guinea questions!

[emvickrey]

I was old to keep them confined in their pen for 5 months before letting them out because they will wander off and get lost or run away. I"m told they aren't smart at all. I have 7 and I plan to keep them around for eggs and the others can wander around and eat bugs. If they make a nest and lay their eggs where I can get to them all the better. I'll just let them do their thing and just collect the eggs. We get ticks real bad here in the spring. And some kind of mite that we get attacked by. We counted my bites as I was getting dabbed with the pink stuff and I had 154. That was in the spring and i still carry the scars because they itch so bad.

 

[Poupoulles]

Five MONTHS?! I heard six weeks if they are keets.
I am making a little temporary yard so they get the idea of in and out of their house then eventualy they will have full free range. At least, all this is in theory...

 

[EdistoChicks]

I let my keets out sooner than 6 weeks, but they had two juveniles to follow around. I have heard 6 weeks for adults, but I kept mine in for 3 weeks. I guess it depends. My yard isn't completely fenced in but they seemed to have figured out the property lines. They stay where they should. They are kept contained at night unless I cannot catch them, which does happen. When a bird flies up a tree it is gone until it decides to come down!
Melissa

 

[Poupoulles]

Oh thank goodness!
I built them a little temporary yard so they get used to going in and out. (They have been in their new house for two weeks. After another couple of weeks I will open their yard door and start letting them stroll. I have bugs that need eating!

 

[darkmatter]

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A bit more difficult, they like to lay eggs in the fields and roost in the trees.

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Yes, all day every day

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Yes, I start the keets and chicks together to get a blended flock, otherwise there will be fights.

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Yes and No. They fly out to free range and stay separate from the chickens for ranging, some will roost in the coop, some in the trees, depending on whatever goes on in their little birdbrains. I 've had them roost in the coop in good weather and in the trees in storms, (go figger)

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No, guineas only lay for a few weeks in the year. Yes, they taste a little different, some people like them, some don't.

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The guineas are much more fun to watch