Two Guineas on the same nest

[mychickens]

I have 2 guineas that have gone broody on the same nest. They are both just over a year old so this is their 1st time going broody. One started to be serious about brooding and the other one would still sit with her and lay her egg. Now the 2nd one is broody also. I am wondering what will happen when they hatch? Will the hens fight with each other or just co-parent? Also, I have a small area where they have their nest that I can close up to keep them confined. At this time I am closing them up at night but open the gate 1st thing in the morning so they can still get out if they want. When they start to hatch should I close them up for awhile? Will it be a problem if the males can't get in?
I don't want to intervene too much but would like to have a successful hatch.

 

[R2elk]

I have 2 guineas that have gone broody on the same nest. They are both just over a year old so this is their 1st time going broody. One started to be serious about brooding and the other one would still sit with her and lay her egg. Now the 2nd one is broody also. I am wondering what will happen when they hatch? Will the hens fight with each other or just co-parent? Also, I have a small area where they have their nest that I can close up to keep them confined. At this time I am closing them up at night but open the gate 1st thing in the morning so they can still get out if they want. When they start to hatch should I close them up for awhile? Will it be a problem if the males can't get in?
I don't want to intervene too much but would like to have a successful hatch.

It is very common for guinea hens to share a nest and co-parent the keets when they hatch. It is also common for the male mates to assist in the rearing of the keets. On a rare occasion a guinea male may kill keets but it is rare.

The most common loss of keets after hatching is due to the hens taking the keets out into wet grass before they are fully feathered. Your plan to keep the hens and keets in a secure area is a good idea. Depending on the male's behavior, you may or may not want to let him have access to the hens and keets.

Good luck.

 

[jvls1942]

good idea , keep the hens confined.
I would not bother with the roosters. they don't have to be with the hens.
not only keep the hens confined,,, make sure the keets cannot get out.
If they get separated from the hens, they won't go back to them.
I had lots of guineas. I never noticed either the hens nor the roosters being good parents..

I had better luck putting the eggs into the incubator and raising the keets myself.
I used to hatch and sell over 300 keets per year..

 

[mychickens]

Thank you! I will keep their pen closed up after hatch for as long as they wlll let me.

 

[BlueShadow]

Thank you! I will keep their pen closed up after hatch for as long as they wlll let me.

I had a guinea hen hatch some keets last year. I kept her penned with the keets for 4 weeks before releasing them. Papa guinea could come in the barn and see into her pen, but he was not with her. When released, he took up part time parenting duties with her. She was an excellent mama and I had no troubles with her.

I would have kept her penned only 2-3 weeks with the keets but we were out of town during that 3rd week, so for simplicity she stayed cooped until we were back home.

 

[justin shrew]

yes! it is a good idea to lock the keets and the mom for some longer time. when we let her go out with the newly keets the is always a loss.
The guineahen keets are rare to survive in the wild withought the present of the male guinea. anorld'S LAW.

 

[Guinea flock]

good idea , keep the hens confined.
I would not bother with the roosters. they don't have to be with the hens.
not only keep the hens confined,,, make sure the keets cannot get out.
If they get separated from the hens, they won't go back to them.
I had lots of guineas. I never noticed either the hens nor the roosters being good parents..

I had better luck putting the eggs into the incubator and raising the keets myself.
I used to hatch and sell over 300 keets per year..

Guinea keets that have been hatched and raised by their hen and cock are much healthier and not as loud but then catching them to sell is another thing.