Guineas: Tips to keep them around and alive withought cooping

[mooman]

I'm going to be getting about 6 keets in a week or two. My plan is to brood them till they are old enough to go outside, then keep them penned for a few weeks, release one for a few days, then two for few days then the rest. I will be handling them CONSTANTLY during brooding. I love the fact that they can be kept in a semi-wild state.

Question is anyone have tips on keeping guineas alive and around this way. Food stations? Treats you give them? Protected Roosting areas? Can I expect to see babies? I live on 3 acres that backs up to hundreds of acres of undeveloped woodland. Is 6 a good number or should I get more than that? What kind of losses can I expect yearly.

 

[farmertank]

guineas can be hard to keep around because they are prone to go wild.

Clip one wing and every about 6 weeks re-clip the wing so it can't grow. if you clip both they will learn how to balance and will fly in no time. with a wing clipped and the obtion of flying far not on thier mind they feel un-safe if they go too far.

I suggest feeding at night. about an hour before dark. Teach them right from now until they are let out a certain call like..."here guinea, guinea." This way when they are out even if they go exploring when they hear you call, they will come running to be shut in.

Always try to get them in about an hour before dark, because they will look for a tree or a bush to roost in and you won't get them down.


I had six, but 3 died of old age and one died from a dog that came in the yard. They all stayed around. I now have 38 in the incubator due to hatch the 10 of May. Mine do go into the woods behind us that isn't ours and is quite wild, but they always come back when called.
I live right next to a busy road and I have never had one go near it, so I guess they are smarter than chickens

I hope this helps, maybe someone else will have other suggestions
Julie

 

[MissPrissy]

I love my loud, noisey guineas.

I kept my keats in a close coop for 2 months or so and let them out a few times just before dark and they went right back in. Once they learn whre home is they tend not to leave too far from it. Eventually they decided they wanted to roost with the goats. I was worried at first they would stray but they have never left the pasture. They roost in the trees and even fly up on top of the barn and scream and dance but they always come to the barn door for feed. I made it a habit every day to give them a small scoop of feed to keep them coming back. They have to forage for the majority of their food.

I have 25 eggs in the bator now and am hoping for a good hatch.

 

[mooman]

Any chance they will hatch eggs on their own?

 

[wynedot55]

you brood the guin keets for 6 weeks.then you can move them to their coop.leave them penned in there for 3 or 4 months.so they can learn that is their home.an then after that time you can let them freerange.an just before dark they should go back to their coop to roost.

 

[zatsdeb]

I call my chickens ducks and guineas the same way...
"here chick chick chick" they all come running, including the donkeys and goats and my deer too!
they love when I bring out treats like lettuce, and vegie scraps. the guineas love the treats and have learned to come running like the rest of the critters!

 

[reallemons1]

I raised mine with the chicks. They just flew the coop when they were ready. They come and eat with the hens and then range all day. At night they roost in a large tree with the peacocks near the henhouse. I don't clip wings so they can excape preditors when necessary. Yes they have hatched chicks, but few make it to adult. I have tried to catch and raise them but they don't live long as they don't seem to adjust well to capture, not sure why. They are great birds to have around and we very much enjoy them.

 

[gobbles!]

Quote:
That's pretty much my plan--did you keep yours penned up for a while first, and if so, for how long?

 

[rooster0209]

My Guineas are great and very comical.

I started with Keats. When they were 12wks, I removed the wire cover off the outside portion of the pen. They come and go as they please. Its really funny to see them down the ditch almost a mile away. Steadily eating the whole way.

I read they like to look at themselves in a mirror. So I put one inside the coop. IT is hilarious to watch them gazing at themselves.

They are "wild" but come when I call "chick, chick" at noon and 5 for feeding. Tick season has begun and I have yet to see one!!!!!

 

[reallemons1]

I kept them penned about 3 months if I remember correctly. By that time they were pretty well able to take care of themselves. They range around in about a 1/4 mile radius of home. They are now splitting in small groups of 2 or 3 making ready to lay and set..