Getting into Guinea Fowl

[Fishbone]

First, I really love this site, and thanks to all that contribute, it really helps us newbies!

I have a bad insect problem, ticks being the worst, ants, termites etc.
I'm sick of putting down chemicals, the cost, time, it only works for a few months, I can't apply it to my whole property and what about the damage to the envoirment...we all have wells around here.
The answer, Guinea fowl to the rescue.

People say they are loud, I've watched some YouTube videos and they don't seem much louder than the noisiest of chickens.
They even sound almost like the clucking of wild turkey that roam my back woods.

Is this true?
I don't really care, just don't want the neighbors that live about 50 yards away to be annoyed.
I know when alarmed they get noisy, but in general, will I hear them from 20 yards away?

I plan on getting 4 Keats from a friend. I think they're helmet heads!
Is that enough to keep them happy?

Any other breed of Guinea to consider?

I plan on training them to go into the coop at night, free range during the day, I read here it's all a matter of training!

Thanks again!

 

[TehLizardKing]

1: They only make loud noises when they are separated from each other ot alarmed, as you said, and usually only warble quietly so no you wouldn't really be able to hear them from 20 yards. Anyway, i dont think the noise is that bad...I'd rather that then the crow of My male Texas A & M quail that escaped into my house because he wanted some food. I doubt someone 50 yards away will be bothered even by their warning calls.

2: Yeah, 4 keets would be fine, but they prefer bieng in larger numbers, maybe 8, if you have a property bigger than about 2 acres.

3. Helmet heads are probably best, because they are reasonably sized (basically able to defend themselves) and flock easily.

also, don't let them free range for a few days to make sure they learn their coop is their home, because like quail, if not trained, they won't be in your care for very long.


QUOTE: "Guinea fowl range across the property taking bites of weed seeds, insects, grasshoppers, Japanese Beetles and other obnoxious bugs with nearly every step they take. They prefer selecting pests that are on top of the ground or on plants and leaves within their eyesight and reach. Guineas can often be seen darting across the yard after a moth or other flying insect. Many people keep guineas because they eat ticks, alert them to strangers, or kill many types of snakes."

 

[ollievee]

Oh, mine are very noisy. I have a committee of four males that gets together frequently (at least daily) to tell their tales of woe to the world. Quite loud and easily heard from twenty yards. Not as loud from that distance, obviously, but easy to hear. They also do set up an alarm if someone/something different comes on the place such as a visiting dog or the UPS man. And they will squawk for quite awhile if one of the birds is missing/away.

 

[PeepsCA]

When penned up, my birds are very noisy... 20 yrds away, 2000 yrds away, doesn't matter, everybody hears them. But while out free ranging the birds are usually only noisy when they see an air or ground predator, snake, stray dog, trespasser etc... or if I get close to a nesting spot one will start yelling at me and then they all chime in and give me heck. Guineas are loud, and typically the more you have the louder they can be (I have 125+ Guineas right now, so it's pretty loud here, lol).

Just 4 Guineas may not be happy/content as a flock, Guineas do better in larger flocks of 8 or more birds (they are very flock oriented and typically do better when they can focus on each other, especially during the breeding/laying season)... so if you have other poultry you may have aggression issues in the coop/pen with just the 4, unless you keep them cooped/penned separately and you may even need to free range the Guineas and your other poultry at different times. Not everyone has issues with co-mingled/mixed flocks, but many do. I have Turkeys and Peafowl mixed with my Guineas, and I have no aggression issues between them whatsoever. I don't own any type of chickens or any type of water fowl, so I can't speak from personal experience on either of those.

Vulturine Guinea Fowl are supposedly more quiet than Helmeted Guinea Fowl are (and I think Crested are also quieter), but about ten times the price (or more), and require a supplement heat source/special housing during cold weather... so you will most likely only want to consider the Helmeted Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris). There are somewhere around 30 different colors to choose from.

 

[Fishbone]

Thanks Lizard, Ollie and I was hopeing you would add your advice Peeps, you seem to post often, a regular Guinea Guru!...thanks

The plan is to have different coops for different birds, bantam chickens, maybe some peacocks peafowl and guineas.
They will all free range...once trained or as it's called in pigeon raising "used', as in "used to the coop"!

Looks like chicken math ALSO applies to guineas!
Now it's going to be to 6 or 8!

I'll check with my co-worker to see whats available, the birds initially come from a breeder/relative, he has just about every kind of bird!.