as a “nest” or resting site. I can’t see or feel eggs in it. One girl in particular keeps going back and forth between this nest and her flock. Does this sound like typical nest building behavior, even though there are no eggs? I find it odd that she wants to lay on an eggless nest...

 

[R2elk]

I have nine, 8 month old guineas - 8 female and 1 male. They free range with access to a 6x8’ coop that they are quite attached to. I’d like to add to the flock eventually, but maybe not this year, as I think that I’ll need to build a bigger coop to add on. For this year, my primary goal is not to lose hens that set up hidden nests and then get eaten by our many predators. During this past week, several guineas have been using a rounded out area of the coop floor beside a metal garbage can as a “nest” or resting site. I can’t see or feel eggs in it. One girl in particular keeps going back and forth between this nest and her flock. Does this sound like typical nest building behavior, even though there are no eggs? I find it odd that she wants to lay on an eggless nest...

Are you sure it is a nest or are they using it as a dust bath? When they first start laying, it is common for them to drop their eggs where ever they happen to be rather than in a nest.

I very strongly urge that you add more males to the flock very soon. Breeding season is approaching and guineas do best in a one male to one hen ratio.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Are you sure it is a nest or are they using it as a dust bath? When they first start laying, it is common for them to drop their eggs where ever they happen to be rather than in a nest.

I very strongly urge that you add more males to the flock very soon. Breeding season is approaching and guineas do best in a one male to one hen ratio.

They have dust baths outside of the coop, but they are not treating this area like a dust bath, they are just laying there very quietly, occasionally making a very soft call while I stand there and look at her. They were taking turns, but for the last two days, it’s mostly been the same girl. Only one at a time lays there and they have made a depression in the shavings/straw substrate of the coop. She looks very much like she is setting on a nest.

I didn’t intend to have this unbalanced male female ratio, but you may recall that this is the chicken brooded flock that started attacking our chickens and ducks last fall, so in a last ditch effort to save what I could, I rehomed the aggressive ones, which turned out to be almost all of the boys. I can’t add to the flock until I build a bigger coop so won’t be adding anytime soon. My remaining boy does a lot of chasing but I’m so far not seeing other signs of breeding season aggression. Any idea what problems I’ll encounter with this high girl:boy ratio?

 

[R2elk]

They have dust baths outside of the coop, but they are not treating this area like a dust bath, they are just laying there very quietly, occasionally making a very soft call while I stand there and look at her. They were taking turns, but for the last two days, it’s mostly been the same girl. Only one at a time lays there and they have made a depression in the shavings/straw substrate of the coop. She looks very much like she is setting on a nest.

I didn’t intend to have this unbalanced male female ratio, but you may recall that this is the chicken brooded flock that started attacking our chickens and ducks last fall, so in a last ditch effort to save what I could, I rehomed the aggressive ones, which turned out to be almost all of the boys. I can’t add to the flock until I build a bigger coop so won’t be adding anytime soon. My remaining boy does a lot of chasing but I’m so far not seeing other signs of breeding season aggression. Any idea what problems I’ll encounter with this high girl:boy ratio?

The most likely problem will be a lot of infertile eggs. The other problem will be lots of "buckwheating" by the hens as they call for mates that are never going to show up. The "buckwheating" usually slows down considerably once the guineas pair off but with no mates to choose it is likely to continue in full force.

The chasing is the start of breeding season. If you had more males there would be lots more chasing going on.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

The most likely problem will be a lot of infertile eggs. The other problem will be lots of "buckwheating" by the hens as they call for mates that are never going to show up. The "buckwheating" usually slows down considerably once the guineas pair off but with no mates to choose it is likely to continue in full force.

The chasing is the start of breeding season. If you had more males there would be lots more chasing going on.

Thanks! They are already quite noisy - not looking dorward to an increase in volume! So is this “nesting” or whatever this behavior is with no eggs abnormal?

 

[R2elk]

Thanks! They are already quite noisy - not looking forward to an increase in volume! So is this “nesting” or whatever this behavior is with no eggs abnormal?

It is neither normal or abnormal. It is encouraging that they seem to be interested in laying in the coop. The best way to encourage them to lay there is to add a fake egg and to leave it alone when they can see you. It doesn't take much interference to get guinea hens to abandon a nest.

Good luck.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

It is neither normal or abnormal. It is encouraging that they seem to be interested in laying in the coop. The best way to encourage them to lay there is to add a fake egg and to leave it alone when they can see you. It doesn't take much interference to get guinea hens to abandon a nest.

Good luck.

Thanks R2Elk! We can use all of the luck we can get with them! I’m very happy that all have survived our predators as we’ve lost several chickens/ducks to coyotes and a hawk when they’ve only had very limited free range time. I think a coyote grabbed our most subordinate hen and got a mouthful of feathers instead. We live in tick central, so tick eating is really what I’m hoping for. If our tick population is better this year then I think I can justify building a new coop and increasing the flock next year. My family dislikes them so we may not keep them if tick numbers don’t go down. I only plan to eat eggs at this point so infertile eggs are fine. Our male hangs out closely with four females,the “prime five” so I think he may form a harem; they have adopted a lot of chicken ways due to the way they were brooded. Three other females are a subgroup and there is one subordinate female who has to stay well back or she is chased by all. They won’t all go into the coop together during the day, as the prime five attack anyone else on the floor of the coop. At dusk, the lower ranked four will come into the coop only after the prime five go up to the roost bars, with the last one waiting until near dark when all of the rest are roosting. I was not prepared for how poorly a guinea flock gets along with each other and how much space they really need. I clearly need a bigger coop!

 

[Jpajinag]

Sorry to hijack your thread but I also have guinea questions. We have (from what I can tell) 4 females and 2 males- based off their wattles. Our quineas have been raised with chickens and we have seen the rooster from that brood mate with one guinea repeatedly. We have also witnessed 2 other guineas mate. Our guineas are about 9 months old and laying 3 eggs daily on average. They started one nest with our chickens in our wood pile that I collected last week. Previously they had been laying in our hen house but the eggs suddenly stopped only to later find the wood pile nest. They have once again started laying in the hen house bottom nesting box. As of yesterday we had 9 guinea eggs in 3 days, haven’t yet checked today. We have debated leaving the nest to see if a guinea will set. Being 9 months, neati g where we frequently collect eggs, is it likely we will have a successful set/ hatch? Wondering if I should collect eggs or leave them be? Thanks all

 

[MyCozyCritters]

I've tried unsuccessfully to allow my guineas to set and hatch eggs. Usually they are taken by a predator and had the eggs destroyed. If they do manage to hatch the eggs when they come off the nest they don't care for the keets and they just disappear. Guinea hens are not good mothers! Sadly to say.
There will be 30-40 eggs and there's not way they can set on them all so part of them will not be viable.
The only successful way I've managed to have a good result with the eggs is to collect the most of them and use an incubator to hatch them and take care of them myself in a brooder.
I've left some of the eggs in the nest for her to hatch, esp if she's right next to my house and not out in range of a predator....and she usually manages to leave the nest before the eggs are hatched.
Another good way is if you have a broody hen and can have her hatch the guinea keets, although I never have managed to have a hen who started setting at just the right time for that, I still have hopes that I can do that eventually.

 

[tbcorum]

I too have chickens and guineas living tog. but have not had the problems of them mating tog. My question is this...I have a guinea in the hay field next to the house sitting on a pile of eggs! she has NOT been off that nest in 14 days I know of. I have been watching her closely and today since weather has been so hot(90's) I am going to take her food and water. I know she is of African descent and is suppose to be able to survive on her own but the thoughts of her being out in the hot and no food or water I cant stand any longer!!
If I pick her up along with her nest and eggs will she continue to set on them? Especially if I separate her from all the other chickens and guineas and give her her own special place. I don't want the keets to start to hatch and be hawk bait !!!!.
plz help me decide if I should move her, nest and eggs??????
Teresa in NC