When do they go broody?

[BlueShadow]

Guineas go broody when they are ready. Mine have never gone broody until at least mid-May, regardless of how many eggs they have laid. The later it gets in the summer, the more likely they seem to go broody. By August, ALL of the hens went broody.

So. This time of year, I do exactly what was mentioned above. I mark the old eggs and take the fresh eggs each day. My guineas free range, and I definitely can tell the difference in taste compared to my chicken eggs. Its a milder flavor, I prefer it to the chicken eggs.

 

[red horse ranch]

I've had hens go broody on 8 or 9 eggs when I have been taking most of the eggs. I've also had a communal nest with over 70 eggs before a hen goes broody on it. So it is just whenever the mood hits!

I've found that around 15 to 20 eggs is probably the most for a hen to be able to cover completely. With too many eggs they end up with eggs on the outside that aren't getting enough heat to incubate properly. As she turns the eggs every day a lot of them will end up on the outside and stop developing. And eggs get broke in the process.
Communal nests with other hens adding to the clutch as she broods also result in a staggered hatch with a lot of under developed eggs when she leaves the nest with the ones that do hatch.

I would advise eating some eggs!

 

[justin shrew]

A single hen lay 20 eggs but usaully 15. so if you got more than four wooooooow!!! you'll have to wait ntil the is 60 or something.