Isn't It Too Early For Eggs?

[nailladi]

Me too L. I am waiting as well... tick tick tick..

 

[jnjmanning]

Hi everyone, thought I would JUMP in here! I got my first guineas last yr in July(8 of them). They were approx 4 weeks old, so I integrated them into my chicken flock. They have done very well. I lost 2 in December when we had a freak warm day and they took to the tree to roost instead of the coop with the chickens. There are tons of predators here.
Anyway, they slept out this past Friday, and Saturday morning both hens were missing! About 3 hrs later they both showed up. This happened the next couple days, and I have now found the nest. There is only 1 egg so far. I dont want them to set these eggs as they will surely be killed. What is your experience? Should I gather the eggs and lock up the hens to let them hatch the eggs? Or should I incubate them myself? How long will they lay before they start setting their eggs? Any information would be great? Is there a group I should be joining?

 

[PeepsCA]

Hi everyone, thought I would JUMP in here! I got my first guineas last yr in July(8 of them). They were approx 4 weeks old, so I integrated them into my chicken flock. They have done very well. I lost 2 in December when we had a freak warm day and they took to the tree to roost instead of the coop with the chickens. There are tons of predators here.
Anyway, they slept out this past Friday, and Saturday morning both hens were missing! About 3 hrs later they both showed up. This happened the next couple days, and I have now found the nest. There is only 1 egg so far. I dont want them to set these eggs as they will surely be killed. What is your experience? Should I gather the eggs and lock up the hens to let them hatch the eggs? Or should I incubate them myself? How long will they lay before they start setting their eggs? Any information would be great? Is there a group I should be joining?

If you lock the Hens up, they may or may not hatch their eggs... not all Guinea Hens will go broody on eggs in the coop once they've been confined, they usually like to choose their own nesting places out in the bushes (as you've already experienced). So they may go stir crazy if locked up and just kick eggs around rather than building a pile to go broody on. At least you will be able to collect easily tho... whether you want to eat them or collect them to incubate.

What I do when I find my Hens laying their eggs in places that are not safe is take their eggs, but replace them with a few marked older eggs (or incubator duds, like I use), and collect their new/fresh eggs each day... but I always get them back into the coop each night. The reason for leaving marked eggs in their nest is to keep the Hens laying their eggs there, so you do not have to hunt down their new nesting places every few days. Just be sure to collect their eggs when that are no Hens or males are around the nest... if they see you messing with or around the nest too often they will scream at you, and eventally abandon that spot and find a new place to lay.

If keeping them penned, or letting them out and cooping them up every day is a problem then I'd just collect the fresh eggs daily from their nest/nests and watch for them to go broody on the marked eggs. Once they go broody then that's the end of that nest... you will need to remove all eggs, destroy the nest and put a big rock or a log in it so they know it's no longer a safe/good place to lay. Then you just have to figure out where they will lay next, and then use marked eggs there like you did with the previous nest. This may go on for you all the way thru Fall. But it keeps the Hens alive and no predators feast on (fresh) eggs, your Hens or any keets.

There are other Guineas forums on the net of course... but there's a ton of Guinea info here already. You can use the forum's search (up at the top of the page), or feel free to post a new thread with your question/questions. There are lots of helpful, knowledgeable Guinea people here that are more than willing to help you out and offer great Guinea advice.

 

[jnjmanning]

If you lock the Hens up, they may or may not hatch their eggs... not all Guinea Hens will go broody on eggs in the coop once they've been confined, they usually like to choose their own nesting places out in the bushes (as you've already experienced). So they may go stir crazy if locked up and just kick eggs around rather than building a pile to go broody on. At least you will be able to collect easily tho... whether you want to eat them or collect them to incubate.

What I do when I find my Hens laying their eggs in places that are not safe is take their eggs, but replace them with a few marked older eggs (or incubator duds, like I use), and collect their new/fresh eggs each day... but I always get them back into the coop each night. The reason for leaving marked eggs in their nest is to keep the Hens laying their eggs there, so you do not have to hunt down their new nesting places every few days. Just be sure to collect their eggs when that are no Hens or males are around the nest... if they see you messing with or around the nest too often they will scream at you, and eventally abandon that spot and find a new place to lay.

If keeping them penned, or letting them out and cooping them up every day is a problem then I'd just collect the fresh eggs daily from their nest/nests and watch for them to go broody on the marked eggs. Once they go broody then that's the end of that nest... you will need to remove all eggs, destroy the nest and put a big rock or a log in it so they know it's no longer a safe/good place to lay. Then you just have to figure out where they will lay next, and then use marked eggs there like you did with the previous nest. This may go on for you all the way thru Fall. But it keeps the Hens alive and no predators feast on (fresh) eggs, your Hens or any keets.

There are other Guineas forums on the net of course... but there's a ton of Guinea info here already. You can use the forum's search (up at the top of the page), or feel free to post a new thread with your question/questions. There are lots of helpful, knowledgeable Guinea people here that are more than willing to help you out and offer great Guinea advice.

On very nice days, mine will head to the one oak tree in my chicken yard. This is the only tree they have roosted in. If I try to get them down, they just go higher. I will get an egg and place in the nest and start collecting. I have a neighbor who will buy whatever I can hatch! THANKS for responding!!!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have been having guineas for 2 years and not 1 single hen has gone broody. I take all of the eggs and either sell them or put them under chickens that are broody. I really don't expect mine to ever go broody. They are in their guinea pen because they lay eggs all over kingdom come. After laying season is over, they will be released.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

Mine are laying finally. I let them out of 24-hour confinement a couple of weeks ago, and in the past few days have noticed the "hump" in their backs. Then one of them who came in to the pen for the night last night laid in the pen this morning.

Now to find the nest......

 

[jnjmanning]

Mine are laying finally. I let them out of 24-hour confinement a couple of weeks ago, and in the past few days have noticed the "hump" in their backs. Then one of them who came in to the pen for the night last night laid in the pen this morning.

Now to find the nest......

OK someone educate me on the "hump" please....lol

 

[guineaguy]

Wow all mine are laying in the coop in big buckets they are free ranging and the hens all start running for the coop around 1-3 pm and I have 7-9 eggs by 5 pm lol

 

[TarheelBirdy]

OK someone educate me on the "hump" please....lol

I personally can tell a "laying" guinea hen from one that is not. During their laying season, there is a "hump" above their tail that is more pronounced than any other time. It's very noticeable to me.

 

[JLeigh]

The hump is called a Bustle. I think . Pretty sure....and yes, TarheelBirdy, it seems to me the bustle is more pronounced when the hens are laying.