How are Guineas Not Extinct?

When the eggs under our broody hen went bad I had a problem, OhioFarmGirl told me that it would be best if the hen finished her cycle but how could she without any eggs?  I read over at Razzberry Corner how Lynn took her Guinea hen eggs from the nests and replaced them with plastic eggs full of sand - wha-la!  One fooled hen!

Back when the teen Guineas were growing up I would put them out in the grass enclosed by a chicken wire and netting fence.  One of the larger Guineas would come watch them and I thought it was because he wanted to help the younglings - boy was I wrong.

Here is a picture of mama Guinea the morning after the heavy rains, eggs seemed to be hatching every 10 minutes or so.

They were so cute and she was so protective, this is why I wanted to move the whole lot to the sheep pen, for their own safety.

Unfortunately it was not to be, mama Guinea was very protective and destroyed my entire plan.

The little ones scattered, they could sure move fast for newborns.

Here are the little ones I caught and placed into the coop with the broody hen.

Note the mesh that I placed across the nest box to keep the keets in with the broody hen - once I caught her and fought off the rooster of course.

The hen was much happier having live keets to snuggle with instead of those fake Easter eggs.

Here is the sheep pen space that I had prepared to house Guinea girl and her brood.

Mama hen was more than happy to take over the renovated quarters.

The poor teen Guineas didn't last long in the coop area once Guinea girl returned with four miraculously lucky keets.  Guinea girl and her mate decided the teens had to go, dead or alive - I chose alive.

So I packed them up and they are now living in the gazebo in a dog crate.  Sorry, that picture will have to wait for later.

The four lucky keets try to stay as close to mom and dad as possible, often causing them to get trampled.

Last night Guinea girl spent the night in the coop, leaving the keets who couldn't climb the ramp outside!  Amazingly Guinea boy called them to him underneath the coop and he cuddled them all night long.

Tonight Guinea girl took the keets out of the safety of the coop and into a nearby woodpile, thereby defeating the rationale behind my move of the broody hen and the move of the teens!  Guinea boy is currently sleeping soundly in the coop, what are the Guineas thinking?  I can't believe they aren't extinct in the wild.