Will they lay in the chicken nesting boxes?

[cackler]

We have 6 guineas that were born in July. When they start laying, will they lay in the chickens' nesting boxes?? I'm sure hoping so!

 

[Kennyog]

Yes,they will use them the same as a chicken would.

 

[cackler]

Wonderful. I've heard that they lay by fence posts and then sit and it's a mess. I'm looking forward to them laying but just wondering if I'll even have a clue when they start. This will make it MUCH easier if they're with the other girls!

 

[Akane]

Maybe. Sometimes they won't even lay in the chicken coop. Sometimes they won't even go in a chicken coop without repeated effort. The breeder I got mine from just pens up whoever he wants eggs from because otherwise he'd have to hunt the yard for their nests and he also has his with chickens. Even when penned up with nest boxes they often plop eggs down randomly or at best gather them in to a groove dug in the shavings or dirt floor of the building.

 

[cackler]

Since ours were hatched under one of our broody chickens and I think they think that they are chickens

they have come in the coop every night except for one or two. I'm hoping that since they think they are chickens they'll lay in the nesting boxes - but I will start paying attention to the floor as well. When should they start? The chickens haven't really slowed down during the winter time but I'm thinking guineas don't lay until Spring? Is that correct?

 

[racuda]

Mine were raised by a little bantam hen. I hope they wil lay in the coop too.

My chickens prefer elevated nest boxes, but Guineas are ground nesters, so I have leaned a piece of plywood against the inside wall of the coop giving them a nice dark secret nest spot.

 

[cackler]

A friend of mine's chickens lay in a bucket of grain that's on the floor of her coop rather than in the nesting boxes. Maybe something along those lines would work for the guineas - such as a bucket with straw in it or something. Maybe I'll give that a shot, too.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Mine hid all their eggs, even with the chickens showing them where to lay. They were pretty much raised by a barred rock hen.

 

[cackler]

When can I expect to start seeing them lay? They were born 7/1.