Hatching and she's alone!

[guinea lady]

I have a problem we have a guinea hen sitting on her and another females eggs. Everything is going great, she is in the coop and the mate will not leave her at any time even during the day when the coop and pen is open. She is well protected. The big problem is we will be away when they hatch. What to do? Since I figure it will be 26 days we will unfortunately be home 3 days later. I have no one that is willing to help. We have been raising guineas for our own property but no one else around us knows what to do. Please any ideas?

 

[mystry]

What are you doing for getting them fed while you are gone? Water? Are you going to be gone for 26 days? I am probably not understanding this as well as I could.

 

[guinea lady]

I will be gone for a week but the problem is I won't be back until 3 days after the hatching. I can have a big waterier with marbles and some scatch feed on a sheet of plywood but not sure if the mama guinea will not eat it or spread it around so that the Keets can't eat it. I talked to my friend tonight who is taking care of all my other birds while we are gone but she is still saying she won't do anything to take care of the Keets. I think she is afraid.

 

[mystry]

The mothers will take care of the keets, but your friend won't feed or water the guineas at all or just the keets? Maybe have them help you with chores including the guineas before you leave so they know what to expect? Mine were really protective of keets, just like a hen.

 

[guinea lady]

Oh, she will take care of the guineas checking their water and feed just not the keets. The keets are the ones that need to refresh the water with the marbles and give plenty of feed. I guess I just leave it up to the mama guinea. Here's another thing the mate stays with her all the time when we lock her and the next up to keep them separate and give her privacy for her keets do we leave the mate in with her or will he kill the keets?