New guinea keets

[Wimomof2]

I have 3 broody guinea hens laying on 2 nests in the yard. My question is when the keets are born will the hens lead them into the coop at night? Do i need a low roost or will she sit on the floor with them? Just want to make sure they have a good start!

 

[red horse ranch]

I usually have to guide mine into the brooder since I keep mom and babies separate from the others for several weeks. If it is too far from her nest I will pick up most of the babies and slowly walk her and one or two keets until I can get her confined. The keets are usually one or two days old when she comes off the nest but some are barely dry and not strong enough to walk far. But there may be some that are 3 days old and they need to drink and eat the same day.

 

[Dmontgomery]

What they said.
My broody mama kept them all at ground level for the first week or so. My hen got lonely for her mate and was back on the roost, 4’ off the ground, by the end of week 2. Some of the keets followed her and some slept on the ladder going up to the roost. It’s hot enough here that they didn’t need to be under her anymore.

 

[Wimomof2]

Ok great, thanks. I will make sure she or I lead them into the coop! It is really hot here too!

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

I'm so jealous! One of my guinea girls was broody so I let her sit on a nest of over 20 eggs. Now, she's no longer interested in sitting on the eggs...ughhhh!!! Congrats to you!

 

[Wimomof2]

Well we still have 3 weeks to go but so far so good. The one on the first nest, I have never seen her leave it. I finally gave her a bowl of water next to her. Should I also place food too? The second nest I have 2 hens sitting together. They do go out to eat or drink, at least one at a time. I only have 3 hens and 10 males. They travel around the yard, but do watch the nests off and on throughout the day keeping watch and guarding the girls. One nest is in the lilys and the other in a large fern. I am so excited! Hope they hatch!!

 

[R2elk]

Well we still have 3 weeks to go but so far so good. The one on the first nest, I have never seen her leave it. I finally gave her a bowl of water next to her. Should I also place food too? The second nest I have 2 hens sitting together. They do go out to eat or drink, at least one at a time. I only have 3 hens and 10 males. They travel around the yard, but do watch the nests off and on throughout the day keeping watch and guarding the girls. One nest is in the lilys and the other in a large fern. I am so excited! Hope they hatch!!

It really is not a good idea to place food near the nest. It becomes an attractant for unwanted guests such as rodents.

 

[red horse ranch]

I would not recommend food near the nest. I did that once with a hen in the courtyard. Overnight a Ferrel cat was attracted by the smell and attacked the hen. The hen survived but was blind in one eye the rest of her life. And none of the eggs survived.

 

[Wimomof2]

Good to know. I will not put food out for her.