I found their nest!!!!!

[sunnie7]

I have 6 of my flock of 15 still. We free range all the time and they sleep under my kids tall playhouse. We live right next to a state forestry that they visit early every morning so I was really worried that’s where their nest was and it’s so wooded there’s no way I’d even go trying to find it. We have ticks horrible around here and my husband has already got RMSF. Last week I found our first egg just randomly on the ground but haven’t found any since. I’ve been really trying to pay attention to where they are hanging out and today I looked off the back deck and saw two just at the beginning of our woods and it looked like one was standing guard and they were separate from the other 4 which is a little odd for them. So I waited a few hours and then went to check it out and they came following right behind me. Which they do a lot anyways. But I could tell I was close because they lead me straight to it! I peaked from about 10 feet away and then left. Tonight after they went on their roost I went and checked it out and there are 6 eggs! I’m not sure how many females I have, I know at least two. How long can I wait to collect some to put in the incubator? Can I just leave them there for a few more days then take all but 3? Today we just hatched our first chicks 20/30 so it’s been such an exciting day for us!!!!

 

[R2elk]

I have 6 of my flock of 15 still. We free range all the time and they sleep under my kids tall playhouse. We live right next to a state forestry that they visit early every morning so I was really worried that’s where their nest was and it’s so wooded there’s no way I’d even go trying to find it. We have ticks horrible around here and my husband has already got RMSF. Last week I found our first egg just randomly on the ground but haven’t found any since. I’ve been really trying to pay attention to where they are hanging out and today I looked off the back deck and saw two just at the beginning of our woods and it looked like one was standing guard and they were separate from the other 4 which is a little odd for them. So I waited a few hours and then went to check it out and they came following right behind me. Which they do a lot anyways. But I could tell I was close because they lead me straight to it! I peaked from about 10 feet away and then left. Tonight after they went on their roost I went and checked it out and there are 6 eggs! I’m not sure how many females I have, I know at least two. How long can I wait to collect some to put in the incubator? Can I just leave them there for a few more days then take all but 3? Today we just hatched our first chicks 20/30 so it’s been such an exciting day for us!!!!

I recommend replacing them with at least 3 fake eggs. Some people are successful using golf balls as fake eggs.

Take the eggs daily when they can't see you. You can save them up for 7 - 10 days before incubating them.

 

[sunnie7]

I recommend replacing them with at least 3 fake eggs. Some people are successful using golf balls as fake eggs.

Take the eggs daily when they can't see you. You can save them up for 7 - 10 days before incubating them.

When I store them is it pint side down in the carton? Then do I need to tilt the carton and rotate it everyday?

 

[R2elk]

When I store them is it point side down in the carton? Then do I need to tilt the carton and rotate it everyday?

That is one way of storing them. It is recommended to alternate which end of the carton is up 3 times daily.

 

[sunnie7]

That is one way of storing them. It is recommended to alternate which end of the carton is up 3 times daily.

Okay so like this?! And the pointy end on the egg stays facing down the whole time right? I just prop the opposite side of the carton each time? There were 6 last night and I just went and took them and there were 10 which means I must have 4 females and 2 males! I suspected 3 and 3 but this is great!!!! I’m going to collect tomorrow night then put them in the incubator. I just finished my first chicken hatch yesterday and we got 20/30 and we also have 10, 3 week old chicks and 3 ducks! I have 33 birds in brooders in my garage right now I’m in bird heaven!!

 

[R2elk]

Okay so like this?! And the pointy end on the egg stays facing down the whole time right? I just prop the opposite side of the carton each time? There were 6 last night and I just went and took them and there were 10 which means I must have 4 females and 2 males! I suspected 3 and 3 but this is great!!!! I’m going to collect tomorrow night then put them in the incubator. I just finished my first chicken hatch yesterday and we got 20/30 and we also have 10, 3 week old chicks and 3 ducks! I have 33 birds in brooders in my garage right now I’m in bird heaven!!

I would raise the end higher. I like to get it to about a 45° angle. Then just alternate which end of the carton is elevated. Keep the eggs pointy side down the whole time.

 

[sunnie7]

Tonight I only found 2 eggs and about 5ft away from the next what looked like a couple pieces of a broken shell. It was already dark and raining so I was trying to be fast. So either something took an egg or 2 or only some of them are laying in that nest. Do they usually all lay in the same nest? I suspect I have 4 females and they have just started laying in the past week-ish.

 

[R2elk]

Tonight I only found 2 eggs and about 5ft away from the next what looked like a couple pieces of a broken shell. It was already dark and raining so I was trying to be fast. So either something took an egg or 2 or only some of them are laying in that nest. Do they usually all lay in the same nest? I suspect I have 4 females and they have just started laying in the past week-ish.

It is very common for guinea hens to use a communal nest. Sometimes lower ranking hens are not permitted to lay in the communal nest and may lay nearby. Sounds like you have had a predator find the nest. It will be back after more eggs.

 

[sunnie7]

It is very common for guinea hens to use a communal nest. Sometimes lower ranking hens are not permitted to lay in the communal nest and may lay nearby. Sounds like you have had a predator find the nest. It will be back after more eggs.

We are going to put up a trail camera tomorrow. I’m a little surprised because their nest is right on the other side of the fence from my Great Pyrenees. What all animals usually go after the eggs?

 

[R2elk]

We are going to put up a trail camera tomorrow. I’m a little surprised because their nest is right on the other side of the fence from my Great Pyrenees. What all animals usually go after the eggs?

The number one egg thief here is a skunk. Where you are located, opossums are also likely suspects. Raccoons are another egg thief.