Unsafe nest

[Blondie in Tx]

I have 3 guineas that roost in a tree above my chicken coop. They free range during the day. My hubs found one sitting on a nest in an area where there is various wildlife. This is her first nest and she has gone broody. I am beside myself with her out there all night. We didn't have time to do anything before dark. I have read many threads and I plan on moving her and the eggs to a safe place. I have read that this may not be successful. At this point, I just don't want to lose her! She has been on the nest no more than 2 days. My question is...if she rejects the nest, do I bring the eggs inside the house until I can incubate. How long can I keep them before incubation? Night temps are 50 to 60 deg to daytime of 79-80 deg. Thank you all for any and all advice!

 

[bobbi-j]

If she has already started incubating them, you need to get them into an incubator right away. The embryos will die if they get too cold for too long.

 

[BYCforlife]

If she is determined to be broody, moving her should not be a problem. I would move her to a safe place first. If she rejects the eggs in the new place, though, then you'll have to incubate them. If she's been on the eggs for 2 days, they've already started developing, and they can't go without heat for as long as a non-incubated egg. If you have an incubator, I would start warming it up immediately so if she refuses to sit on them you have your incubator ready.

 

[Blondie in Tx]

If she is determined to be broody, moving her should not be a problem. I would move her to a safe place first. If she rejects the eggs in the new place, though, then you'll have to incubate them. If she's been on the eggs for 2 days, they've already started developing, and they can't go without heat for as long as a non-incubated egg. If you have an incubator, I would start warming it up immediately so if she refuses to sit on them you have your incubator ready.

Thank you so much! I have a neighbor who is warming up an incubator. We have a bad storm coming in tonight so I will move her and see how many eggs she is on and have the incubator on stand by.

 

[Blondie in Tx]

If she has already started incubating them, you need to get them into an incubator right away. The embryos will die if they get too cold for too long.

Thank you so much! fortunately, I have a neighbor that has an incubator. He has it warming up!

 

[bobbi-j]

Thank you so much! fortunately, I have a neighbor that has an incubator. He has it warming up!

Good plan!

 

[Shadrach]

A word of caution.
The first three days the hen incubates a clutch are probably the most important regarding the hatch success rate and the long term health of the chicks.
You can put some research into this should you hear differently.