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Nests?
Dec 11, 2008 7:48:56 GMT 8
Post by mikemurphy on Dec 11, 2008 7:48:56 GMT 8
Anyone have clues on a nest for guineas. I've given up on letting them nest in the bush after we lost 43 chicks last season. They are useless mothers. This season I put them in an enclosure and set up two types of nest - one the usual hen type and the other a space under a lot of branches - but they just lay their eggs all over the place and ignore the nests. I can hatch the eggs under a broody hen but it would be nice to get the guineas to hatch and raise their own. Any ideas?
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Nests?
Dec 11, 2008 8:28:16 GMT 8
Post by fluffychook on Dec 11, 2008 8:28:16 GMT 8
I have never had them so can only offer thoughts. Try putting plastic eggs in a spot you want them to lay. Maybe leave an egg in a couple of nests. Try to get the nesting site to look as much like the one they would make themselves (you probably already have). Put some chooks in there that are laying and hopefully they will copy them. Pet carriers are great for nesting. Put them in at night time (if you can catch the little blighters) and keep them in until they have laid in the morning. Do this for about a week and see if that helps. Hopefully a guinea keeper can offer better suggestions Cheers
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Nests?
Dec 11, 2008 10:23:18 GMT 8
Post by Cluck N Waddle on Dec 11, 2008 10:23:18 GMT 8
Its a hard one mike, theyre stubborn lil buggers. I dont let my guinea hens incubate eggs because theyre useless mothers and mine also free range so wouldnt be safe. I've found that mine dont lay in nests as such, ie- no hay or leaf litter lining or anything like that. They just hollow out a little depression in the dirt and lay in it. They usually choose spots under shrubs or quite often I find a nest just tucked under the side of a pile of eucalypt branches that we've trimmed off the trees. So maybe you could try making a couple of depressions in the dirt under some branches or even just under an old bit of tin leaned against the fence or something. Then put a guinea egg in the nest. If you want the hen to keep laying in that same nest make sure theres always one egg left in the nest otherwise she will stop laying there. You could try a pet carrier but I dont think it would work because the hens would feel too confined. I wouldnt put chooks in the pen with them because as you'd be aware the guinea males can be quite aggressive towards chooks. They seem to enjoy teasing them. Good luck and let us know how you end up getting them to sit where you want them to as it'd be interesting to know
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