Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[itsjustme]

This is my guineas first laying season. They have been insane! I go outside it would look like easter. They were just layng eggs all over the place so I had no idea who was laying and assumed bc of the amount of eggs they were all just laying in that area. But now iv found a hen who's sitting....on a rediculous amount of eggs. I hear a nest of 30 is normal id guess she has 70. She doesn't even cover half of them. There's no way they are all hers. But she's very dedicated so what do I do? Id love for her to hatch some. But don't see it being possible that she can hatch them all. Tho she does try to move around to give them all mommy time lol. Can I crate her with a managable amount of eggs and candle the rest for the incubator? Or leave her put a large cage around her to 1 protect her and 2 keep her from wondering off with any keets she does manage to hatch? I just don't no? But it is kinda funny. I wish I could share pics on here.

 

[PeepsCA]

Young Guinea Hens typically have no clue what's happening when they first start laying eggs... it takes a while before instinct kicks in and they start looking for nesting spots. And in the meantime they just drop them where ever, lol.

If you move her she will most likely abandon the eggs. Some people have done that successfully but more have failed at it than have succeeded. Guineas really really like privacy when they are brooding their eggs... and if they feel the nest is no longer private or safe enough they go on strike and quit... and then find a new spot to lay within a week or so.

Can you trick her off the pile with treats/food, pen her up for a little bit (with yummies to keep her distracted) then quickly bring the eggs into a dark room, candle them and check for the ones that have movement/development? Don't let her see you taking the eggs, and do not let her go back to the nest until you have put eggs back in it. If collecting and candling the eggs is something you could do, then I'd give her back 18 or so of the eggs that seem to be on the same development schedule. If that's not something you could do easily, then your idea of putting a large crate around her might work, but if you mess with the nest too much, change things too much, or disturb her too much she will freak out, pace to get out and abandon the eggs. You also want to make sure whatever you put over her will keep her and the keets 100% safe, and not just end up as a death trap for her.

You can either incubate the rest of the eggs and see what happens (they may not all hatch at the same time tho), or you can freeze them then throw them away.

 

[itsjustme]

I thought I had read somewhere where some1 had moved their hen into a large dog crate with her eggs with success. Have you ever tried that? Or no if it could work? My dog scared her off her nest once when i was looking in the area she was in teying to clean uo to mow. (Thats how i found out she was there) and a 2nd time bc she had followed me out the gate and remembered her being there. I wasn't thinking abou it. But both times she's went right back. The dog doesn't get to go out of the yard so thats not a prob now. Would it be best to try to move them and candle them during the day or could I like have someone mover her off at night candle them at the nest and put them back? Iv tried to call her for treats when I do my chick chick chick she will call from her nest but wont come out. So iv kinda got her spolied to where I take her treats to her nest which she's fine with.but If I come not bearing gifts I get flogged

 

[PeepsCA]

There have been posts about people moving Guinea Hens and their eggs and being successful at it, but those Hens had to have been on those eggs for quite a while already and extremely determined to stay on them. Guineas are flighty and will jump ship over the smallest disturbances. They are not like broody chickens at all in that aspect, too much wild blood in their veins... and instinct tells them to give up and start over somewhere else. I've never even tried moving a Hen and her eggs, since I did not want to waste eggs. If a Hen nests in a bad place then I take her eggs, incubate them and destroy the nesting spot. It's just not worth losing a Hen over trying to let her hatch out keets in a spot that's not 100% safe, that's JMO tho.

I would not move her/trick her off the nest at night, because she may not get back on them... then the eggs go cold. I'd only do it in the daytime so at least if she takes her time getting back on the nest the sun keeps them somewhat warm still.

You might just be better off leaving her be, but gradually building something over/around her to protect her and her nest the best you can, and see what hatches.

 

[itsjustme]

Ok then thats what I will do. I jumped in this last year with both feet. Got all my birds as babies a few weeks apart. They are all just getting to be breeding age so I'm new to this. All nervous and excited at the same time. I had an old english hatch 2 babies a couple weeks ago. She has 1 buff orpington baby and 1 old english. It so funny the size difference. So she's lil momma and they are the odd balls. Lol I have . More broody hens that started sitting the same day. Both are bantams. And now a guinea lol. Good stuff lol.

 

[kynewbchickie]

I had to share this here with you all, as it was the funniest thing I've ever seen/experienced...

We were headed into town yesterday, and came to a property where they have a few turkeys and guineas running around. They like to get in the road on occasion, but have always moved when they hear a vehicle approaching.

Not yesterday! lol

I slowed down about 15 feet away from the turkey, and here was this guinea (a lav I do believe) almost as big as the turkey, having a serious conversation about something in the road. The guinea would squawk and flap at the turkey, and the turkey would gobble and flap right back. We watched this go on for a few minutes, but having an appointment to keep, I had to do something to get them out of the road and there were two trucks heading our way in the opposite lane. I made a HUGE mistake getting out of my van to toss some scratch into the yard for them, as they both came running and making the most awful noises at me - I jumped back in that van, the kids were cackling, the birds were jumping up at my window and squawking, and there I sat with these guys in their trucks stopped in the other lane, literally laughing their heads off! One guy got out and walked to the lady's trailer who owns them and knocked on the door - and she came out with a gym whistle. Those birds went flying to her when she blew it, and all seven of us had a great giggle. She apologized to me and said, "my boys don't take candy from strangers."

I have laughed about this for days to come!!!

 

[runningl]

Where can I find baby turkeys or turkey eggs.

 

[kynewbchickie]

Where can I find baby turkeys or turkey eggs.

There's a thread on here somewhere for auctions of eggs/chicks, you can probably run a search for it...I know Stromberg's (one of this site's sponsors) sells turkey.

 

[itsjustme]

[COLOR=4B0082]Young Guinea Hens typically have no clue what's happening when they first start laying eggs... it takes a while before instinct kicks in and they start looking for nesting spots. And in the meantime they just drop them where ever, lol.[/COLOR] [COLOR=4B0082]If you move her she will most likely abandon the eggs. Some people have done that successfully but more have failed at it than have succeeded. [/COLOR]Guineas really really like privacy when they are brooding their eggs... and if they feel the nest is no longer private or safe enough they go on strike and quit... and then find a new spot to lay within a week or so. [COLOR=4B0082]Can you trick her off the pile with treats/food, pen her up for a little bit (with yummies to keep her distracted) then quickly bring the eggs into a dark room, candle them and check for the ones that have movement/development? Don't let her see you taking the eggs, and do not let her go back to the nest until you have put eggs back in it. If collecting and candling the eggs is something you could do, then I'd give her back 18 or so of the eggs that seem to be on the same development schedule. If that's not something you could do easily, then your idea of putting a large crate around her might work, but if you mess with the nest too much, change things too much, or disturb her too much she will freak out, pace to get out and abandon the eggs. You also want to make sure whatever you put over her will keep her and the keets 100% safe, and not just end up as a death trap for her.[/COLOR] [COLOR=4B0082]You can either incubate the rest of the eggs and see what happens (they may not all hatch at the same time tho), or you can freeze them then throw them away. [/COLOR]

I have decided to leave dedicated guinea alone with her insane amount of eggs. She finally come off her nest this morning to eat. This was the 1st time I've seen her out of the nest since she started sitting so I was not sure if she was going to go back. I had decided if she didn't no biggie id take the eggs candle and incubate. Went out for my evening rounds and discovered she has company. Another hen has went and started sitting with her. I think its so funny. I wish I could post pics! There are definitely more eggs being covered lol maybe usng the buddy. System while setting together will make them a little safer? And give more of the eggs a chance? If not at least she has company? Lol

 

[pattiedd]

I have some eggs from a friend that are either guinnea, pheasant or silkie. Thay have started hatching, any way to know which is which?