Laying eggs

[dudefromtampa]

I'm on my first year of raising a guinea flock. I have them trained to where they free range during the day and then go back to their coop at night but lately I've only been letting them out to free range about 2 hours before sunset. The reason I cut their free-ranging time is because they started venturing out further and further (into the neighbor's yard even) to look for food as it's that time of year where live food gets scarce.

My question however deals with guinea hens laying eggs. Since the hens really don't get out much now, I'm not sure if they are laying eggs outside their pen. When it starts snowing, I'm not going to let them out at all. Should I provide them with a separate enclosed laying area inside their pen? Currently, all I have in their pen, which is a very large A-frame (12" high) with some perches in it and a small cubby-hole type box.

Thanks a million for any suggestions with this.

Joe

 

[Granny Hatchet]

guineas dont lay in the winter. they are seasonal layers from late spring to early fall. i also had trouble keeping them where they belong. a mirror is your best friend in or at the coop. and whirrly gigs at the property line doesnt hurt. they dont like anything new and tend to avoid it.

 

[dudefromtampa]

guineas dont lay in the winter. they are seasonal layers from late spring to early fall. i also had trouble keeping them where they belong. a mirror is your best friend in or at the coop. and whirrly gigs at the property line doesnt hurt. they dont like anything new and tend to avoid it.

Real good intel to have, thanks for the info granny hatchet. I've done a lot of reading on guinea fowl and haven't seen that mentioned anywhere (the part about the mirror). I've noticed that whenever someone pulls up to the yard the guinea are attracted to the vehicle's grill (as they seemed to like the reflection) but it never clicked to get them a mirror.

How and where do you use the mirrors?

Come Spring, should I have some sort of 'lay boxes' for the hens?

Thanks much!

Joe

 

[Granny Hatchet]

it wouldn hurt to have the nest boxs now so they would get used to them and when the do start laying if you find an egg outside add it to the nest. i wait untill a little later in the day to release mine so they have to lay inside.as for the mirror,lol yes they love looking at themself. i looked around untill i could find one that was heavy duty and had a weather proof frame or no frame at all. i have one inside the coop and one outside. i just lean them against the walls on the floor. be prepared to have a camera ready! worse then a teenage girl on date night.haha

 

[dudefromtampa]

That's about the same time I release mine to range as well (later in the day).

Hilarious about those mirrors! Classic idea!

Thanks much gh!!

 

[Tacampbell1973]

I didn' t realize they were so "mirror fascinated" eiither. I had put a little mirror in the brooder tub withthem when they were tiny for something different to do so they wouldn't get bored and start doing something they shouldn't. Also put in a sturdy light bulb (probably not a good idea) hung some MardiGras beads from the top, and an empty toilet paper roll. I didn't realize that they might like it as adults. Granny you also answered the question I had when I signed on just now I think. I also wasn't sure when to start looking for eggs. My kids are only two months and I have only had experience with chickens. I had figured they would lay about the same time as the chickens would( four to five months?) but apparently not?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I didn' t realize they were so "mirror fascinated" eiither. I had put a little mirror in the brooder tub withthem when they were tiny for something different to do so they wouldn't get bored and start doing something they shouldn't. Also put in a sturdy light bulb (probably not a good idea) hung some MardiGras beads from the top, and an empty toilet paper roll. I didn't realize that they might like it as adults. Granny you also answered the question I had when I signed on just now I think. I also wasn't sure when to start looking for eggs. My kids are only two months and I have only had experience with chickens. I had figured they would lay about the same time as the chickens would( four to five months?) but apparently not?

i really dont remember when mine started laying i do belive it would depend on their age at the time of laying season.

 

[malinois]

My guineas were born july 17 this year, so they are 4 and 1/2 months old. I Have a light on in thier coop for heat and to help draw them home at night. The light is on until 8:30 pm. Will this make them lay eggs sooner? I think i have 1 male and 7 hens. So far not much trouble with the routine, other than a few gliches occasionally...like tonight for instance.
Any hints about the egg laying from this circumstance? When can i look out for them to go broody? Etc?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

My guineas were born july 17 this year, so they are 4 and 1/2 months old. I Have a light on in thier coop for heat and to help draw them home at night. The light is on until 8:30 pm. Will this make them lay eggs sooner? I think i have 1 male and 7 hens. So far not much trouble with the routine, other than a few gliches occasionally...like tonight for instance.
Any hints about the egg laying from this circumstance? When can i look out for them to go broody? Etc?

i think they should start this next year, (late spring) and they will go broody after laying around 30 eggs. they lay a lot but they are not good mamas. a normal lay for a year is around 100 or so and remember the eggs are no different then chicken for eating!! their shells are tough and they take a few more days to hatch.28 i belive

 

[ludwing]

wow lovely guys!
to me talking about guineas is like to eat a cheese' lol

Hi to everone" i've read your questions/answew about broody/laying.
guineas fowls take longer to hatch than chickens, but lay earlier than chickens(16 to 18 weeks)
in breeding time, breeding season generally follow good rains of early spring to late summer, if you want guineas to lay in the coop. in the early spring of breeding season provide covers like boards on the coop walls, and lock them until they lay an egg. the laying time in guineas is usually later mornings to early noon. guineas who lay in coop should have some hidden spots to hide their nests for privacy. they are good layers than chickens laying large clutches of 30 to 60 eggs and go broody but this is caused by egg dumping by other females, a single hen usually lay 15 eggs or 20 and then go broody. guineas who are enclosed to lay in coop are less interested of going broody because of feeling no privacy in the coop wich makes them lay more eggs and scatter them all over the coop.
oww funny bird"s