I am thinking about getting some guineas this spring & I have never had them before so I don't know anything about what I would need to do for them.
Do they have to have a coop or can they just stay outside? and wouldn't a hawk or my dog that likes to chase chickens get them?
They would have to be in a coop all winter right?
are guineas usually nice or are they kind of aggressive?
Read the thread
Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by
@PeepsCA.
Guineas are a flock bird and do best in large groups of guineas. I do not recommend having fewer than 10 for proper flock dynamics.
I do not recommend brooding keets with anything other than keets. The imprinting that causes makes it so that the guineas as adults do not understand that there is a difference between them and any poultry they were brooded with.
Guineas have entirely different instincts than any other poultry. If they start treating other poultry as if they are guineas, it can cause great stress to the other poultry.
Keets need a high protein turkey or game bird starter to give them a good start.
If you want to keep your guineas alive, they need to be in a secure coop at night. They are very vulnerable to nighttime predators. Owls and raccoons are among the nighttime predators that be harmful to tree roosting guineas. Guinea hens allowed to have their hidden nests during laying season are vulnerable to ground dwelling predators.
Unline other poultry, the hen to cock ratio for guineas is 1:1.
They are cold hardy but don't do well with their first snow. They will take to the trees and refuse to come downand land on the "white stuff".
I and others have had to build landing zones by spreading hay or straw on the snow to get the birds down from the trees. They do better once they become acclimated to snow.
Guineas are trainable. I trained mine to be herded. Others train theirs to come to a call or sound by using treats.
