Getting Guineas Friday

[ella&clara]

We have ticks, lots of them, and my mom had a Lyme-like rash around a tick bite she got here last week. I already have nine chickens but I don't let them free-range because of the scratching mess they make of my flowerbeds and the poop on the patio. I do move them around in a chicken tractor enclosed in a large electronet fence though. For the guineas, I'm thinking about putting their house inside my large fenced garden. What do I feed them? I have heard I should feed them turkey starter instead of chicken.

 

[HEChicken]

Around here I've never seen specific turkey starter but we get gamebird starter - it is probably very similar. That is what I feed my keets. Are you getting keets or adults?

Also, in order for them to imprint and learn where home is, they should be confined for 6 weeks before you let them out to hunt for ticks. If you let them out right away you may lose them as they can fly quite well.

 

[ella&clara]

Thanks! I'll look for that. I am getting keets. Is there a way to avoid "putting them to bed" every night? I already have to put nine chickens to bed every night, as well as two dogs and two kids. And the chickens like to roost on the roof of the chicken tractor, instead of going inside, so I have to pick them up and put them inside. Also, will a house rated for 4 chickens be suitable for 6 guineas?

 

[prairie]

We trained ours to come into the house or into the run at night with the words "treat, treat, do you want a treat" and then I throw down a little treat for them. They have learned to come in with that and I usually don't have much problem getting them in at night. I use scratch grains because all my chickens and guineas love it. I don't give them any except when I call them -- then that is when they get the treat grains.