Guineas...

[Duck_life]

I have 3 guineas, yes, I know small flock, but they were raised with chickens so I figured they would hang with the chickens they were hatched with. I have seen lots of threads complaining about guineas, so I have some questions! I'm pretty sure I have 1 boy 2 girls because my suspected male has HUGE waddles, the other 2 have way smaller waddles but one of them still have bigger waddles than the other, I am certain the one with smaller waddles is a female because she is smaller than the 2 (the other suspected female is smaller than the male to, the one i'm pretty sure is female is just tons smaller) anyways, my guineas roost with my chickens, they are 4-5 months old now and are getting big and noisy, they have also had their first encounter with a hawk!! But they were very smart towards that and sounded the alarm, hid in the coop with the chickens and kept quiet! Luckily no chickens (not even my free rangers) were harmed... surprisingly since I have some escapee chicks that LOVE flying out of the fence. My number one question is will my guineas start roosting somewhere else? Their coops are in the woods and when I first got 1 of them it flew away (I got it back with bread lol) so I am worried they will roost in the trees, I also don't want to cut the trees because that is where their coop hides and it is hard for any hawks to see them, the hawks landed in our field so I really am cautious about that! Also are they good parents... the person (my breeder) I got them from says they are good parents, she even had proof of her guinea attacking some other guinea from harming its chicks. I really want them to be good parents because I have heard most aren't... Thanks!

 

[Henry&Friends]

I have two males and one female guinea, the other female went off and died somewhere. They roost with the chickens at night, and they were raised alongside them. They don’t really follow the flock, they like to go into neighbors yards and scream all day- but they do run over real quick when my rooster makes tidbit sounds. They won’t come near people, but I got them to eat out of my hand the other day. Oh and I don’t find guinea eggs, but they’re supposed to be really good mothers.

 

[Duck_life]

I have two males and one female guinea, the other female went off and died somewhere. They roost with the chickens at night, and they were raised alongside them. They don’t really follow the flock, they like to go into neighbors yards and scream all day- but they do run over real quick when my rooster makes tidbit sounds. They won’t come near people, but I got them to eat out of my hand the other day. Oh and I don’t find guinea eggs, but they’re supposed to be really good mothers.

OK, My guineas are friendly and sit on my lap so i'm hoping they stick around.

 

[R2elk]

I have 3 guineas, yes, I know small flock, but they were raised with chickens so I figured they would hang with the chickens they were hatched with. I have seen lots of threads complaining about guineas, so I have some questions! I'm pretty sure I have 1 boy 2 girls because my suspected male has HUGE waddles, the other 2 have way smaller waddles but one of them still have bigger waddles than the other, I am certain the one with smaller waddles is a female because she is smaller than the 2 (the other suspected female is smaller than the male to, the one i'm pretty sure is female is just tons smaller) anyways, my guineas roost with my chickens, they are 4-5 months old now and are getting big and noisy, they have also had their first encounter with a hawk!! But they were very smart towards that and sounded the alarm, hid in the coop with the chickens and kept quiet! Luckily no chickens (not even my free rangers) were harmed... surprisingly since I have some escapee chicks that LOVE flying out of the fence. My number one question is will my guineas start roosting somewhere else? Their coops are in the woods and when I first got 1 of them it flew away (I got it back with bread lol) so I am worried they will roost in the trees, I also don't want to cut the trees because that is where their coop hides and it is hard for any hawks to see them, the hawks landed in our field so I really am cautious about that! Also are they good parents... the person (my breeder) I got them from says they are good parents, she even had proof of her guinea attacking some other guinea from harming its chicks. I really want them to be good parents because I have heard most aren't... Thanks!

You can't necessarily sex guineas by their wattles. In general male guineas have bigger casques and bigger wattles than hens but it is not guaranteed. I have had guinea males with small wattles that were the same as the hen's wattles. Others have had female guineas with big cupped wattles.

Read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts by @PeepsCA

Do not be surprised if your guineas turn into monsters that attack your chickens once they start their first breeding season. Guineas that are raised with chickens lose the ability to understand that chickens are not guineas. Guinea manners are not the same as other birds and can cause extreme stress to the chickens when they begin their chasing, attacking from behind and pulling or breaking off feathers.

Guinea hens can be good mothers or they can be bad mothers. It is an individual guinea thing.

 

[Duck_life]

You can't necessarily sex guineas by their wattles. In general male guineas have bigger casques and bigger wattles than hens but it is not guaranteed. I have had guinea males with small wattles that were the same as the hen's wattles. Others have had female guineas with big cupped wattles.

Read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts by @PeepsCA

Do not be surprised if your guineas turn into monsters that attack your chickens once they start their first breeding season. Guineas that are raised with chickens lose the ability to understand that chickens are not guineas. Guinea manners are not the same as other birds and can cause extreme stress to the chickens when they begin their chasing, attacking from behind and pulling or breaking off feathers.

Guinea hens can be good mothers or they can be bad mothers. It is an individual guinea thing.

I'm not that worried, I have some extra coops in case anything comes up.

 

[Duck_life]

You can't necessarily sex guineas by their wattles. In general male guineas have bigger casques and bigger wattles than hens but it is not guaranteed. I have had guinea males with small wattles that were the same as the hen's wattles. Others have had female guineas with big cupped wattles.

Read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts by @PeepsCA

Do not be surprised if your guineas turn into monsters that attack your chickens once they start their first breeding season. Guineas that are raised with chickens lose the ability to understand that chickens are not guineas. Guinea manners are not the same as other birds and can cause extreme stress to the chickens when they begin their chasing, attacking from behind and pulling or breaking off feathers.

Guinea hens can be good mothers or they can be bad mothers. It is an individual guinea thing.

Thank you for the information!