Guinea Age

[JustinaMarie]

I have a chance to get 8 guineas hatched on June 2nd. I'm just getting into guineas and wondering if they would be harder to keep at that age or start out with? I didn't know if they would be harder to train at that age i have the time.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

depends on what you mean by train, they are young enough to teach them to stay in their coop at night but i doubt if you would ever get one to let you pet it. i hand feed mine from keet and they still dont like me. lol

 

[Hotcookie]

LOL at Granny's reply!! How true! I'm always amazed when I see pictures of others holding their pet guineas.......no way would mine ever let me hold them - they don't even like to be touched!! Yes......guineas hatched in June are certainly young enough to train. Heck, you could train any age guinea where to roost at night, if done properly. I'd say - take a chance and get them, Just make sure you keep them inside their coop for a minimum of 6 weeks - preferably 8 - so they know where to come home at nite. And get ready to have some fun - they sure are goofy and will provide you with plenty of laughs!!

 

[JustinaMarie]

I'm excited about getting them there a Christmas present to me and the guy said there friendly so will see and I planned on keeping them in the coop for awhile I did the same with my chickens. Then I got brave enough to let them out lol

 

[Cindy in PA]

I agree that you can retrain guineas. M y first flock was 1 1/2 years old & used to roosting in the trees during the summer. After about 3 months in the coop and run being trained with a whistle and millet, they were left out & they came in for me every night. My second flock was about 14 weeks old & the same training worked for them.

 

[JustinaMarie]

How do you train them with a whistle?

 

[Cindy in PA]

Just go down to there pen, blow the whistle & yell guinea treats every time & throw whatever you are feeding for scratch. I would do that every day while you keep them penned, at the end of the day at the time I would want them to come in. Many use a bell & you can yell whatever, just make sure the whistle, the yell & the scratch or millet all go together every time! They will soon learn that the whistle or whatever means food & usually I can get them in any time of day. Mine are usually waiting for me to come out (I always do it about 1 hour before sunset) & run down beside me to get their treat. When they see me & the treat jar they know what it is. In the warmer months if they are out in the field they hear the whistle & come running. Hope this helps.

 

[JustinaMarie]

What kind of treats do they like? Do they eat scraps like chickens do? And it was helpful thank you

 

[Granny Hatchet]

mine love the white millet and extra cornbread is their favorite, bananas too

 

[Cindy in PA]

I mainly use a mix from TSC with mostly millet. It has a few sunflowers & safflowers also. They also love wheat & will eat some corn that is in my regular chicken scratch. I have never given them scraps, but they love spinach, Kale & chard when they don't get out.