Have Chickens, but still want Guinea

[Jennsbirds]

Sorry I was unclear. I'm wondering at what size of a lawn/backyard/etc is where it's best to relay on a medium to large flock of guineas for bug control and not a tiny flock of chickens. If I ever do manage to buy a place with a large acreage of land to it, I want to know which kind of flock would be best to 'debug' the land with.

 

[JanO]

OK, now I understand. I've got 10 acres, but most of that is pasture; so I'm really only concerned about the yard area where my house is; about a half acre. However, I expect that they will twart that idea and roam. I'm starting with 12, but that may not be enough when I consider loss potential to preditors and any that may decide to move on. That number is subject to change depending on what they are going to cost me. However, the more I think about it, the more I want to eventually incubate some eggs, chicken and guineas, to replenish my flock as the need arises or the mood strikes.

 

[JLeigh]

Sorry I was unclear. I'm wondering at what size of a lawn/backyard/etc is where it's best to relay on a medium to large flock of guineas for bug control and not a tiny flock of chickens. If I ever do manage to buy a place with a large acreage of land to it, I want to know which kind of flock would be best to 'debug' the land with.

Guineas do a better job of bug control in my opinion, but since they wander much farther than chickens, it's usually best to have them on a few acres or more. A lot depends on whether or not you live in a neighborhood, how your neighbors are (mine are nasty neighbors, and I have six acres) and how close they are to you, and what your covenants/zoning laws are.

It's best to have at least 10 guineas because they're strong flock animals. I would put 10 guineas on a couple of acres if I could without disturbing anyone else's property.

 

[PeepsCA]

OK, now I understand. I've got 10 acres, but most of that is pasture; so I'm really only concerned about the yard area where my house is; about a half acre. However, I expect that they will twart that idea and roam. I'm starting with 12, but that may not be enough when I consider loss potential to preditors and any that may decide to move on. That number is subject to change depending on what they are going to cost me. However, the more I think about it, the more I want to eventually incubate some eggs, chicken and guineas, to replenish my flock as the need arises or the mood strikes.

They will most likely wander your pastures most of the day, but if they learn you are the food goddess and that you bring treats out to the back yard area often they will make their rounds thru your yard a couple times a day to make sure they are not missing anything good

Especially in the late Summer and Fall if your yard is green and tempting to them and the pastures have dried out. Even tho my flock of full-time free rangers can come and go as they please on my 10 acres it seems they are always under my feet when I don't want them to be, lol.

ETA:
Once they are free ranging most or all of the day Guineas typically do not consume much commercial feed. They will choose to get the bulk of their diet off the land. It's when they are penned (while you raise them or when you first get a flock of grown birds) that they will consume quite a bit if feed.

And... once they are free ranging and egg laying season comes around, plan on daily egg hunts in order to keep the Hens from becoming predator bait.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote: X2. Guineas and acreage go hand in hand... they aren't content to range just a small area/yard like a typical backyard flock of chickens will be. If you do get a place with large acreage and you want effective bug/pest control IMO Guineas are THE way to go.

 

[yelnad]

We have 22 acres and only about 2 are cleared. The rest is wooded and we are surrounded by other 22 acre lots that are also wooded and hardly populated. Will the guineas free range through the woods? I'm guessing I might lose more to predators? Hmmm...we just built a large chicken coop...now I have to work on a guinea barn. We have a HUGE tick problem with all the woods and a stream running through our yard.

 

[PeepsCA]

We have 22 acres and only about 2 are cleared. The rest is wooded and we are surrounded by other 22 acre lots that are also wooded and hardly populated. Will the guineas free range through the woods? I'm guessing I might lose more to predators? Hmmm...we just built a large chicken coop...now I have to work on a guinea barn. We have a HUGE tick problem with all the woods and a stream running through our yard.

They will free range into the woods, but depending on how tick/bug populated the woods are the flock may not venture very far in. If they witness a few of the flock being nabbed by lurking predators in or at the edge of the woods they may choose to mostly stay out in the open. Once your Guinea Hens start laying eggs they will most likely choose spots in the woods tho... so if you aren't going to do regular eggs hunts the predators will be feasting on Hens and eggs.

ETA:
Streams usually equate to high predator loads... do you have an LGD by chance? If not you may want to get one!

 

[yelnad]

No, we don't have an LGD. Just 2 mutts. One who could care less about anything else out there and another who is "protective" of the territory, but is not a bird dog (fortunately). The dogs are limited to about 5 acres by an invisible fence, and that seems to keep most bears and coyotes away. Wild animals seem to skirt the "fenced" area. Of course, we know things will change this year with the addition of chickens.

I didn't think about how eggs in the woods will lead to more trouble. Hmmm.

Thanks for the good info.

 

[Jimtherunner]

My 11 Welsummer chickens (2 roos) and 11 guinea fowl were all brooded together. I have lost 2 guinea fowl to coyotes in the past year so there are now 9. They are approximately 10 months old now, and this is first Spring Mating Season for the guinea fowl. They are relentlessly "after" my roosters. They chase him, pull out his tail feathers, and I do believe they mean to do him harm. They also chase the hens, but they chase them more like they chase each other ... it is unsettling to the hens. But it is serious for my roos.

When they coop up at night, there appears to be no attacking. Regardless, I have netted off part of the coop to keep them separate until I can rehome the guinea fowl later this week. I think that if I had a separate coop, I could manage it well enough to get through breeding season (maybe), but I will never house guinea fowl with chickens again.

Their coop is 8 x 14 and they have an attached run of 10' x 24'. They free range all day but stay in the run early in the morning and during inclement weather. I had hoped that plenty of range time would make this work out, but I was wrong.