Can guineas live like chickens?

[Jeffross1968]

Guinea owners....do any of you have adult guineas that live like chickens...sleeping in a coop, laying eggs in laying boxes? Or are mine that are around 4 months eventually going to take to sleeping in trees and laying in the woods? Ours have grown up with chickens almost their whole lives.

 

[Lothiriel]

Mine haven't started laying yet, but they're the same age as yours and have also grown up with chickens from day 1. They sleep in the coop and go in by themselves when it gets dark. Occasionally they'll get stuck on the wrong side of the fence and head to the barn if they can't reach the coop.

 

[KrisH]

Guinea owners....do any of you have adult guineas that live like chickens...sleeping in a coop, laying eggs in laying boxes? Or are mine that are around 4 months eventually going to take to sleeping in trees and laying in the woods? Ours have grown up with chickens almost their whole lives.

Raised ours with chickens too, but they turned out as guineys. they do roost inside with the chickens, but they stay out a little later. they lay eggs where they want to, but NOT in nest boxes.

RobertH

 

[Jeffross1968]

Was afraid of that. Oh well, firstly I don't even know if they are hens, and second, we don't really have them for eggs anyway, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[animalsRawesome]

Yep. Mine all always sleep in the coop, but I don't think they have ever layed in the nest boxes... MAYBE 1 time they did, but I can't remember for sure. Seems to be how they always get killed... they go off to sit on some eggs someplace and get eaten by a wild critter...

 

[PeepsCA]

Was afraid of that. Oh well, firstly I don't even know if they are hens, and second, we don't really have them for eggs anyway, so we'll see how it goes.

Only the Hens will make the 2 syllable (repetitive) buck-wheat call, so if you are hearing that call... you have Hens, lol. As far as eggs go, you will want to keep track of where they are laying (once they start... usually Spring thru Fall), because if they accumulate a well hidden pile (or piles) of eggs that you can't find then a predator will, and you may end up losing not just the eggs but also losing your Hens too

(You may not see any eggs this season from your young birds BUT they are old enough to lay now). I keep my birds in each day until the Hens have laid their eggs for the day, then I let them out to free range... all laying season long... It's a pain in the rear, but I don't lose eggs or Hens to predators.