Information guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

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KimChick
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by KimChick » Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:59 pm

@Killerbunny - keeping in mind this is just my own experience with brooding guinea fowl.
By my count, today is Day 29 or so since the guinea hens started sitting on the eggs. When I went into the barn at around 5:30 to set out food for the chickens, and gather eggs, there was no guinea hen on the eggs, and no guinea hens to be located. However, at around 8:15 pm, when I went out to make sure all the chickens were in, I noticed a guinea hen sitting on the eggs. I guess it needed a break.
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KimChick
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by KimChick » Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:19 pm

Here are a couple of photos taken early on. The hens started laying their eggs in the barn after unsuccessfully making a nest outside in the field. The chickens did not bother them as far as I could tell. When the hens were on the nest, there was always a male guinea in the barn with them.
Hens made a nest under laying boxes.
Hens made a nest under laying boxes.
Hens sharing the duty.
Hens sharing the duty.
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Ontario Chick
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by Ontario Chick » Sun Jun 12, 2022 3:32 pm

You may need to do some "mothering" guinea fowl is famous for being very bad mothers. ;)

The nest is too large for any one or two hens to cover , so possibility of all of them being a tad too cool.
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KimChick
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by KimChick » Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:57 pm

As the saying goes, "...and that was that".... sort of.
By my count, this was Day 38 since the hens started sitting on the eggs.
At around 8 pm tonight, I went to the barn, shooed the hen off the nest, and candled the eggs. There was no sign of life in all 36 eggs, so I took them away. Then the hen went back onto the empty nest.
We have 3 guinea keets in the brooder, and all are doing well.
And that is the end of this young broody guinea hens "let's see how this goes" story.

@Ontario Chick - I totally agree. That is why DH put the heat lamp where he did, which was after I took the photo. It helped when there was a keet, but I don't think it helped any of the eggs on the left side.

And we must remember that these African birds have never been fully domesticated, or couldn't be domesticated. Their instincts work in a different climate.
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KimChick
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by KimChick » Mon Jul 04, 2022 10:20 pm

UPDATE:
The runt of the 3 keets died a few days ago. Given that hatching conditions were less than perfect, we were not surprised.
Now that we moved the meat chickens out of the brooder, the 2 remaining keets were let out of their circular section and are mingling well with the RIR chicks. They even cuddle up with each other while sleeping or resting, and are in there "like dirty shirts" at the feeder.
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KimChick
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by KimChick » Tue Aug 16, 2022 3:42 pm

Currently:
One of the RIR cockerels is protecting the 2 keets from the guinea fowl - it jumped on one then charged it. The keets do not go far from this little cockerel. The cockerel also jumped on a turkey, holding onto its neck for a few seconds.

Also, I was right about the disappearing guinea fowl - she is on a nest. I heard her calling out, and found where she is nesting. DH needed to cut down that huge area of tall grass, saw where the eggs are, and left the nest alone. Perhaps some of them will hatch and survive in this warm weather.
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KimChick
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by KimChick » Sun Aug 21, 2022 9:51 pm

Jumping forward 5 days since the last post -
There are about 20 eggs in the nest, and I do not remember when I last saw only 4 guineas, which would mean the other one is on the nest. And the weather has gotten cooler and rainy. Those eggs will probably not hatch. It's no wander guinea owners just gather them and hatch them in an incubator.
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Killerbunny
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Re: guinea fowl laying and brooding habits

Post by Killerbunny » Mon Aug 22, 2022 6:47 am

Yes. The thing is they are adapted for deserts and huge flocks so incy is likely best for here.
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