Got Guineas-Finally!

Cindy in PA

Free Ranging
16 Years
Jul 8, 2008
3,019
1,724
521
Fleetwood, PA
We went to pick up 6 adult guineas on Saturday. I realize keets would be easier, but this is the way we decided to go for the moment. I have 3-males/3-females Pearl gray guineas & I'm loving them so far. The "buck-wheat" call is not nearly as loud as I expected it to be. They were being fed 16% layer, but I am feeding them 20% Purina Game Bird Layena. They seem to be eating well. My coop is a coop & attached run all in one. First night was a fiasco, as they were released into the pen, because we couldn't get the dog crate into the coop. They did go into the coop during the day, but come nightfall they were just pacing in the fence, even though their coop was lighted. It took me an hour to catch them, as they kept going in the run under the coop & freaking out. Yesterday I blocked off the area under the coop & they spent the day going in & out. About an hour before dark they had all gone in. I went down to check them out right before 9 and they were all pacing in the fence. I didn't want to be picking them up in the dark again, so I went in and shoved them all in the door in about 5 minutes, as they had no where to get away from me! I expect this will go on for awhile.

I started giving them millet a bit before dark after blowing a whistle. The first night they didn't seem to even know what the millet was, but ate some after my lone stray male starting going crazy outside the pen, eating his millet. Last night they seemed to eat it better. I will be keeping up this routine for the 6-8 weeks that I keep them penned.

It remains to be seen how this works out, but it is fun so far!
 
Last edited:
Good luck with your guineas!

I just picked up 4 guineas at the MD swap over the weekend.

They're just babies and right now I have them in a large dog crate inside the coop.

I am hoping to have an "easy" time of training them to go inside the coop at night when they're older.

We'll see . . .


smile.png
 
best of luck! we just hatch a few from the incubator. they came out with white bellies and faces/wing with bro wn "light brown" top of heads and backs....what color guineas are these going to be as adults pied? or bronzes?? will take and post pics tomorrow when it's light outside.
 
Congratulations!! I love guineas.. I want some but I know I will have to keep them in the chicken house with a run attached to it...I love their eggs better than any eggs and I can't find anyone near me that has some...ughhhh....
 
They have gone in the coop on their own the past two nights. I sure hope it continues! I will give them their additional space back if they go in again tonight. They are starting to "get" the millet thing. I don't believe they received anything but food at their prior home. I really enjoy watching them. The seller was about to turn his breeding birds loose, as he said they were done laying for the season. Do most guineas quit in the heat? It hasn't been that hot here yet. I guess I may have a chance to see an egg yet this season. Sure can't wait for the 6-8 weeks to pass, so I can try releasing them.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom