Are These Guineas old Enough?

[SplashRooster]

Well, There's A Purebred Poultry auction coming up this weekend, and i was reading the catalogue when i saw this: "Pen Of 7 Guinea Fowl Keets, 5Weeks Old", So Now I'm Considering Buying Them And getting back into guineas! i used to have 5, but they kept running from me, biting me when i picked them up, Probabl Cause I got them as adult.

etc. so i gave up on guineas and sold 'em. but if i got these fresh new youngsters, how long would it take to 'tame' them? And how difficultwould it be compared to day-olds? by 'tame' i mean things like perch on my arm, come to me, not run from me, etc. also, whats the highest i should bid? (they auction by pen, so they're all going together, and all bids start at $10.)

So, Thanks For Any help! Also, Advice On Keeping Much Appreciated!

 

[bfrancis]

If they've not been handled everyday for first two weeks....too late. They won't tame down in my experience. Good luck!

 

[ColbyNTX]

I don't have time to play with mine everyday in the brooder but I keep them cooped until they are pretty well grown8-12 weeks. I do walk around the coop, squat and talk to them and feed them by hand. I don't like birds to perch on me because that meens poop on your shirt! Now they free range and run to me when they see me.That is tame enough for me. When I squat in my chicken coops, they try to jump on my shoulder but I remove them.

 

[MuranoFarms]

I got mine at 1 year and 6 months. They ran from me at first, didn't want to be near me at all. So I left them alone. I came in the coop to do my stuff and talked to them but never tried to touch them. 6 months later the older ones sorta ignore me, but they don't run away anymore. The baby will walk right up to me to see what I'm doing and eat out of the bowl as I'm filling it. They still don't like being petted, but I'm no longer scary to them! lol

I'm hatching some keets now, so we'll see if they turn out any different.

 

[fgdiii]

I second everything that has been said. Unless you work with them daily from day one, they will not be tame. If you go to their cage everyday and feed them, they will run up to you and ignore your presence but forget about trying to touch them.

 

[grammy of David]

WHY DO YOU WANT THEM TAME?

JUST ASKING AND NOT SCREAMING, BUT MY OTHER HAND IS IN CAST.....HARD TO TYPE.

 

[SplashRooster]

haha, I guess A Want A few Guineas that WONT scream bloody murder when the see me, and it'd be nice to have a 'lap guinea'

 

[allanimals21]

I don't hold mine everyday the first two weeks and mine know me just fine. One group actually comes when I call them. They all know when I am home and come flying/running back. They know I am the feeder lady/the protector lady/ and the regulator (I shoot them with the hose when they are being naughty)