A few Guinea Questions by a chicken owner

[Campine Lover]

ok. Recently, 2 of my chickens have disappeared w/out a trace. (hawk?) So now im planning on ordering a few more small order chicks. Someone mentioned Guineas are good for predator control. Is that true? Would they alert if a hawk was around? And are they really that noisy? If I can take Margret, one of my Red hens, screaming in the morning, I can take anything. If I raise 1 guinea with 5 or 4 chicks will the guinea think it's a chicken so there for be friendly with them? Is there a certain type that is quieter/friendlier? The selection is on Nature's Hatchery. How is the laying? How big do they get? Thanks, answers greatly appreciated.

 

[MuranoFarms]

Yes, guineas are noisy but they will 'sound the alarm' when a predator comes around. We had a hawk visit recently and the guineas were out there hollering their heads off, every single chicken was hiding under the pine trees. They make noise regularly, but their alarm is like no other!

They get to be about as big as a standard roo. They will start to lay the summer after they hatch. Their eggs are smaller then a bantam egg, triangle shaped and HARD! They aren't as hardy as chicks when they're just hatched (keets) they need a 95degree brooder the whole 8 weeks. They're slightly dumber then chickens. lol Guineas are sold straight run, I would get at least 3.

 

[Campine Lover]

Thanks, but I've decided against for now. Maybe another time....

 

[bigdawg]

its possible that two of them are setting eggs somewhere?