Friendly / Tame Guinea Fowl Possible?

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Hello! Not any time soon but one day I'd love to own some Guinea's. I love the way they look, but the only ones I've met in person were Extremely Skittish and fearful of humans. Is it more just how they're raised? Or are they a more 'wild' bird?

1. Can Guinea's be tame?
2. Can they be Super Tame like how like people have pet chickens who come over and hang out or want to be held?
3. How many Guinea's is the minimum? How big are flocks recommended to be?

Thank you! : )

 

[R2elk]

1. Can Guinea's be tame?

Yes

2. Can they be Super Tame like how like people have pet chickens who come over and hang out or want to be held?

Some people have had extremely tame guineas but they work really hard at it.

3. How many Guinea's is the minimum? How big are flocks recommended to be?

I never recommend fewer than a 10 guinea flock. The more there are the more they can be guineas and exhibit their true nature

Guineas are not and never will be as domestic as chickens and turkeys..

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Good to know! Thank you!

 

[EarlJ]

If you hatch them, they're pretty curious and friendly for a day or three. When they were that age, I would give them water by squirting a small condiment bottle into a shallow lid. They knew the sound it made, and would all delightfully investigate whatever it squirted into. Even a few weeks later, when they're much more skittish and I haven't done that for a long time, they still recall and will approach if I use the bottle.

If you have all day to spend with them, or have a few hours to let them sit on your lap while you read a book, I'm sure you could end up with some pretty tame guineas. But it would take a lot of time, patience, and consistency. A lot.

 

[R2elk]

If you hatch them, they're pretty curious and friendly for a day or three. When they were that age, I would give them water by squirting a small condiment bottle into a shallow lid. They knew the sound it made, and would all delightfully investigate whatever it squirted into. Even a few weeks later, when they're much more skittish and I haven't done that for a long time, they still recall and will approach if I use the bottle.

If you have all day to spend with them, or have a few hours to let them sit on your lap while you read a book, I'm sure you could end up with some pretty tame guineas. But it would take a lot of time, patience, and consistency. A lot.

It can also help to play a radio for them when you aren't around.

 

[My2butterflies]

My kids held our first guineas a lot when they were 1-4wks old. It never tamed them. As adults now I’ve been able to get them used to being within a couple feet of me. I did get one female named Tiny to eat from my hand. She was the baby my daughter held the most.
The guineas will always come check out what we are doing when we work outside. They don’t get under foot like chickens, but will hang out near us.
I personally find this middle ground perfect

 

[yakitori]

I can imagine it being completely possible if you hatched them yourselves. I got my keets at around 3 days old, and have put in time to hang around the brooder while they are eating, I would just let my hand dangle around inside the brooder until they got used to it.

Eventually, I could pet them while they ate, though they would still hop away when they realize that my hand is on their backs, they come straight back to the feeder and don't freak out.

I really can't tell my three guineas apart, but one is brave enough to jump on my bare arms (ouch) for food if my hand is out of reach. I'm going to have to stop feeding them treats out of my hands soon, their beaks are getting more vicious by the day, lol.

I have no idea what they will be like as adults, I'm not looking for super tame birds, I just wanted to make sure that they will come when I need them to.

 

[EarlJ]

Ha, yeah.

I didn't mention it because I thought it might just be my small sample size, but... I used to give my first bunch dried mealworms by hand and I eventually stopped because they pecked hard. Broody (chicken) hens don't hit with that much force. It wasn't really painful, but it would tend to scatter the mealworms out of my hand.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Ha, yeah.

I didn't mention it because I thought it might just be my small sample size, but... I used to give my first bunch dried mealworms by hand and I eventually stopped because they pecked hard. Broody (chicken) hens don't hit with that much force. It wasn't really painful, but it would tend to scatter the mealworms out of my hand.

Funny! Just today I thought I’d see if my older guineas would still eat out of my hands like they did when they were juveniles. They did! And they were surprising gentle and dainty about it too, lots gentler then our crazy chickens! The younger set, from last summer‘s keets, were not about to get that close.

 

[yakitori]

Ha, yeah.

I didn't mention it because I thought it might just be my small sample size, but... I used to give my first bunch dried mealworms by hand and I eventually stopped because they pecked hard. Broody (chicken) hens don't hit with that much force. It wasn't really painful, but it would tend to scatter the mealworms out of my hand.

They always take a bit of my palm with them when they peck out of my hand.
They broke skin today, them claws are getting sharper by the day. I really enjoy them perching on me though, so I'm looking to invest in one of those cut resistant sleeves. One of my chooks have taken to perching on my arm after a meal and allowing me to help her preen, it's adorable!
The guineas are ADHD, just climbing over my arms and laps and all over the place. You can practically hear them going "food? food? food? treat? treat? treat?" lol.