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Questions about Guineas. Coop is finished! Keets were moved out today. - Page 2

post #11 of 246
7/9/11 at 10:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeepsCA 

Check out this thread on a really well built hoop coop:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270088


That's really nice! I don't think anything will be able to move that sucker! th

PeepsCA - Do you have any pictures of your set-up?


I need to get off the computer and brain storm or go on google for more ideas of houseing...

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
Free range? Yea or nay?
Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
post #12 of 246
7/9/11 at 10:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducklover1 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeepsCA 

I agree with WestKnollAmy about the dry incubating... Guinea egg shells and membranes are really thick, and the lack of humidity might turn out disastrous and devastating. I'd be worried they'd lose too much moisture during the incubation and come lockdown/hatch time they might not be able to spin around in the shell to pip, zip and hatch without any issues. I've never tried it tho, I didn't want to risk a batch of eggs or keets dying while trying to hatch hit
If you try it, please post details of how it goes!


I might try Dry incubateing next year. smile

I think Keets will be a better way to go! Anyone else have anymore Pen designs or pictures? fl


Have you thought of buying keets from a breeder instead of eggs?   Most of the big hatcheries send them in the mail.  You just have to be able to zoom down to the post office to get them.  Or better yet If you have a local feed store arrange to place an order for keets with them.  You will be required to buy thirty minimum but it would be worth while.

OR you could give the fertilized eggs to a broody hen.  Chickens are better mommas.

deb always learning

 

I don't have help at my place except the goats....  Well um they are just company you cant turn your back on.... more like hyper active neighbor kids coming to see what your doing..... Well they aren't much help at all.... Oh well.

 

(1)Percheron(1)Dog (3)Cats(3)Goats(10)Guineas (17)Welsumers (2)Silkys(2)Auracanas

 

Reply

deb always learning

 

I don't have help at my place except the goats....  Well um they are just company you cant turn your back on.... more like hyper active neighbor kids coming to see what your doing..... Well they aren't much help at all.... Oh well.

 

(1)Percheron(1)Dog (3)Cats(3)Goats(10)Guineas (17)Welsumers (2)Silkys(2)Auracanas

 

Reply
post #13 of 246
7/9/11 at 11:32am
Thread Starter 

perchie.girl :

Quote:
Originally Posted by ducklover1 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeepsCA 

I agree with WestKnollAmy about the dry incubating... Guinea egg shells and membranes are really thick, and the lack of humidity might turn out disastrous and devastating. I'd be worried they'd lose too much moisture during the incubation and come lockdown/hatch time they might not be able to spin around in the shell to pip, zip and hatch without any issues. I've never tried it tho, I didn't want to risk a batch of eggs or keets dying while trying to hatch hit
If you try it, please post details of how it goes!


I might try Dry incubateing next year. smile

I think Keets will be a better way to go! Anyone else have anymore Pen designs or pictures? fl


Have you thought of buying keets from a breeder instead of eggs?   Most of the big hatcheries send them in the mail.  You just have to be able to zoom down to the post office to get them.  Or better yet If you have a local feed store arrange to place an order for keets with them.  You will be required to buy thirty minimum but it would be worth while.

OR you could give the fertilized eggs to a broody hen.  Chickens are better mommas.


I was asking if anyone ordered from Guinea Farm because they have Buff Dundottes keets. smile
Our PO is about 2-3 miles away so it won't hurt me to walk there and back. smile

Ok for 30 Buff Dundotte Keets it will cost $123.00 ( th ) That includes shipping!
I was going to order the Fancy Assorted Keets but they cost more per keet for some reason?? hmm

I need to E-mail them to make sure they still have any spots left for them on the list. I hope they will be able to get me in! fl And the reason I want Buff Dundottes is because you can sex them by color! smile

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply
post #14 of 246
7/9/11 at 12:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducklover1 

I was asking if anyone ordered from Guinea Farm because they have Buff Dundottes keets. smile
Our PO is about 2-3 miles away so it won't hurt me to walk there and back. smile

Ok for 30 Buff Dundotte Keets it will cost $123.00 ( th ) That includes shipping!
I was going to order the Fancy Assorted Keets but they cost more per keet for some reason?? hmm

I need to E-mail them to make sure they still have any spots left for them on the list. I hope they will be able to get me in! fl And the reason I want Buff Dundottes is because you can sex them by color! smile


I have heard good things about Guinea Farm.  Remember its OK to have lots of males.  You don't have to worry about them like Roosters.  They have a different social order.  Woo Hoo more Keets in the mail...... LOL.  ya

deb always learning

 

I don't have help at my place except the goats....  Well um they are just company you cant turn your back on.... more like hyper active neighbor kids coming to see what your doing..... Well they aren't much help at all.... Oh well.

 

(1)Percheron(1)Dog (3)Cats(3)Goats(10)Guineas (17)Welsumers (2)Silkys(2)Auracanas

 

Reply

deb always learning

 

I don't have help at my place except the goats....  Well um they are just company you cant turn your back on.... more like hyper active neighbor kids coming to see what your doing..... Well they aren't much help at all.... Oh well.

 

(1)Percheron(1)Dog (3)Cats(3)Goats(10)Guineas (17)Welsumers (2)Silkys(2)Auracanas

 

Reply
post #15 of 246
7/9/11 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducklover1 

And the reason I want Buff Dundottes is because you can sex them by color! smile


Usually you can sex them by color, this is true with any of the Guineas in the tan gene family... BUT sometimes there are slight variations in the keet's colors due to different genetics of Buff Dundotte breeding flock, (different dilutions of the tan gene they carry). I've found that color variations pretty much appear in all of the colors that I've been breeding, even the Pearl Greys. To better clarify what I mean...  I have some Pearl Greys that are darker, some that are lighter but they are all still Pearl Greys (I have birds from several different gene pools). So keep in mind that it is a possibility that you may end up with some of your BDs sexed wrong, and some that you just won't be sure about until the Hens start buckwheatin' or layin' eggs lol.

 

highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

Reply

 

highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

Reply
post #16 of 246
7/9/11 at 2:04pm

perchie.girl :

Quote:
Originally Posted by ducklover1 

I was asking if anyone ordered from Guinea Farm because they have Buff Dundottes keets. smile
Our PO is about 2-3 miles away so it won't hurt me to walk there and back. smile

Ok for 30 Buff Dundotte Keets it will cost $123.00 ( th ) That includes shipping!
I was going to order the Fancy Assorted Keets but they cost more per keet for some reason?? hmm

I need to E-mail them to make sure they still have any spots left for them on the list. I hope they will be able to get me in! fl And the reason I want Buff Dundottes is because you can sex them by color! smile


I have heard good things about Guinea Farm.  Remember its OK to have lots of males.  You don't have to worry about them like Roosters.  They have a different social order.  Woo Hoo more Keets in the mail...... LOL.  ya


I think my males have a pecking order. That is why I rehomed 2. I have 4 adult males left & only 1 coral & 1 pearl seem to be competing. It might be worse right now since the corals girls is sitting on some eggs right now...... Will see if it let's up. Giving her some eggs that are scheduled to hatch tomorrow.

Christina

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Christina

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post #17 of 246
7/9/11 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeepsCA 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ducklover1 

And the reason I want Buff Dundottes is because you can sex them by color! smile


Usually you can sex them by color, this is true with any of the Guineas in the tan gene family... BUT sometimes there are slight variations in the keet's colors due to different genetics of Buff Dundotte breeding flock, (different dilutions of the tan gene they carry). I've found that color variations pretty much appear in all of the colors that I've been breeding, even the Pearl Greys. To better clarify what I mean...  I have some Pearl Greys that are darker, some that are lighter but they are all still Pearl Greys (I have birds from several different gene pools). So keep in mind that it is a possibility that you may end up with some of your BDs sexed wrong, and some that you just won't be sure about until the Hens start buckwheatin' or layin' eggs lol.


That makes sense! smile

I didn't know that guineas have a different pecking order than chickens do, it's kinda neat that I won't need to worry if I have more males than needed. (That must mean that the eggs will be fertile! wink Lol )

I just don't want to go the egg route since I have had bad luck with eggs this year. And since Guinea Farm is in Iowa, I won't really need to worry about the keets in the mail.

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply
post #18 of 246
7/9/11 at 4:11pm

A Guinea lover here!!! big_smile

They eat ticks, baby snakes, fleas, Japanese beetles, mosquitos, grasshoppers...  Just about everything!  Although you're not going to benefit as much if they're locked up instead of free ranged.

Unlike chickens, a 1:1 male/female ratio is okay for Guineas.  1:2 or 1:3 is better though.  We currently have 6 males and 8 females, and this ratio seems to be fine.  With our first Guineas we ended up with 1 male and 6 females.  That also worked well, though the fertility wasn't 100% like it is now.  We started out with several colors (Pearl, Pearl Pied, Lavender, Lavender Pied, Royal Purple, and White), but this year I'm planning to only keep the Pearl keets because a much higher percentage are able to survive predation.  Our Guineas are completely free ranged, i.e. they roost in trees and forage for their own food.  We collect some of their eggs every year to incubate and then release the teenager keets, who eventually join the adult flock.  I've never tried dry incubating with Guinea eggs, however this year I tried putting the eggs under Orpington broody hens and had high hatch rates.  In the past I've incubated them, and they were easier to hatch than chicken eggs.  The keets are also hardier.

P.S.  Make sure to get your Guineas a mirror.  It'll provide both them and you with hours of enjoyment, LOL! lol

"You actually think that criminals will obey gun control laws?  You're a special kind of stupid, aren't you?"

 

"Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." ~ George Washington

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"You actually think that criminals will obey gun control laws?  You're a special kind of stupid, aren't you?"

 

"Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." ~ George Washington

Reply
post #19 of 246
7/9/11 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowgirl71 

A Guinea lover here!!! big_smile

They eat ticks, baby snakes, fleas, Japanese beetles, mosquitos, grasshoppers...  Just about everything!  Although you're not going to benefit as much if they're locked up instead of free ranged.

Unlike chickens, a 1:1 male/female ratio is okay for Guineas.  1:2 or 1:3 is better though.  We currently have 6 males and 8 females, and this ratio seems to be fine.  With our first Guineas we ended up with 1 male and 6 females.  That also worked well, though the fertility wasn't 100% like it is now.  We started out with several colors (Pearl, Pearl Pied, Lavender, Lavender Pied, Royal Purple, and White), but this year I'm planning to only keep the Pearl keets because a much higher percentage are able to survive predation.  Our Guineas are completely free ranged, i.e. they roost in trees and forage for their own food.  We collect some of their eggs every year to incubate and then release the teenager keets, who eventually join the adult flock.  I've never tried dry incubating with Guinea eggs, however this year I tried putting the eggs under Orpington broody hens and had high hatch rates.  In the past I've incubated them, and they were easier to hatch than chicken eggs.  The keets are also hardier.

P.S.  Make sure to get your Guineas a mirror.  It'll provide both them and you with hours of enjoyment, LOL! lol


I'll have plenty of room for them, they of course will be inside in the brooder room for a week or so to make sure they get a good start. I need to butcher the extras drakes, cockerals, and roosters on Monday. We just have way to many Roosters and drakes around here. hmm

Lol I'll need to be looking for a mirror then! lol

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply
post #20 of 246
7/10/11 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 

Oh dear! I can feel an obsession coming! lol I dreamt about guineas last night!

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply

Chickens - (Naked Necks, Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, D'uccles, and others.)
Call Ducks - (Blue Bibbeds, Greys, Chocolates, Whites, Silvers, and Butterscotches.)

Guineas - (Pearl Greys and Royal Purples.)
 

New for 2013: Blue Paint Silkie Project
 

~Steven

Reply
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Other BackYard Poultry › Guinea Fowl › Questions about Guineas. Coop is finished! Keets were moved out today.