Guinea talons\claws

[kyle142]

I have 6-7 week old guinea fowl and noticing extremely sharp talons\\claws, Just wondering is this just a young thing (a bit like puppy teeth?). Actually drew a tiny bit of blood today

Not sure how much longer I can handle them for.
thx

 

[cracking up]

I don't handle mine and almost never have to pick them up. They just run around eating bugs because that's their job. If you want something to cuddle it's going to be a struggle with a guinea. The claws don't get better.

 

[crtrlovr]

nope -- the claws will continue to grow, but they do get worn down somewhat as the guineas scratch / dig for food, small rocks, bucks, etc. As for being cuddly, the window of opportunity for a "cuddly" guinea is VERY small. Guineas are a whole 'nother critter. Even if you hand raise them and cuddle them every day, as soon as you put them outside with other guineas or let them start free ranging, they slip immediately into their natural, instinct / survival driven mode. Mine HATE to be handled, and I literally have to snare them or catch them with a fishing net to touch them at all (for instance, if I needed to check for wounds or keep one from hurting another guinea or a chicken). They're wild, wild, WILD. There's no logic or thought processing going on up there in those bony little heads....

 

[cracking up]

Someone said the head is just a decoration - not much going on in there. They're instinct driven. They do get used to being fed and that's your only hope of 'training'.

 

[kyle142]

lol I didn't get them to be cuddly..I have too many animals and a girlfriend I've got no time for being cuddly. Besides I've seen them when they're older, Pretty darn ugly faces!

Thanks everyone for the info ^^
Reason I asked was cause I have\\had a busted knee, so building the extra area for them has been postponed so I've had to move them between pens outside until there night\
aising area is complete... So I've been getting scratches! bastards

Yeh, I've noticed the 'wildness' you have mentioned. A lot different to chickens.. However I guess that is a part reason why they may make better free rangers.

 

[cracking up]

The easiest way to move them from place to place is to 'herd' them. Might be hard with a bum knee and even with a good one it helps to have two people and a broom or rake. My neighbor used a blanket and that worked.

Good luck.

 

[Cadillac Jill]

Oh, they were such adorable keets…with their downy stripes and sweet little chirps. Then one day—OMG—it’s like having a flock of ungrateful, strong-willed teenagers. Fortunately, in both instances, we have the sweet memories of the early days and bright hopes for future days to sustain us.

Their claws are sharp and they’re stronger than chickens—much stronger. On this forum, I’ve seen catching an adult guinea described as an “explosive” experience several times, and I think the term is fitting. On the list of things I’d like to do, it falls somewhere below “get a root canal” and “listen to that ridiculous ‘Friday’ song”.

I do believe their wildness is part of what makes them such a great addition to a homestead. It’s up to me to figure out how to use that to my advantage.