Have Chickens, but still want Guinea

[Tikkijane]

They are not protective, most flocks will not confront predators but they are very alert and watchful birds (which is why they're considered/called barnyard watchdogs)... and they are extremely quick to sound off about anything they perceive as danger.
They have to be conditioned to come back... without an established routine of being herded into the coop each evening (usually for a treat helps) they may wander off and not come back. I do not let my young Guineas start free ranging until they are 12 wks old... (they don't go outside until they are 6wks old, then they stay in the coop/pen for another 6 wks to get acclimated and imprint on the coop as home). At 12wks old they are almost full grown, they are a little smarter, more alert, more agile and better able to get away from predators.
Usually quiet at night (unless your coop is lit), but sometimes Hens will buck-wheat all night long for reasons only known to themselves. You can check out youtube for Guinea fowl sounds/calls.

Thanks!

I ordered 15.

 

[Tikkijane]

Very flighty. If you want them tame/calm handle them A LOT from the day you get them, and after they are a couple weeks old start feeding them a lot of meal worms.. they will learn you are the food goddess and start to trust you.

Congrats on your keet order!

*nods* We're planning on it. I do want them to roam a bit to take care of the ticks, so long as they come home at night like the chickens. I'm not planning on letting them out completely until they know where home is and are too big for the hawks to get. That's the plan, anyhow.

 

[Jennsbirds]

Chickens will take care of black widows with no problem. Fwiw.

I did not know that. Thank you so much!

 

[Tikkijane]

I did not know that. Thank you so much!

And scorpions, if that helps. I've seen pictures of them getting tarantulas, too.

I know guineas will get bees-how do they do with wasps?

 

[Kilsharion]

And scorpions, if that helps. I've seen pictures of them getting tarantulas, too.

I know guineas will get bees-how do they do with wasp

Our girls ate both spiders and scorpions tonight while we watched...they are hilarious playing 'soccer' once one of them has found a tasty...

 

[Tikkijane]

Our girls ate both spiders and scorpions tonight while we watched...they are hilarious playing 'soccer' once one of them has found a tasty...

We call that chicken hockey, lol

 

[Kilsharion]

We call that chicken hockey, lol

LOL - I can totally see that....

 

[lisa760]

Anyone have an opinion with how they are with flies? Between the tree orchards and the animals I have an insane number of flies and gnats. I am planning on getting guineas to deal with the flies and ticks. I hope they don't eat too many bees, I need them to pollinate my trees!

 

[KrisH]

Anyone have an opinion with how they are with flies? Between the tree orchards and the animals I have an insane number of flies and gnats. I am planning on getting guineas to deal with the flies and ticks. I hope they don't eat too many bees, I need them to pollinate my trees!

In my opinion, they get along just fine. neither one tries to eat the other.

RobertH

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:

LOL Robert!

My Guineas range my pastures and love to scratch thru the manure (for fly larva, beetles and other bugs), but I don't have enough fruit trees to compare to an orchard so I can't say how they are with gnats.

They will eat bees if they can catch them... so you'll want to make sure the Guineas do not have access to any hives (if you have any). They have been known to camp out in front of the hives and snack all day.