I have another broody guinea! Need advice on how to catch her.

[fledgling]

Tried and failed twice. She's in a tree now. I moved the eggs and if she isn't back down by her old nest in 20 mins. I'll put one of our hens in there as a last ditch effort. They are laying but not broody. Maybe a clutch of eggs will get them going? I have no incubator and don't have time to make one myself.

 

[bigdawg]

i dont know why someone didnt already tell you, you cannot disturb a guinea nest, move them, take eggs out, ect.ect. they will not come back. they will move there nest elswhere. buy a bator and collect all the eggs you find. after the nest is full that is

 

[fledgling]

Well, these are free range guineas and they picking deadly spots for nests.

I didn't catch her. I guess I won't try again because she's up in a tree roosting now. Thanks for the info.

I don't own an incubator. I placed two dozen in an ice chest with a light and humidity. I have to read up to see if I can still save those. The remaining eggs are in the private broody nest box under a hen (I hope). If she takes to them by morning, I'll give her the other eggs, too.

Off to read up on homemade incubators.....

 

[New adventure]

I've been chasing my guineas (2 hens) all dang summer to find their hiding places, and every time I find a nest it seems like 15-20, one time 28 eggs that are just being wasted. Then they start over again;

so frustrating. I had one sitting on 22 eggs behind the neighbors compost pile and made the mistake of bringing them home during a bad rain storm. Sure enough, next morning she had scattered the eggs all over the pen and left them.
Two weeks later, she was missing again; never did find that nest, just a pile of feathers after another week had passed, think a fox got her.

So I'm down to 1 hen and this one stashed a nest of 18 eggs right near the fence in my other neighbors yard. I figured I was tired of the search and seizure game so I put some small plywood sheets around her for protection. At least this time I knew where she wasand could watch her.

One night she did go to the coop but was right back on the nest the next morning. I never thought those eggs would hatch; but be darned if Saturday morning I took her some food and there were 9 keets tucked under her and 2 more mid-hatch.

I put a bucket over her and managed to get them all moved into my big fenced garden. She and the 2 males spend all day singing and cooing to those babies, teaching them what to eat etc. I am totally amazed how well they are caring for their family; hope they keep it up so I don't have to set up a brooder.

Sorry for the ramble; that was the best I could condense 3 months.

 

[jrobertson]

if you touch a guinea nest..........be prepared for some other type of incubation.