A friend of mine asked this question on a different board, and I thought I would post to see if anyone here had the answers to her questions. Thanks in advance! :)

I do have a question. Are turkey eggs as hard shelled as guinea eggs? I left the egg behind the boxes, but I know several of the lower class guineas hide and sleep there at night. Would several guineas hiding actually crush the egg or crack it? Should I leave the egg and hope she lays ther again tomorrow? 1st time turkey moms any good at this? I want to hatch some, but would love to let her do it. I hope I have some lovely buff/bourbon red babies! Any info would be appreciated!

I've never had guinea hens myself, just chickens and wild turkeys. My wild turkey hen's egg was similiar in shell hardness and strength to that of a chicken's egg. Buff and Bourbon red domestic turkeys are very beautiful! I know that most of the overly domesticated breeds of turkey no longer set their eggs but I think those two varieties (more of heritage breeds I think they're called) still will brood and hatch their own eggs. If you have a hen who has found a spot that she likes to lay her eggs, she may put more there if you leave it there. If the guineas use that spot to rest, it's not a good spot though since they can break the turkey egg(s) or pester the turkey hen if she decides to try to brood there. If you have a spot you want the turkey hen to use, you might try putting her egg there and showing it to her (I know, turkeys aren't too bright but we can try). If not or she won't brood, you can always use an incubator and hatch the eggs yourself.

Turkeys and chickens laying their first eggs don't always know what to make of them and may lay one here, one there, and all over, even breaking some. She will do a better job next spring as far as attempting to brood if she is a variety so inclined.

Thanks so much! :D I'll pass this along!