Incubating Guinea Eggs

[johnsonhillfarm]

Right now my guineas are in a coop with large run and are 9 months old. They started laying eggs and there are about 2 every day or every other day and I am up to 6 now. I have been putting them in an incubator. If I get 20 or so would it work for me to move them all back into the coop in a nest and see if any of the hens would go broody or is that too risky? I have them cooped because our neighbors flock across the street has 30 or so and I am nervous my flock might join theirs so was waiting for mine flock to get bigger.

 

[R2elk]

Right now my guineas are in a coop with large run and are 9 months old. They started laying eggs and there are about 2 every day or every other day and I am up to 6 now. I have been putting them in an incubator. If I get 20 or so would it work for me to move them all back into the coop in a nest and see if any of the hens would go broody or is that too risky? I have them cooped because our neighbors flock across the street has 30 or so and I am nervous my flock might join theirs so was waiting for mine flock to get bigger.

I would put them all in the incubator at the same time. Guinea hens tend to use large communal nests with lots of eggs. Too many eggs makes for poor care by a broody hen or two that can't necessarily cover all the eggs properly at the same time. Add in the often poor mothering talents of guinea hens and you are far better off to incubate and brood the keets yourself.

 

[Yardmom]

Just want to make sure? Are you adding eggs to an incubator that has already started eggs? You need all the eggs to hatch at the same time. The incubator needs the humidity adjusted the last 3 days. If you give them to a guinea they have to hatch and go with mom the same day. I do not currently have guinea, but I would expect them to be similar to my muscovy ducks. I leave the eggs in their nest, when they think they have enough eggs they go broody then sit on them until hatch.

 

[R2elk]

Just want to make sure? Are you adding eggs to an incubator that has already started eggs? You need all the eggs to hatch at the same time. The incubator needs the humidity adjusted the last 3 days. If you give them to a guinea they have to hatch and go with mom the same day. I do not currently have guinea, but I would expect them to be similar to my muscovy ducks. I leave the eggs in their nest, when they think they have enough eggs they go broody then sit on them until hatch.

Guinea hens tend to share communal nests that amass more eggs than they can properly cover.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Right now my guineas are in a coop with large run and are 9 months old. They started laying eggs and there are about 2 every day or every other day and I am up to 6 now. I have been putting them in an incubator. If I get 20 or so would it work for me to move them all back into the coop in a nest and see if any of the hens would go broody or is that too risky? I have them cooped because our neighbors flock across the street has 30 or so and I am nervous my flock might join theirs so was waiting for mine flock to get bigger.

If you put them in the incubator as you get them, you will have a staggered hatch, which is tough to manage. The eggs will stay viable if kept cool and tilted or rotated twice per day. I put my hatching eggs in a cooler with an ice pack that keeps the eggs around 60 F. Then I tilt the cooler twice per day using books to elevate pen end, then the other. They are good for at least two weeks but probably longer than that. When you get the number you want to incubate, allow to warm to room temp in egg cartons (so water doesn’t condense on them) then place in incubator together.

Also, have you cracked a few freshly laid eggs open to look for fertilization? Cooped guineas don’t seem to mate as effectively, plus their fertility can be low early in the season. No point in incubating if there not fertilized.

Up to you if you want to try raising keets from within the flock versus incubating and integrating. There are advantages and disadvantages to either. I am wondering how you can keep the flocks from merging if you do start free ranging?

 

[Sydney65]

If you put them in the incubator as you get them, you will have a staggered hatch, which is tough to manage. The eggs will stay viable if kept cool and tilted or rotated twice per day. I put my hatching eggs in a cooler with an ice pack that keeps the eggs around 60 F. Then I tilt the cooler twice per day using books to elevate pen end, then the other. They are good for at least two weeks but probably longer than that. When you get the number you want to incubate, allow to warm to room temp in egg cartons (so water doesn’t condense on them) then place in incubator together.

Also, have you cracked a few freshly laid eggs open to look for fertilization? Cooped guineas don’t seem to mate as effectively, plus their fertility can be low early in the season. No point in incubating if there not fertilized.

Up to you if you want to try raising keets from within the flock versus incubating and integrating. There are advantages and disadvantages to either. I am wondering how you can keep the flocks from merging if you do start free ranging?

(Is this a good place to mention the diminished stress I have NOT incubating this year?!)

 

[R2elk]

(Is this a good place to mention the diminished stress I have NOT incubating this year?!)

The year is young.