Guineas warning all day

[ShannonsChimkens]

I’ve had 4 Guinea, 2 male 2 female since November of last year. When I got them they were about 4 months old. Got them used to the coop and run, then let them out to roam around during the day. This has been the daily ever since. They return to roost every night. There’s about an acre of fenced area where no ground predators enter.

For the last month they have been nervously calling and alarming ALL day long. Very seldom is there quiet anymore. In the evenings it’s the worst. They get in their roosting area and sound off for 20 minutes or more. When they sound, I run out to see what’s going on. It’s almost always nothing. When I sit out in the area with everyone, they start alarming and there’s nothing.

This is all new, as they were not this vocal constantly throughout the day for months. They are laying now, which I’ve taken this into consideration. But are they stressed? If so, about what and how can I fix it? We have six acres, but their area is a couple acres from our nearest neighbors. I feel badly for the neighbors, as the birds only sounded alarm when there was something to make noise about. Not anymore!

They are cooped with chickens, but they roost in the outside covered run. Never in the coop with the chickens. They are let out at 7am and put up/locked in at dark.

Thoughts?

 

[R2elk]

This is breeding season, the hens will be buckwheating nearly all day long at this time of year. It has nothing to do with alarms.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

It’s the sounds they make when an eagle is soaring above, or one of my dogs are at the fence. All 4 going off very loudly.

If that’s what they do during season, it’s understandable.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

It’s the sounds they make when an eagle is soaring above, or one of my dogs are at the fence. All 4 going off very loudly.

If that’s what they do during season, it’s understandable.

Mine are a lot louder right now. I’m not quite sure what they are saying, but they keep giving an alarm. When I brave our tick infested woods to check it out, they stop alarming and just stare at me... I’m worried I’m going to miss them alarming at a bobcat in those woods because they’ve cried wolf so much... Or maybe they are keeping a strategic eye on that bobcat?

 

[casportpony]

This is breeding season, the hens will be buckwheating nearly all day long at this time of year. It has nothing to do with alarms.

I almost miss that incessant noise!

 

[R2elk]

I almost miss that incessant noise!

You are welcome to come visit. I just took a grocery bag full of asparagus out of the garden and sent it home with the neighbor.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I personally don’t mind their calls so much, alarming all day is probably stressing them out though. Mine were just getting to the point that the neighbors a few acres away were having issues. They just went to a home with 6 other guinea The guy who picked them up was pretty excited to add to his adult flock and not have to raise anyone from hatch.

So... guinea professionals... I have 12 of their eggs in the incubator. What are the chances of hand raising 4 keets with everyone (chickens, ducks, turkey, 2 emu) that they will be a little more comfortable than their parents were? I purchased the parents at about 6 months old. They lived strictly with other guinea and were never handled from hatch, basically wild.

I don’t expect them to be tame in any way, just a little more comfortable? I do know that they are not like the other fowl and keep their wild side. I feel like it’s worth a try? I like them a lot and would like to keep 4 on the property.

 

[R2elk]

So... guinea professionals... I have 12 of their eggs in the incubator. What are the chances of hand raising 4 keets with everyone (chickens, ducks, turkey, 2 emu) that they will be a little more comfortable than their parents were?

Due to the problems that imprinting cause later, I do not recommend brooding keets with anything other than keets. While things may seem to be going very smoothly at first, it can all get very ugly when the first breeding season arrives and the guineas resort to their instinctive behavior which something that no other poultry understands and can cause the rest of your poultry great stress.

You can get them calmed and used to you while they are in the brooder. Never approach them from above. Always do it from their level. I have had keets eat out of my hand while in the brooder by simply putting feed in the palm of my hand and letting my arm and the back of my hand lay on the bedding. It can take some time for the keets to get brave enough but be patient. Do not reach in and grab a keet. Let them come to you. As they get older you can sit in their pen or coop with them and let them come to you. It can help to sprinkle treats near your feet.

I prefer my guineas to be guineas so I brood them by themselves and leave them alone..

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

You are welcome to come visit. I just took a grocery bag full of asparagus out of the garden and sent it home with the neighbor.

Thanks for the reminder in the asparagus!! It’s been a few days and they are now 3 feet tall

After reading your post, I’m going to try a different brooding method and brood them alone. The other babies are already sold to a couple people, but the remaining keets I’m keeping will go in a see through brooder at table height. Thank you! If chicks are scared of a hand, can only imagine a keet would be worse.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I almost miss that incessant noise!

Almost being the key word, huh?