my amazing guineas

[hoppy]

I have 5 guineas (or I should say I had 5 guineas) I lost one to a Owl the other day. I now have 2 boys and 2 girls, (very sure of this)they lay eggs in our coop and I always keep 4 eggs marked that I leave there to keep them laying in the coop.
well yesterday I collected the standard 2 eggs and today, I collected 4 guinea eggs. each hen laid 2 eggs today! and it was a fantastic egg day as all of my chickens laid an egg today except 1 and she lays a dk brown egg.

 

[sred98]

That is awesome! How old were your guineas when they started laying? Mine are getting close, I think!

Shelly

 

[hoppy]

this is either the first or 2nd yr for them (one is last yrs chick depending on which hen got taken) seems like they were 20 weeks old or there abouts when they started. some of mine lay in the winter, and some don't. the first yr they were young and laid in the winter but this yr, I got no guinea eggs until about 3 weeks ago.

 

[sred98]

I wondered if they would start about like chickens would. I've only got three, now. I love them. Don't have much luck keeping them, though. They seem to disappear into thin air! This pair is from the original group I got back in March, so they must be smart enough to avoid whatever it is that was ambushing them! LOL!

I love my guineas! They are hilarious. Do yours stay with the chickens? Do they use the same nest box, their own special one, or just lay anywhere?

Shelly

 

[hoppy]

Quote:
the guineas have a learning curve on what will kill them or chickens and then I have not found it to happen again (although I don't kow what got the last one, just didn't come back to the coop)
mine lay on the coop floor. but I have it set up with a pile of hay in the corner and scoop out an area and leave a wooden egg there to start. they have laid in the boxes that chickens use but they prefer the floor and really like it if there is some way to make it private (an "A" frame so they can nest under it or something leaning against the wall making a cubby).
mine usually stay with the chickens when they free range. later in the spring they will start sleeping in the trees then I will have to hunt for the eggs as they will not lay them in the coop.

 

[hoppy]

they did it again but today it was 3 eggs from 2 hens. they are certainly trying to make up for that missing hen.

 

[Munchies]

Quote:
To have it happen that often, IMO you probably have at least three hens. If you can watch them for a whole day, keep track how many of them make the "buckwheat" noise.

 

[hoppy]

i only have 4 guineas, to get 4 eggs in one day and chicks from the group, there has to be 1 male in there but I know it is 2 males.

 

[sred98]

Could there be a rogue guinea out in the woods somewhere??? Have you heard him calling? Or, can you post pics of all 4? Or maybe your girls are just super productive?

I could see it once in a while, but all the time?? Crazy! LOL!

Shelly

 

[hoppy]

this only started after one of my hens went missing last week, before that, I was getting 2 eggs/day. I'll try to get some pics posted.