- Thread starter
- #21
Mirrormasc09
In the Brooder
- Mar 31, 2020
- 23
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- 23
I’ve given up for now and.
I’ve given up for now and bought 18 eggs from another farm to add to the gene pool. Thank you so much for that insight. I know with my flock they lay in a group and are real chatty as one is laying like they’re cheering her on lol there’s nothing subtle about it lol but the problem is when I hear them doing the “laying chant” I usually have my toddler in tow and can’t go running towards the calls.. there will definitely be breeding sets I keep cooped from now on to try and help the flock from dwindling
Hey. You’re doing a great job. Try not to get flustered, but losing our pets is upsetting. I didn’t mention in my posts, that I DO set live traps every night. I have them located in between the wood line and my “Guinea Roosting” tree. I also keep the bird feeder (with sunflower seeds) at least half full for the night time. If coons pass a trap, the bird feeder acts as another deterrent, located on a “decoy” tree. The Guineas love the sunflower seeds too, so they love to gather around when I’m filling wild bird feeders. Gradually, they’ll come closer and closer. I’ve never had one be tame to where I could pet it.
Regarding your hatch rate, I felt like I was somehow failing as I compared my hatch experience with Guineas to my successes with raising chickens. I find chickens eggs easier by far. I also know that there were several eggs in one clutch that didn’t hatch. They were about half way developed before they passed. I guess my point is, Mama Pearl has a better hatch ratio than me and my old incubator. I thought of purchasing a new one, but am leaning towards letting the females hatch them, and then I take the keets and raise them in the coop, to coop train, etc. I hate to take them from a ma who sat a month, but I feel the keets are safer in a more controlled setting. Then, on to the next stage with mixing back together. I have posts that received helpful advice from others regarding mixing of flocks.
As far as finding the hidden nests, watch real close as to where your “pairs” are hanging around. The eggs are close. Last year, a mama laid a nest in our burn brush pile. I pick up and remove the clutch from a dangerous spot, and relocate to a nest in the coop. There are times when I’ve looked all over for those missing two or three full grown. I thought for sure the neighbor’s dog got them, etc., and then boop, there they are. So, when they come as a group, like when you put out the special treats to keep them by the tree, watch real close to see where your laying pairs wander. They’re slick. If you look at my posts, there’s that guy that has been most helpful. He’s the word “Elk”, with 2 numbers and a letter (but I don’t have it memorized). His very good input is in the Guinea forum. He’s quick to respond and very thorough. He’s VERY knowledgeable. I’m trying to keep my question load at a minimum so as not to bother him too much
. My best to you and your Guineas! Good luck finding those nests!
I’ve given up for now and bought 18 eggs from another farm to add to the gene pool. Thank you so much for that insight. I know with my flock they lay in a group and are real chatty as one is laying like they’re cheering her on lol there’s nothing subtle about it lol but the problem is when I hear them doing the “laying chant” I usually have my toddler in tow and can’t go running towards the calls.. there will definitely be breeding sets I keep cooped from now on to try and help the flock from dwindling
