Guineas vs. Dogs?

[treekatie]

Can full grown guineas hold their own against 'free ranging' dogs? We have quite a few around here, but would be interested in keeping a few guineas around the house. Do they stick around, or do I need to keep them in a coop/run?

 

[gardenknitter]

Mine stick around just fine. We kept them cooped for several weeks when they were little so they woud know that this is home. Since they can fly they can roost in a tree or barn or even on the roof for safety.

 

[cracking up]

Do your dogs get along with the chickens? If you keep the guineas locked up for a while (like three weeks) and then open the door they will gradually start to wander. It takes them a while. Make sure there is food and water just outside the coop so they will come back. They're capable of flying and being really loud if there is danger but a determined dog could be a real threat even to a mature guinea.

 

[Lollipop]

Katie, Anyone that has guineas will tell ya that it takes 6 of them to make one brain. The fact that they can fly as well as pheasants, or quail, doesn`t occure to them if being chased by a dog. They run instead of flying. No match for a dog. Some dogs are wooses and guineas will run a good bluff, but mostly they lose to any predator. The coop idea is a good one for sleeping, but most folks want guineas to free range during the day for insect control. They do range far. My 23 acres is only a jumping off point for mine and all my neighbors are familiar with their visits. They do return at night and early evening for treats and roosting. Mine roost in the rafters of my pole barn. Pretty safe and I`m glad they do. They are a continuous comedy act and very entertaining. If you have acerage, the noise doesn`t overwhelm you and they get less noisey as they mature. They are fun birds. You`ll be glad you got them. Get more than you think you need as they are taken by predators often. I started this batch with 20 keets last July. One died and 8 more were taken by predators. The remaining 11 are nesting, but the 2 nests I have found were destroyed by predators soon after and setting hens are very vulnerable, too. Good luck with yours...........Pop

 

[speckledhen]

I agree with Pop. I want guineas again so badly, but I want to do what he said, put up a pole barn or run-in shed with high roosts in the rafters. They are odd critters just like he said. They can fly, but they usually try to outrun a predator. Just for the entertainment alone, you should have guineas!

 

[geepy]

I agree with Pop. Get more then you think you need. I hatched mine under my broody hen so they stay alittle closer. My neighbors don't mind them because they get rid of the ticks. They do like to travel and they make alot of noise. Other then the noise I love mine. They are not the brightest crayon in the box though.

edited because I can't spell.

 

[gardenknitter]

I also wanted to add that we have a Lab and a Jack Russell...they were use to the Guineas because we had their coop in the yard so before we let them free they and the dogs had time to get use to each other through the fence. They all roam free and get along fine. I know this isn't always the case...a lot of people have problems with dogs and birds. But I am glad we don't!

 

[megcpat]

We lived on 40 acres once upon a time ago and our neighbors had a flock of guinea. The birds took to ranging our property about half the time, and spent a lot of that time right out our front door. We had a pit bull who attacked and ate any small animal she came across. You can only imagine our shock the day she took off after those birds and they all, instead of running away, turned to run towards her, yelling and honking up an awful noise. Darcy tucked tail and ran back to stand by my husband with a terrified look on her face, totally taken aback at this unexpected response. Eventually, she got over her fear of them and found it great fun to run after them and make them holler, but she never did kill one of the birds, or even act like she really wanted to. All that just to say that, I bet if you had a good natured dog with a submissive personality, your guinea could establish themselves as not to be messed with. The birds did return to their owners property each night, but they wondered very far during the day.