My hen hatched me a baby today!!!! YAY!!! I have a few questions

[lizzard14]

OKay, so my hen is in a 5 gallon bucken turned on its side. She has kicked most of the hay out of it. Anyway, I had 3 good guinea eggs and 2 possible (I candled them and was unsure about those 2) anyway they were due to hatch on Tuesday. I went out today and checked and there was a little guy or girl scooted under her. It was sooo cute. My question, I am going to move her and the babies to one of the bigger pet taxies, should I wait until she hatches the other 2? Will the baby or babies be okay under her in that bucket? She won't crush them will she? After they all hatch how long before she takes them on a field trip? Will it hurt the babies if they eat some of her chicken scratch that is on the ground. I have chick starter for them to eat. OMG..I'm just stressing right now. lol.. That baby was soooo cute. I'm just curious as to what color they will be. The female guinea is lavendar and the male is a pearl, so what do you guys think? Any advice is greatly appreciated! I'm sooo happy right now. Babies just make you smile

 

[lizzard14]

OH..and when I say hen, IT was my chicken hen!!! how about that.

 

[hlf1996]

Yay! And pictures??

And I would let her hatch the other two and then move them to a bigger space

 

[lizzard14]

So you don't think she will crush him? Will she stay on the nest till the other 2 hatch? should be any day. Tuesday is day 28. I wonder how long it will be before she takes them out and shows them how to eat and drink? The pet taxie and the bucket are both inside a little fenced in area in one of the barn stalls. When the other 2 hatch I'll just take the bucket out and put them inside the pet taxie. There is plenty of food and water inside the little nursery area (the fenced in part) but I will put some chick starter and a waterer inside the pet taxie tomorrow, or when the other 2 hatch. Man.. I have no idea what I'm doing. I have never done this before. I've learned everything from this site. I found my guinea nest and moved her and the nest to keep predators from getting her and she lost interest. As luck could have it, I had a chicken go broody that same day so I put the eggs under her. The original nest had like 25 eggs starting out, but something was eating them, by the time the guinea hen went broody there was only 12 eggs left, so I moved them. I candled the eggs and about day 17-18 and saw I had 3 good eggs, and 2 were iffy. The rest were clear as day. I checked the other 2 eggs 2 days ago and they still look the same, So I know they are no good. I'm just so nervous. LOL.. This site is so awsome. I have learned so much from reading these posts.

 

[perchie.girl]

Momma hen will take care of the keets. Put out Turkey/Gamebird starter for them mommma can eat it too. Gamebird starter is essential for Guineas because they grow so fast they need the higher protien content.

 

[lizzard14]

Okay, 2 have hatched, the 3rd egg is cracked. Should I put food and water in the pet taxie or will mama lead them out of the pet taxie to eat and drink? You guys probably think I'm crazy, I just keep rambling and asking questions about this. I just want to make sure I do everything right. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you all who have replied. I'll try and get pictures

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Newly hatched Keets should be good for three days without food or water. Same for chicks. Because they absorb the remainder of the yolk while they are hatching. The yolk provides them a reserve. But I d put some out side the taxi for sure.

 

[lizzard14]

So, I now have 3 baby guineas hatched from my chicken hen! I was wondering, I have a small cookie sheet inside the pet taxi with some food on it and I have one of those 2 quart self waterers. Will the babies be able to drink out of it? It's like those that they put in the big brooders at Atwoods or TS. I watched mama teaching them to eat. I just wanted to make sure they drink also. I guess i worry to much. ;-)

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
You might put out a low flat dish with some pebbles in it for water. you dont want Keets to get wet their first few days. The rocks will keep them from falling in but allow them to drink between the spaces. Momma will teach them to drink. The bigger waterers too should have some pebbles in them to keep the chicks from falling in. Its just for a little while.

 

[lizzard14]

Thank you so much perchie.girl. and thanks to all who have responded. I just went out and checked and mama had them out on their first outing. She had them out of the pet taxi, inside the little fenced in nursery area. They were just all pecking around on the ground. She then lead them back inside the pet taxi and they all got them a drink of water. That little 2 quart waterer is really shallow. I started to get a saucer or something and put in there but they seem to be getting a drink just fine. I will put some rocks in there. I have one more question, While she had them out, she was eating some of her chicken scratch and the little guys were also trying to eat some chicken scratch, will the chicken scratch hurt them? They have some chick starter on a pan, inside the pet taxi, along with their water. I'm going to put them another waterer and some chick starter out inside the pen. But do you think they will be alright if they eat a little scratch?