Help getting started with guineas for tick control!

[sunnie7]

So far 've only had a small flock of bantam chickens in my backayard in a neighborhood. However, we recently moved onto 5 acres in Southern Indiana. We are right next to a state forestry and about a mile down the road a guy has a large flock of 20+ guineas that run around everywhere. While building our house my husband got Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever AND Lyme's disease at the same time. Which was insanely rare, especially for our location!! It was pretty horrible experience and it took forever to figure out what was causing him to be so sick. Anyways, I have 3 small kids and I need to get tick control going asap. We have a 6x8 shed thats not quite finished yet that I was planning on making into a chicken coop however, i'm putting getting more chickens on hold until after I get guineas and figure them out! I want them to free range and really don't want to have to have a coop for them; I'm good with them roosting in trees. I get how different guineas are from chickens and I don't really want them for "pets" but more for help with the ticks!
Please give me some advice on how to start them off! What size/ type boarder do I need to start them off in? Could I use the shed for now but them move them outside? What all do I need in there or set up for a boarder? How long will they have to stay in that? How do I go about slowly releasing them and what age?! Will I have issues with them going very far down the road and joining the other flock? How do I keep them on my property?

 

[Shadowfire]

Male guineas can get very aggressive during the breeding season, and are known to attack or even kill large chickens. If you want to have both, they should each have a separate coop and run, or you can get all female guineas. Keeping them in your yard is a challenge; they will even prefer to roost in trees (and get eaten) than roost in the pen, most times. Build them a large square or rectangle frame with wood and then cover the sides with chicken wire- this is called a 'run" and can be attached to the coop. Let them roam in the run to get used to the property for a few weeks. The guineas should be keets when introduced, so they are more acquainted with the land and so they don't keep trying to run back to your neighbors' yard. Best of luck!

P.S: I have found chickens very good for tick control also. Ever since we got the chickens, not a single tick has been found on me or my family, even in the hot summer months!

 

[R2elk]

So far I've only had a small flock of bantam chickens in my backyard in a neighborhood. However, we recently moved onto 5 acres in Southern Indiana. We are right next to a state forestry and about a mile down the road a guy has a large flock of 20+ guineas that run around everywhere. While building our house my husband got Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever AND Lyme's disease at the same time. Which was insanely rare, especially for our location!! It was pretty horrible experience and it took forever to figure out what was causing him to be so sick. Anyways, I have 3 small kids and I need to get tick control going asap. We have a 6x8 shed that's not quite finished yet that I was planning on making into a chicken coop however, I'm putting getting more chickens on hold until after I get guineas and figure them out! I want them to free range and really don't want to have to have a coop for them; I'm good with them roosting in trees. I get how different guineas are from chickens and I don't really want them for "pets" but more for help with the ticks!
Please give me some advice on how to start them off! What size/ type boarder do I need to start them off in? Could I use the shed for now but them move them outside? What all do I need in there or set up for a boarder? How long will they have to stay in that? How do I go about slowly releasing them and what age?! Will I have issues with them going very far down the road and joining the other flock? How do I keep them on my property?

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

Start with guinea keets. If you plan on them letting them sleep in the trees, you should also plan on regularly replacing them due to predator losses. I recommend raising and housing them separately from chickens. I also recommend that they be housed in a secure coop at night.