Guinea Question

[countrygirl27]

Hi, I live in MN and right smack in Lyme Deases(hope i spelled that right) territory. I am thinking about getting some guineas for tick reduction. Last year the ticks were so bad that EVERYTIME you went outside, at least one was crawling on you. (Thankfully we found them before they attatched). How hardy are Guinea fowl in below 0 weather. How healthy(with proper management) do they tend to be? Are they "friendly" when raised from keets?
These are my main questions. If you feel you have some advise you want to offer, feel free. I'd rather learn all I can now, then after I have them!

 

[R2elk]

Hi, I live in MN and right smack in Lyme Deases(hope i spelled that right) territory. I am thinking about getting some guineas for tick reduction. Last year the ticks were so bad that EVERYTIME you went outside, at least one was crawling on you. (Thankfully we found them before they attatched). How hardy are Guinea fowl in below 0 weather. How healthy(with proper management) do they tend to be? Are they "friendly" when raised from keets?
These are my main questions. If you feel you have some advise you want to offer, feel free. I'd rather learn all I can now, then after I have them!

Guineas are a semi wild bird. With very much work and training they can be taught to come to a bell, whistle or call for treats. To make them "friendly" they have to be raised from keets and have to have a lot of human interaction starting at a very young age.

All the advice that you should need is in the Raising Guinea Fowl 101 thread. Pay particular attention to posts made by PeepsCA.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/312682/raising-guinea-fowl-101

Good luck.

 

[red horse ranch]

We live in Wyoming and 15 to 20 below zero was not uncommon here this winter. Guineas aren't very happy about temps this cold but then neither are we! If they have a good coop without drafts they survive just fine. I usually put in a heat lamp when it's that cold but the henhouse will still get down to 10 or 12 degrees inside. A lot of people out here don't use any heat for them in winter.
I have two of my 14 guineas that I can pick up and handle but they are basically wild birds that can be somewhat tamed. They are friendly birds but only on their terms. They don't usually like to be touched.

 

[countrygirl27]

Thanks for the info. This year, it got down to 30 below for a week straight. I'm not sure if they'd survive that...

 

[aprille218]

Don't worry they do (mine did) survive -30 degree or colder weather. I have an unheated but insulated coop that I try to have them locked up in at night during cold weather but there are always some that are unreachable roosting in the rafters of the pole barn. They need good quality food and to be given water a couple of times a day when it's that cold but they survive. The friendliest Guineas I have were raised by a chicken but none are really pets. Not mean just flighty.
Aprille

 

[countrygirl27]

Quote:
Good to know! Thanks!