Can Guinea Fowl Survive 100% on there own in Ohio?

[Katy]

Quote:
There's a small flock in the small town where they have the poultry auction that I go to. They started out as a flock of escapees from the auction.

 

[robin416]

Thing is how are you going to go up on that pole and teach the birds that's where they are supposed to sleep and escape predators.

 

[Finn's Mom]

Ummmm . . . Sorry, I'm not an expert, but with my limited experience, it's a great idea, but . . . no. Too cold. Unless you want to buy new ones every year.

 

[MuranoFarms]

Quote:
They won't roost in boxes. Your cheapest option is to build a 3 1/2 sided shelter (with roof) and high roosts. You're going to need feed and water that doesn't freeze in the winter....so I guess that means you'll need to run electric. I'm in Pa and for a solid month last winter we had snow covering the ground. It got pretty deep (over a foot) and my guineas didn't find a thing to eat. They would have starved if I hadn't been feeding them. Most days they chose not to leave the coop even with the door standing wide open. If you let them sleep in the trees expect for some to freeze to death. They cannot repopulate well on their own in our climate. Most of the keets will die within the first week of life....that is if the mother doesn't get eaten by a raccoon or bear before they even hatch. Most guinea owners don't let them set in the woods without some type of protection. If you're not willing to build a shelter/cage around a setting guinea you might as well wave goodbye.....she's going to be somethings dinner.

They can't stay clear of predators.....their not exactly the brightest bulb in the box

Maybe I missed it, but what would be the purpose of having them and not taking care of them?

 

[Newb]

Quote:
The purpose is for tick control.

I want the shelter elevated on poles so nothing can get in that can't fly such as racoons, foxes, etc. Will hens have nests anywhere besides on the ground because your right, unless she is very lucky she will have a hard time not becoming dinner if she is setting for weeks? The shelter and feeder can be built but there is no electricity on the property so keeping water unfrozen may be hard. Maybe if I put a water feeder in the shelter their body heat will be enough to keep in liquid? How warm do most coops stay in the winter if no lamps are used?

Thanks for all the comments. I'm not gonna do this unless I think it can be done.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
The purpose is for tick control.

I want the shelter elevated on poles so nothing can get in that can't fly such as racoons, foxes, etc. Will hens have nests anywhere besides on the ground because your right, unless she is very lucky she will have a hard time not becoming dinner if she is setting for weeks? The shelter and feeder can be built but there is no electricity on the property so keeping water unfrozen may be hard. Maybe if I put a water feeder in the shelter their body heat will be enough to keep in liquid? How warm do most coops stay in the winter if no lamps are used?

Thanks for all the comments. I'm not gonna do this unless I think it can be done.

I don't think you'll have any luck getting them to go into the shelter......mine don't even go into any of our barns or the building they were raised in.....they prefer roosting in the trees.

I don't consider what you want to do, not taking care of them. The only time mine even come up looking for feed is when there's snow on the ground......other than that they're content roaming where they want.

Cyn....mine don't get any grain from the cattle since we don't grain our cows at all. They really don't have access to any leftover grain in the field either since any field we grow grain on is over 1/2 mile away. I do see them out in the silage field after it's chopped, but there's not much left out there for them at that point in time. They spend a lot of time in the shelterbelt and where weeds have grown up along the fences.

If you get some don't get light colored ones.....the owls will pluck them out of the trees the first night!

 

[Newb]

Well it sounds like I should start building my feeder and shelter and give this a shot. I'm probably going to order 20 eggs this weekend from Southern Farm Hatcheries. Anyone have any experience with SFH or have any other recommendations on where to buy Guineas from?

Don't worry, I'll raise them at the house and then release them next Spring just in time for bug control.

 

[robin416]

Raising them for six or eight months then taking them some place else and dumping them off pretty much secures the fact that they will leave.

 

[Katy]

You'll have to pen them for at least a couple weeks (longer is better) before you let them free-range in a new place or they'll leave.

 

[speckledhen]

The general rule is to keep them penned (with top) or cooped up for four to six weeks. They take awhile to imprint on a new home.