Keets hatching, let mom be or not....

[Tacampbell1973]

My last female, Yukon is on her second time hatching. Last year we lost half the keets to pecking (not sure if the boys did it or mom or what happened as we were at the store) so last year I gathred up the babies and brooded them myself. I hated myself for doing that to her. So this year wasn't even sure the eggs woul hatch. I had a chicken hen brood the eggs for a day ande leave her egg there too. The chicken chick egg hatched a week ago and I integrated little Guiness (yes i name all my animals, its getting harder as i am up to 40 something chickens and 8 Guinea fowl) into my existing family of chickens undeer Kahliil whos babies where about 5 days older. Anywho so i wasnt sure if the guinea eggs had started developing from the day she sat them. Yesterday i went to check on Yukon and sure enough, one was dead, looked squashed under an egg, no peck marks at all, but there were at least half hatched out. My orriginal plan as she is under a bush in the ivy was to shoo her and kids into one of the coops about five feet away. Should mention that she tolerates me but is in no way tame. Am trying not to disturb her as much as possible. i made a sort of protective fence out of two screen doors to try to keep all but her mate out of her nest.... i am prepared to jump in but really would hate to. Any suggestions would help . thank you. And yes i have heard all the stories about bad guinea moms, but I hate to interfere if not needed. She seems to be doing ok as right now. My biggest concern is should I try to move her and kids into the barn/pen and if so does daddy need to go too? She was calling to him yesterday and he got upset when he couldn't get to her so i let him in.

 

[holm25]

I would keep him seperate and put her in the coop or barn as soon as ALL babies have hatched if u need to in a day or so do a candling on any eggs that haven't hatched and see if they're alive. Good luck

 

[FrogRaku]

I just had my first hatch with guineas. (I had two, year old mamas brooding on the same nest.) They lost a couple early hatchers. I think they didn't know what to do with them while still sitting on the nest. Once they all hatched and were off the nest, the guinea mamas have been great. I've just kept them in their coop until the dew is off the grass and shooed them inside if it rains. As for your question about the father - I don't think you'll be able to keep him away. Guinea mamas are fierce protectors, so I think she'll chase him away if he's a threat. P.S. I'd love to name my guineas, but it's so hard to tell them apart!

 

[Tacampbell1973]

So day 5, mom Yukon doing super! Dad is one of my original Guineas that I banded and named, but two lost their bands and couldnt figure out who was who. Six to eight months ago my adults moved from coop to trees at night so never was able to reband male and other one died. So he is now Daddy. Babies are in a natural nest in our landscaping, a recessed flowerbed. They have been all over yard with Yukon Daddy and their 5 protective uncles. I am really proud of all of them. In fact first night Daddy slept in the Cherry tree above them. Trying to not get my hopes up, but all is going better than I imagined right now.

 

[FrogRaku]

That's wonderful!!! The keets are so much fun to watch! Today, my guinea mamas taught the keets how to roost - first, on the bench on our porch (what a suprise to have guineas looking in at us!), then in a pine tree. It was so cute with them all lined up on the branch, mamas on either end. Congrats on your little flock!!!

 

[Tacampbell1973]

I just had my first hatch with guineas. (I had two, year old mamas brooding on the same nest.) They lost a couple early hatchers. I think they didn't know what to do with them while still sitting on the nest. Once they all hatched and were off the nest, the guinea mamas have been great. I've just kept them in their coop until the dew is off the grass and shooed them inside if it rains. As for your question about the father - I don't think you'll be able to keep him away. Guinea mamas are fierce protectors, so I think she'll chase him away if he's a threat. P.S. I'd love to name my guineas, but it's so hard to tell them apart!

Amen to that! Mine are handed in leg, but not by their choice! Oh no! They like me just fine! With treats or mealworms. But otherwise, say who? Mom who? Nah! I am not from here, I am wild African terror! Just watch the animal channel! Guinea flea and tick pictures with 80's bad bleached do!
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