I'm a Grandmother! I have babies!

[BritinMO]

After what seems AGES, and almost being at the point of thinking my 2 guinea girls that have been sitting on one pile of eggs in the chicken coop were imagining that their eggs were fertile - I have at least 2 babies today - I cannot tell you how HAPPY I am!

I knew when I drove into our driveway that something was going on, the chickens were all chattering away and very excited by the door of the coop - took one look and there was the cutest little face peering out from under one of the guineas!

Slightly perplexed about what I do now, its very very warm here, so they can stay in the chicken coop I guess, no need for a heat lamp? (Its 96f in the day and around 75f at night) - I've put a chick waterer in there and taken the other bigger water container out - now I have to put some starter feed in there?

Will this be ok, or should I risk my life and try and remove the babies from the mothers and raise them in the old water trough until they are big enough to let out? The babies can't get out of the coop as I've put a piece of wood across the door that is open in the day.

Any advice really appreciated!

 

[chicmom]

OMG! That is the cutest pic! Beautiful mother and darling baby....I'm sorry I am not experienced in this area, but I'm sure more members will come along with advice for you!

Congrats!
Sharon

 

[PeepsCA]

Aww, I'm so happy for ya Brit!!!!

Looks like a pied pearl grey peaking out from under momma there, so adorable!!!!!

How many eggs do you think they are sitting on?

Your property seems pretty safe, so maybe just keep them all confined to the coop for at least a week or so with food and water (after the rest are done hatching) before letting everybody out? I'd babysit them while they are out and usher them in at night of course tho, just to be on the safe side. Be sure to put marbles or stones in the waterer so the babies can't drown. You may need to put up a bigger piece of wood in the doorway, the keets will be able to hop/fly up around a foot high within a week.


CONGRATS!!!!

 

[TarheelBirdy]

I LOVE that picture.

 

[chickenlover96]

guineas are the worst mothers ever so i would leave the keets with them but keep them in the pen till they are 3-4 weeks so they can fend for themselves

 

[cracking up]

I had the same thing happen today! My mom is lavender and the baby is pied - looks just like your baby. It was running around. I don't have much hope for mine because they are in a bush of poison oak. I didn't think I was allergic but after peeking at them for a couple of weeks I finally got a horrible rash and she is just going to have to figure it out for herself.

I'll run a hose close by tomorrow - last night she got off the nest so I know they just started hatching today. I could tell they were hatching by the peeping this morning and I'm hoping she'll take them out for a walk tomorrow.

Beautiful picture. Congratulations and good luck with them.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
LOL crackin up, I SO feel your pain!! I get poison oak really bad every year from my animals being in it, it's everywhere on my property (and it's the absolute LAST thing my worthless goats will eat, even if I skip a night or 2 of tossing them hay, lol... which is WHY I got them in the first place!!!).

Good luck with your new babies!!! Put on a coat of lotion, sunblock or tecnu as a protective coating before you go anywhere near poison oak, then shower with tepid water and lots of soap after you are done bush whacking to get your keets, lol.

 

[BritinMO]

Thanks for the congrats everyone and the advice! I would say there are about 20 eggs in the nest, I am obsessed with watching to see if anymore have hatched! I think its bizarre how 2 guineas have shared this nest for the past month, they seem to be really enjoying their joint responsibilities of looking after the babies. The other baby (not the one in the photo) was running around yesterday evening on the floor of the coop pecking away with a few of the other adult guineas who stopped by to visit, so funny to see this TINY one with the big ones!

I'm keeping a very close eye to make sure that they are all getting along, so far so good! And the chicken hens seem to have accepted whats going on now in 'their' coop!

Oh yes - and Peeps, you remember the white guinea called Kate that none of the rest liked - I suspect 'she' is a he'............or something else all together - Kate seems to have one big red wobbley bit on its face and the other one is kind of small, and the pointy thing on its head is not obviously a male either......its very odd! Doesn't make much noise either, so can't tell from that, but it seems very happy and I guess thats all that matters!

 

[PeepsCA]

I'm anxious to see how many keets your girls hatch for you AND also anxious to see more pics! I'm thrilled for you that everything is working out so well with your flock, you are the bestest Guinea Grammie, what lucky keets and Guineas

Oh dear... Kate might be a male huh? The wattles sometimes fib as far as gender goes, (bad genetics can give either sex of bird incorrect wattles and also mismatched wattles), but if you have not heard the bird buck-wheating ever, it probably is a male. How about the area around the nostrils? Is it more pronounced than on your Hens? If it is, that's also another tell-tale sign of a bird being a male. The casque (pointy thing on the head) could have been damaged/injured prior to you getting the bird... so that could be why it doesn't look like a male's.

Have you thought up any new potential names yet? LOL

 

[BritinMO]

Mmmmmmm, interesting info about Kate - the wattles are definitely mis-matched, I'll have to try and get a photo of him/her, its a bit manic at times, and seems a bit in its own world, but seriously does look happy and is very healthy! Kevin seems to suit it for some reason -

NO more babies yet today, but the 2 are doing great, they have their own starter food which of course the others are eating - but they are running around with Mum when she leaves the nest pecking all over the coop.....I'm spending way too much time watching them, its really amazing the way the darker girl seems to have taken to looking after the babies and the pearl grey one remains on the eggs, she it turning them a lot today - is that a good sign of things to come?????