An incubation of guinea eggs this summer did not turn out so well. As it goes with guineas, you have to keep some coming because everything in the world wants to eat them. We are down to 12 from a healthy 26 this spring. A hawk got one (well at least one that we saw), there were some foxes, probably plenty of foxes. It's usually the female that dies as she sits on her ground nest for 28 days. One guinea pair moved to the monks property in front of ours and nested near Route 50. As it usually goes, just days before eggs would have hatched, something got her in the night. So the male moved back and joined the crowd of mostly males. We were only able to hatch 4 in one incubation and a female guinea actually hatched 5 (in a raised bed with fencing around) but was sloppy and killed one, so we took them and raised them ourselves. We understand they aren't always the best parents.
My husband has been doing some research and read that chickens make better guinea mothers, so he stole a nest full of fresh guinea eggs and put them under a broody chicken. It takes 21 days for chicken eggs to hatch (versus 28 for guineas) and like clock-work, she jumped off of those eggs on day 21 and ran around basically saying that she was done, finished. Amazing, they can count! Fortunately she changed her mind and went back to the nest box. So on day 27, 9 new guineas hatched and our chicken mother has been phenomenal! I have never watched how a chicken cares for her young, so I have been fascinated. She tends to stand, legs bent, just high enough for the babies to gather under her, but low enough to keep them warm. She clucks at them as warning when we come around or they wander too far. She is teaching them how to scratch and look for food, sometimes knocking a few down in her enthusiasim. Guineas don't usually scratch like chickens, so this will be interesting.
The other chickens are midly curious. This is Lucille looking on.
So with any luck, we will have young guineas, possibly very confused young guineas. Call them chiguineas.
That's amazing! I can't believe she knew to expect babies on day 21! And faithfully returned to the nest!
Posted by: Rebecca Ryan | 10/23/2012 at 08:41 PM
Yes, she was certainly dedicated. We will see how this goes, I have high hopes.
Posted by: Karen Rexrode | 10/24/2012 at 07:11 AM
Fascinating - you must be having so much fun!
Posted by: Donna Williamson | 10/24/2012 at 07:30 AM
There are similarities to the surrigate motherhood in finches. Since Gouldian finches don't make good parents, many people use Society finches to raise the Gouldians. Very interesting! Great photos!
Posted by: Leslie | 11/02/2012 at 08:53 PM
That is interesting. So far one of the babies has died and she might have accidently stepped on it. Otherwise it's good, all are doing great. The funny part is seeing her in that half stance with little tiny feet sticking out from underneath. Thanks for comment Les.
Posted by: Karen Rexrode | 11/03/2012 at 08:28 AM
My bantam hen in the UK was a wonderful mother and raised 4 ducklings. Everything was peachy until the ducklings wanted to go for a swim - the bantam Mom ran up and down the streambank, frantic! Please keep us updated on your chiquineas - I want to know if they learn to scratch like a hen. :)
Posted by: Naomi Hoffman | 11/05/2012 at 02:34 PM