How many keets should I keep?

[Tre3hugger]

So I have a couple people interested in buying my excess keets. I have been trying to sell a few for a week, and today got three responses from people. I am trying to decide the optimal number of guineas for my setup and expectations of them. thought maybe you fine people could help.

I have 5 acres, around 2 of which are cleared, that I plan to free range the guineas on during the day. I am hoping for them to help eradicate the ticks in my cleared space and that they will forage for most of their own food. My coop is 8x4 and about 9 feet high at the peak. Plenty of roosting space, ventilation, and natural light. How many adult guineas would be optimal for this set up? How many keets do you think I should keep to reach that goal? Anyone with an opinion please feel free, but especially looking forward to hearing from @R2elk and @Mixed flock enthusiast Thanks!

 

[R2elk]

So I have a couple people interested in buying my excess keets. I have been trying to sell a few for a week, and today got three responses from people. I am trying to decide the optimal number of guineas for my setup and expectations of them. thought maybe you fine people could help.

I have 5 acres, around 2 of which are cleared, that I plan to free range the guineas on during the day. I am hoping for them to help eradicate the ticks in my cleared space and that they will forage for most of their own food. My coop is 8x4 and about 9 feet high at the peak. Plenty of roosting space, ventilation, and natural light. How many adult guineas would be optimal for this set up? How many keets do you think I should keep to reach that goal? Anyone with an opinion please feel free, but especially looking forward to hearing from @R2elk and @Mixed flock enthusiast Thanks!

I try to keep a flock of at least 10. I rarely have any losses. My coop is 8'x12' and is a little cramped for the 13 adults that I have.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So I have a couple people interested in buying my excess keets. I have been trying to sell a few for a week, and today got three responses from people. I am trying to decide the optimal number of guineas for my setup and expectations of them. thought maybe you fine people could help.

I have 5 acres, around 2 of which are cleared, that I plan to free range the guineas on during the day. I am hoping for them to help eradicate the ticks in my cleared space and that they will forage for most of their own food. My coop is 8x4 and about 9 feet high at the peak. Plenty of roosting space, ventilation, and natural light. How many adult guineas would be optimal for this set up? How many keets do you think I should keep to reach that goal? Anyone with an opinion please feel free, but especially looking forward to hearing from @R2elk and @Mixed flock enthusiast Thanks!

We have them for tick control as well. We are on 10 acres and I’m having to work hard to keep them on those 10 acres. For some reason, my smaller group of 8 that I had last year was less likely to roam. 8 guineas also barely fit into our 6x8 coop. It’s not really that the guineas don’t fit - it’s that they are cantankerous creatures that seem to constantly quarrel and need some space to get away from each other. I guess in your situation I’d go on the smaller side, maybe 8??? I know that’s a smaller group than R2elk just recommended, but 10 might be your upper limit...

 

[Tre3hugger]

I am keeping 9 for now. See how it goes. Thank you guys.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I am keeping 9 for now. See how it goes. Thank you guys.

Hope they work out well for you and eat all of your ticks! Our tick situation was good until I had to lock all of our guineas up as a gambit to keep them away from the road. Now I’ve just found 3 ticks on me in the last week, including waking up to one embedded in my scalp!!! I really really despise ticks and freak about stuff in my hair too... so that was one of my most revolting mornings ever!

 

[Tre3hugger]

Wow, sorry that happened to you, but it really shows the effectiveness of the guineas I guess!