No spring guineas from hatcheries?

[SweetPromise]

Hello all,
I was wondering why no guinea hens seem to be available from hatcheries in the early spring? Lots of hatcheries seem to be selling chicks now, and I see members on here are having 2013 guinea keet hatches, so why do none of the hatcheries have guineas available before May (at least not that I have found)?
-Amanda

 

[PeepsCA]

Probably because fertility can be iffy when flocks first start laying at the start of the season and they can't count on their hatches to cover the orders. So they wait until the season is further under way and fertility rates are optimal.

Other than that it just may be a weather/climate related issue. I'm in Northern CA, so my Winters are mild and Spring sets in early... early keets are the norm here for me/my flocks. Some of the colder states may not see their first keets until late April.

 

[leonphelps]

I have had no eggs for several months. expect a while longer too.

 

[SweetPromise]

Thank you for the information .
I did find that Metzer farms ships them in March, so that is earlier than most I have found.
http://www.metzerfarms.com/GameAndGuinea.cfm?Breed=Pearl Guinea&BirdType=Game&ID=PG&CustID=1362722

-Amanda

 

[PeepsCA]

Probably because they are in California, less than 4 hrs from my area, lol.