Do you feed your free range Guineas in the Summer?

[racuda]

There are LOTS of bugs in central NC this time of year, yet my adult free range Guineas will eat a pound of feed per bird per day. I'm thinking of cutting out the feed and let them fend for themselves for the rest of the summer.

What do you do?

 

[robin416]

How many Guineas and how much are they scooping on the ground?

Of my 14 and my two egg layers visiting during the day I only go through five pounds total. So something else is going with yours.

 

[dieselgrl48]

I Live rural on 5 acres'.I have only had a few clutche's of guinea's here in the last couple year's.Our's free ranged and would usualy roost in Horse stall at night or sometime's even on roof or tree's.They are pretty relisient bird's and a lot of people here let them free range all winter if they want shelter they will most likey pick an inside roosting area before winter but they should just do fine with the element's.

 

[racuda]

Quote:
I have 2 females and 5 males and they roost in a coop at night. They are about a year old. I have fed them gamebird starter until a couple of months ago, and then switched them to layer pellets, assuming that they would supplement their protein needs by foraging for insects.

They have an unlimited territory of woods and fields to glean bugs from, and indeed, we haven't been bothered by ticks this year. I think they should be fully capable of taking care of their own food needs until late September.



Quote:
They can free range all winter in Virginia? Do you mean that people in your area don't feed them at all?

 

[robin416]

I'm going to suggest something else is getting in there and helping themselves. It just doesn't make sense any other way that you should be going through that much feed. Plus Guineas hate change and switching to pellets was a huge change in the Guinea mind.

Yes, as long as there is no snow on the ground Guineas free range during the Winter. If there is snow its best to keep them confined to their coop area, outside pen until the snow melts or they take to the trees.

 

[damselfish]

7 pounds per day?

Yeah, something else is going on. I have seven guineas, four keets and thirteen chickens who all free range, and I go through maybe a quart scoop or a bit more of feed in a day. And even part of that, they waste and trample.

Suggestions: Look for rodent droppings. Put the food inside the coop if it isn't already. Put up a game cam and I'm guessing you may get some nice wildlife pics.

Good luck!

 

[chloebetsychicks]

I agree that something is eating the feed-and it ain't the guineas! We let ours free range all afternoon and they come in to the pen and coop with the chickens in the evening. We throw out bird seed and corn for them and fill a couple of bowls with chicken layer crumbles. The guineas and chickens both steady eat all afternoon in the yard. They go after bugs and also a lot of green stuff too, clover, grass and seeds etc. They like to eat the feed and seeds in the pen but they don't actually consume that much. They also like table scraps, just like the chickens!

 

[greathorse]

I did not feed mine in the summer, they did fly into the chicken run on a regular basis and helped themselves. I am sure they would do just fine foraging.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Holy Moly. A pound of feed per bird per day?

NO WAY.....

Put down a different feed and hang it in a feeder. Use layer mash as Guinea fowl LOVE this stuff.

I would say, go to your coop or barn around 12 at night and see just what is eating your feed.

I am guessing you have a huge rat problem, a horse or goat or pig or dog that is eating your feed.

TAKE UP the waterers at night, keep them off the floor and up high. The Guineas will find them.

In worst case scenerio, TAKE UP your feeders at night and while the Guineas are out free ranging.

Guineas LOVE to eat and drink right before roost time.

If i had to feed my Guinea hen a pound of feed a day i would not have them.

HOWEVER, remember that if a COON or a POSSUM is in your barn/coop at night they are eating your feed and NOT your Guineas.

Taking the feed up may intice them to go after your birds.

Hope this helps G. G.