Raising Guinea Fowl

Hi, I want to inform you about guinea fowl.
Basics
So if you are a newbie, like me, You want to know about them.
First, you need to find an appropriate place to raise them. I used a metal tub, then we had to use a large dog kennel, so they wouldn't harm each other, because we had pheasants too.


Note: These are not ours. Just needed an example.


Second, you need to have feeders and waterers so they can drink and eat, I've heard that using a bowl is dangerous, because the chicks can't get back up. A feeder is not that essential because if you don't have one it's fine because grown up, they peck at the ground anyways, but I do recommend a one. For the food you need to have a high protein feed. The water needs to be hot because they can only tolerate warmer water.

Third, you need bedding. I would use some wet paper towels for the floor, for the first week. Never use wet newspaper because it can cause their feet to splay. Next, until you put them in the coop. You should use wood shavings(Never Cedar, It can kill them.) or paper bedding like me.

At 7-9 weeks(Tell me if this is wrong), you should put them in the coop for 9 weeks so they know where home is. Also, make a sound or word to let them know come home and use it when their in the coop so that becomes a word that mean "Go Home" to them.

After that, You should let explore, a few at a time since they are flock birds. And when the time comes you can release them.

Mysterious said:

Hi, I want to inform you about guinea fowl.
Basics
So if you are a newbie, like me, You want to know about them.
First, you need to find an appropriate place to raise them. I used a metal tub, then we had to use a large dog kennel, so they wouldn't harm each other, because we had pheasants too.


Note: These are not ours. Just needed an example.


Second, you need to have feeders and waterers so they can drink and eat, I've heard that using a bowl is dangerous, because the chicks can't get back up. A feeder is not that essential because if you don't have one it's fine because grown up, they peck at the ground anyways, but I do recommend a one. For the food you need to have a high protein feed. The water needs to be hot because they can only tolerate warmer water.

Third, you need bedding. I would use some wet paper towels for the floor, for the first week. Never use wet newspaper because it can cause their feet to splay. Next, until you put them in the coop. You should use wood shavings(Never Cedar, It can kill them.) or paper bedding like me.

At 7-9 weeks(Tell me if this is wrong), you should put them in the coop for 9 weeks so they know where home is. Also, make a sound or word to let them know come home and use it when their in the coop so that becomes a word that mean "Go Home" to them.

After that, You should let explore, a few at a time since they are flock birds. And when the time comes you can release them.

Click to expand...

Don't give keets hot water. Lukewarm water is fine, hot is not.

Read the Raising Guinea Fowl 101 thread. Pay particular attention to any posts made by @PeepsCA who is the most knowledgeable guinea person there is.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/312682/raising-guinea-fowl-101

I meant that and 1 more thing: They need 1 acre each per bird if your free ranging them. They love to roam. If you have them in a confined space you need to clip they're wings, but if you free renge you can't do that because the possibility of a predator is certain.

Mysterious said:

I meant that and 1 more thing: They need 1 acre each per bird if your free ranging them. They love to roam. If you have them in a confined space you need to clip they're wings, but if you free range you can't do that because the possibility of a predator is certain.

Click to expand...

I don't know where you are getting this information but it is not true. They do not need 1 acre per bird to free range. To clip wings or not depends on a lot of things. You need to define what you mean by a confined space in order to give credence to what you said.

Two other things I have found useful.....if you only feed them in pen they return each evening....I let mine roam during the day but put them up with chickens at night.....if you can get millet from your feed store they love it and I only give it to them in the pen at night time...sets the agenda. I always remove chicks from mom because they run the babies to death I have a old brooder chicken that loves to raise them. And if you have any that are not doing so well...hard boiled eggs mashed up they will survive. They are so tiny...and fragile in the beginning must use lots of tender care....legs break easy. I have 4 different types....strange they only flock with their colors...else wise they hang with chickens ....never clipped their wings....only safeguard they have against land predators, and they can get in trees and eat the bugs specifically ticks Yes a bit noisy but rather have them than ticks and bugs....they are great in garden....goodbye potato bugs and leave all plants alone just after the bugs.