Guinea prefured nesting box

[dfarmann]

I had Guineas running my farm yards for years(15+) and never had a hen go broody a raise her babys. Always a varmit finds the nest and destroys it.

I have a pair that spend a lot of time in there house during the day but no eggs on the floor, I do know they are laying as I found a nest back by the round bales of corn stalks.

My question is, What is the correct specifications for a nesting box? What size nesting area, how high off the ground? Any other suggestions? I realy want one or more to hatch there eggs in a night time protected area.

If I was to gather these egg and save them for one of the wifes broody chickens how would you suggest keeping them and for how long?

TIA.

 

[Guinea21]

I had Guineas running my farm yards for years(15+) and never had a hen go broody a raise her babys. Always a varmit finds the nest and destroys it.

I have a pair that spend a lot of time in there house during the day but no eggs on the floor, I do know they are laying as I found a nest back by the round bales of corn stalks.

My question is, What is the correct specifications for a nesting box? What size nesting area, how high off the ground? Any other suggestions? I realy want one or more to hatch there eggs in a night time protected area.

If I was to gather these egg and save them for one of the wifes broody chickens how would you suggest keeping them and for how long?

TIA.

My guinea nested with some encouragement (flock party worms placed on the roost by the door.) Plus I put sticks and compost in the box not wood shavings. The only problem I have now at day 21 is mom is panicking. I think she is feeling the babies move in the eggs and it's making her nervous. She sound the alarm to call back my male to her and he was in her nest box looking at the eggs. Not sure what to do about that hopefully nature will guide her. My nest box is about 4ft off the ground and the roost ledge gives me a place to mount the ramp I have for it when babies are hatched.

 

[R2elk]

I had Guineas running my farm yards for years(15+) and never had a hen go broody a raise her babies. Always a varmint finds the nest and destroys it.

I have a pair that spend a lot of time in there house during the day but no eggs on the floor, I do know they are laying as I found a nest back by the round bales of corn stalks.

My question is, What is the correct specifications for a nesting box? What size nesting area, how high off the ground? Any other suggestions? I really want one or more to hatch their eggs in a night time protected area.

If I was to gather these egg and save them for one of the wife's broody chickens how would you suggest keeping them and for how long?

TIA.

Guinea nests should be at ground level. Some people have made cave like areas in their coops by using bales of straw or hay. At least one member has success by providing nesting materials in a wheelbarrow.

I have had guineas make nests in the coop in a boxed in area with a lid under the roosts. Mine haven't started laying yet this year but have started showing interest in the fake eggs in this nest site.

You can gather the eggs and store them in an egg carton, large end up. Place something under one end of the carton so that it is elevated and alternate which end is elevated. It is recommended that changing which end is elevated be done 3 times per day. The recommendation is to save the eggs for 7 to 10 days but I have successfully hatched eggs that were 21 days old before putting them in the incubator. The ideal temperature for storing the eggs is around 50°F with a humidity of around 60%.

 

[Guinea21]

Guinea nests should be at ground level. Some people have made cave like areas in their coops by using bales of straw or hay. At least one member has success by providing nesting materials in a wheelbarrow.

I have had guineas make nests in the coop in a boxed in area with a lid under the roosts. Mine haven't started laying yet this year but have started showing interest in the fake eggs in this nest site.

You can gather the eggs and store them in an egg carton, large end up. Place something under one end of the carton so that it is elevated and alternate which end is elevated. It is recommended that changing which end is elevated be done 3 times per day. The recommendation is to save the eggs for 7 to 10 days but I have successfully hatched eggs that were 21 days old before putting them in the incubator. The ideal temperature for storing the eggs is around 50°F with a humidity of around 60%.

I agree with you about ground level for guineas but my property has challenges... Lots of snakes... The protected species here in Washington parish is the speckled king snake.. who likes to eat other snakes and an occasional egg plus my property had an additional challenge... See pic.. so in exceptional circumstances we adapt. It doesn't flood often but when it does anything on the ground is washed away. both floods happened within just this year. I was glad the guineas where able to adapt.

 

[Guinea21]

Dfarmann, another thing that might help with your rodent problem.... is cats.. they can be taught to leave farm birds alone.. my guinea and hens were raised with cats around them. The outside cats are fed very little at night to encourage rodent hunting. I have had many gifts of dead mice left on my front porch.