Guinea on nest-ready to hatch!

[NancyP1]

Here is the rest of the gang! The new coop is a duplex! Hoping to keep the guineas on one side and the chickens on the other...if they all decide to get along, I can take out the divider..heres to hoping for a happy flock!

 

[melroseladi]

A guinea hen hatching out her eggs is definitely stressful. I was able to hatch out 5 more in the incubator after mom stopped sitting. When she took off with her brood of 6 I chased them down and was able to recover 4 of them, including the 2 buff dundottes. She kept 2 and managed to loose one the first night. She came back to the run and started roosting in there with her only keet. She has now taken to roosting in the hen house with the baby. I still have the others in brooders indoors. The adult guineas seem to have done better with just one baby to protect and keep track of. It has grown in size comparable to the ones that I am brooding but is a lot less skiddish of me then then others. When I am outside it comes right up to me as do the adults.

 

[NancyP1]

perchie.girl :

Wow I suspect you got at least thirty eggs in there... two hens cant cover them all.....

Love her expression.... I see you but you dont see me..... I am a rock, a stone, a dark unrecognizeable blob.... not a Guinea.... Whishes her hands an snaps her fingers.... Invisible now... (from a tv show called soap)

Haha, I remember that show! Well, back outside for me, winter is sneeking up fast here, and as usual too much to do and not enough time to do it all! thanks again, and will keep ya posted....​

 

[NancyP1]

Well, it looks like both hens will set on the nest tonite, and I think the male is in the apple tree right above them. I got hissed at again when I was trying to peek at them. I hope the 2nd hen is not going broody now. Its almost october and getting cold here!

It's been in the low 30s a couple of nites. I think I will get up early and check the nest for hatches often, of course in the rain. My incubator is on, brooder box is ready..just need to grab some more feed. When the original broody hen is gone, I'm gonna boot the other one off the eggs....This is it for babies this year. I think I need a bigger coop:/

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Chicken math is geometric.....

Guinea math is exponential......

Hee hee. Good luck on sneakin up on em. And keep warm and dry.

 

[lcw1995]

keep us updated
hopein u get a hatch

 

[NancyP1]

Ok, have been out in the rain, checking on the guinea...nothing..nada..zip...HATCH ALREADY!

 

[NancyP1]

So both hens were off the nest today. I took ALL their eggs. Have 17 for the trash, 15 in the incubator...not holding out much hope for them though. There are a few that look hopeful...and the rest look to be in various stages of development..Well, we'll see what happens.
Tried to take them off the nest tonite (well after dark) got one back in the coop...the other flew off. I guess I will round her up tomorrow with a net and she is back in the coop too! Then locked in the old coop and run until the new one is finished! I don't think they are going to like it, but thats the way it is, lol. Tired of worrying about them being out...

 

[PeepsCA]

Destroy the nest, don't give them (or her if it's just one Hen) anything to go back to. I usually scuff up the spot really well and even put a log or large rock on any nest I don't want my Hens using.

Good luck with your eggs, hope you get a few keets at least!

 

[NancyP1]

I did not destroy the nest yet. That is in my plans for today. I had one hen get away last nite...hope to find her there this am. Boy were they mad when I tried to pick them up last nite..figured I would be pretty safe at night...yea right..sharp beaks they have there. Even DH was wondering what they taste like lol.
I am going to try to get some of the new run done today..the nest will be in the new run. If I can get it done, at least the part behind the new coop, I won't destroy the nest. DH is getting me some fencing for my birthday! (I am probably the only one who wants chicken wire for a present!) I also found some used paneling for the inside, really want to get some insulation in there. I think it will be very cold in there without it. It's metal siding on 3 sides and the winters here in upstate NY can be very unpleasant. My big barn for the horses is also metal sided and sometimes its colder in there than it is outside!

As far as the eggs I kept go, I put them all in the turner. None of them looked real close to hatching but I will keep a close eye on them. I figure if any do hatch, we will have snow on the ground before they have feathers!