I cannot find where my guineas are laying!!!

[txchickie]

I have looked EVERYWHERE! These are sneaky little gals

I have a bator ready but I cannot find the nests!!!!!! They have quite a big circle that they run around here (think like 10+ acres

) and there is only so much I can do with a 2 year old hanging on my leg all day long.

I don't want them hatching out babies and losing them. I have a feeling I'm going to have to start guinea stalking at daylight and just go all day

Where the heck do guineas usually lay? They're like 2 years old and I know I have at LEAST 10 hens and several roos, they definently should be cranking me out some eggs!

Makes me wonder if the dogs are getting them

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Mine would make a special sound when they were on the nest, sort of a whistle-y sounding whee-whee-whee-whee. We learned to listen for that sound, and follow it to their current nest site.

I'm bummed because at age 3 it seems my guineas are no longer laying. I got an egg a day from them for 2 seasons in a row. This year they laid for only a couple months, and now nothing. Of course, this is when I have someone who would LOVE to buy them for eating, at $5 a dozen, so it doesn't matter they're not fertile.

 

[feathersgalore]

Keep them penned up for a few days. Collect all the eggs you want and then let them back out. Unless you stumble upon the nest, they are very difficult to locate.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

I would say they are laying in thier nest.





















But yeah, finding the nests usually isnt easy. Im just messin with you.

 

[Marlinchaser]

I have found its easiest to start where the briars are thickest,

If you watch them the others will stand gaurd as they each take a turn laying thier eggs. If you find that one of the hens doesnt return at night, she is probably sitting on eggs, so now you need to find a hen instead of eggs, which theoretically should be easier, but...... its like easter everyday except the guineas forgot to color the eggs first. Also look behind anything, under anything(wheelbarrow, cart, trialer, car that hasn't moved in a little while, they seem to think if its still now it will stay that way forever.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
i think that would be considered cheating in the game of hide and seek.

 

[sweetshoplady]

Marlinchaser so true, so true.

Egg hunts are fun. Yes much easier to find a hen. If you look for the ones standing guard and frequenting a particular area. Most likely in a thick pile of sticks, like I used to protect my fruit trees from my horses. That's where my guineas chose. And if you get close a male may charge you, and you'll know you're within 10 ft. Sometimes the males will get closer when their mates are in there - to see if she's done yet, Sometimes the males will just be standing near by under a nearby tree, no females in sight. (And if you listen carefully, they'll be singing "Waiting on a Woman".)

 

[Boyd]

gotta be a ninja and be sneaky

 

[kinnip]

The first thing is to locate the biggest snake pit/insect nest/rabbit warren type pile of crud you can, then start poking at it with a stick. When a male runs out and starts alarm calling at you, you've hit paydirt. You'll want to be sure to don a little chainmaille, then reach right in and grab you some egg.
Seriously, you will see the male running around while the female noisily lays. Once you see it, it's hard to miss.

 

[txchickie]

Oh my gosh I am cracking up

Okay, so I'm off to search the mesquite pasture

Dumb guineas!!!!!