By my calculation, Gladys has been sitting on her X marks the spot eggs in the goat stall since October 11.
Despite the fact she appears completely content, because it’s 30 days later, I’m starting to get worried about her.
From what I’ve learned, the incubation time for guinea eggs is from 26 to 28 days. Does she even know if her eggs are viable? What if her eggs never hatch? Will she sit there forever?
If, by some small miracle her eggs do hatch, it’s too cold for the chicks to survive now. Does she know this?
Is she hungry? Is she thirsty? Is she cold? Does she miss her friends and family?
November 12, 2010 at 4:15 am
Can you put heat lamps in the goat stall to help her keep the babies warm, assuming they hatch?
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November 12, 2010 at 5:56 am
I bet Gladys knows what she’s doing more than we do.
Or else she’s neurotic and having a false pregnancy thing.
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November 12, 2010 at 6:10 am
Would she take food and water if you had it next to her? On the upside, I guess she’s not burning many calories just sitting there.
Little peeps would be fun to blog about, that’s for sure!
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November 12, 2010 at 6:53 am
If the miracle babies appear, I have no doubt you and Don will do everything to help them survive – so – no worries there! My great aunt always had guineas but we didn’t live close to her so I don’t know much about them. Good luck Gladys!
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November 12, 2010 at 6:53 am
Are they fertilized? I cant’ tell a male from a female guinea. Is there a male in her flock?
Guineas will probably sit a nest (just like chickens will) whether the eggs are fertile or not.
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November 12, 2010 at 6:56 am
Sorry, had to Google ‘male female guineas’. Here’s how to tell them apart.
http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/sexing/
Look at her flock and see if there’s even a male among them.
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November 12, 2010 at 7:22 am
Sounds like ole’ Gladys may be broody! If that’s the case, she will sit, and sit and sit….convinced that babies will soon emerge when the eggs are actually not fertilized. At least that’s what happens with chickens…not sure about guineas. Maybe you can Google it!
Good luck!
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November 12, 2010 at 7:32 am
I have nothing to offer, as “I don’t know nuthin about birthin no Guineas.”
I wish her well, though, and second the notion for heat lamps in the stall should babies hatch.
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November 12, 2010 at 8:51 am
That’s heartbreaking. I suppose it’s no harm to let her sit on her eggs, but at some point, surely she’ll figure out they’re not going to hatch…?
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November 12, 2010 at 10:31 am
Poor Gladys. Maybe they’ll hatch in the next couple days. If not, she’s gotten a lot of practice sitting.
Suzanne
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November 12, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Maybe you could get some fertilized eggs and sneak them under her? Do feed stores still sell eggs?
Of course, the weather/cold temps issue still remains.
I’ve spent way too much of my day worrying about this. 🙂
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November 12, 2010 at 1:55 pm
That motherhood urge can surely put some individuals in some uncomfortable (and irrational) positions!
I had no idea they wouldn’t get up to eat and drink……
I love all her “hairs” going up and down, on her neck……
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November 12, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Wow – how did I miss that you even had guinea hens? You ask many good questions – I hope someone can help you out, I’m not familiar at all with those beautiful birds.
What a faithful (and hopeful) momma-to-be!
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May 29, 2018 at 10:13 pm
Whatever happened to your guinea?
My guinea is doing the same thing and it’s been over 4 weeks!
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