Taking keets from the nest

[jessicapriest]

I was lucky enough to have a few of my guinea girls share a nest inside the coop. Now 4 of the females are all sitting in a pile on the nest nearly 24/7. They are very protective if I try to take out any of the eggs. Will they let me take the keets as soon as they hatch? I am afraid a keet will get hurt if the adults put up a fight. Any words of wisdom? Also, is there a typical time of day when a keet will hatch?

 

[nchls school]

I was lucky enough to have a few of my guinea girls share a nest inside the coop.  Now 4 of the females are all sitting in a pile on the nest nearly 24/7.  They are very protective if I try to take out any of the eggs.  Will they let me take the keets as soon as they hatch?  I am afraid a keet will get hurt if the adults put up a fight.  Any words of wisdom?  Also, is there a typical time of day when a keet will hatch?

Keep the guineas and their keets penned until the keets are better able to keep up. Guinea hens lose many of their keets if allowed to wander. Consider raising the keets under a heat lamp/brooder. I found guineas better left undisturbed while brooding. The ones I had upset easily.

 

[jessicapriest]

yes, i agree it is best to leave them alone while brooding. and i do plan to bring the keets into a brood box once they are hatched. i was just wondering if i should expect the mothers to be upset when i take away the babies and how to deal with that.

 

[nchls school]

yes, i agree it is best to leave them alone while brooding.  and i do plan to bring the keets into a brood box once they are hatched.  i was just wondering if i should expect the mothers to be upset when i take away the babies and how to deal with that.

Most likely they will be upset for a while, but not long. Tthey will soon go on about their lives as usual.

 

[wskline]

I've learned if I dont get keets out from under Momma soon after hatch, they will suffocate. I usually use piece of card board box to kinda push Momma back and grab the keet. Momma gets very angry at this and will attack card board. Don't worry, Momma gets over it pretty quickly.

 

[amberngwin]

What do you mean they suffocate!? The mom can't just hatch them herself???

 

[FrogRaku]

My guineas hatched their own eggs two weeks ago. They had a problem with dealing with a couple early hatching keets, while still sitting on the rest of the eggs. But, after they've been off the nest, they've been good mothers. As for grabbing a keet, the mamas are REALLY protective. Be prepared to be pecked (it doesn't really hurt) or jumped at.

 

[wskline]

They lay on the babies and suffocate them. I've found many under Mom dead. If I'm lucky enough to be around not long after hatch, I can grab babies and put in aquarium with light and they do great.