my guineas in the tree

[pattypenny]

I like to see my guineas in the walnut tree. I have 14 guineas and there are 7 in this photo. one is almost hide, can you see her?

 

[NonnasBabies]

Very nice pic!!

 

[twister]

cool pic. I was unaware that they could get that high up in a tree. DO they roost there or do you put them in a coop at night? (thinking about getting some, and need to know more before I make the decision)

 

[pattypenny]

as of now i have them locked in a pen, they would love to roost in a tree if i let them out but I am keeping them penned until spring now. Everyone says they will lose guineas to owls and other preditors in the trees. they can fly at least 12 feet up in one try. they are not like chickens at all. They have to be all togather if one get seperated it will go crazy. They will flock together and when one moves they all move.
I read this from someone who had guineas, he said one guineas on the right side would yell, everythingis fine over here then one on the left would sing out everything is great over here. THEN from the rear one would scream OMG! and they would all start running and screaming all together for 10 seconds then they would forget why they were running and stop. then the whole thing would start over, EVERY THING IS FINE OVER HERE.
that pretty well describes a flock of guineas.

 

[flgardengirl]

Mine are penned too and sleep in a coop. Its a darn shame too because the woods behind our house are filled with deer ticks. I got one on my pants when I walked back there the other day. We have owls at night. I can hear them hooting in the Live Oak trees above the guinea and chicken coops.

 

[Cowgirl71]

Quote:
Very true, LOL!

Twister: Our Guineas roost in trees overnight (about 20-30 feet up). They roost right by our carport, which is where our outdoor watch dogs spend a lot of time. Sometimes the guineas choose a different tree to roost in, and by night two or three, something will get one of them. The next night they'll roost by the dogs and they're fine. If you don't have any outdoor watch dogs, or are closely surrounded by woods, then you need to keep your guineas locked up overnight. Owls are the main night time predator for guineas BTW.

 

[mrsfarmchick1]

LOL!!! I can relate - I got 14 guinea chicks last fall and raised them all, but they were too much to take so I sold half of the flock and now it's a little more peaceful around here.

 

[twister]

I read this from someone who had guineas, he said one guineas on the right side would yell, everythingis fine over here then one on the left would sing out everything is great over here. THEN from the rear one would scream OMG! and they would all start running and screaming all together for 10 seconds then they would forget why they were running and stop. then the whole thing would start over, EVERY THING IS FINE OVER HERE.
that pretty well describes a flock of guineas.

that is hilarious... did not know that they were that socially dependant upon ea. other! so, question: Will they thrive in only very small group of say... three?​

 

[pattypenny]

everyone says you need at least 10. I think you need more than 3 . a male and female team up to mate. an extra female sometimes get a night on the town with the lone male but as a rule the extra female will live the life of a nun. I wouldn't want 2 males and a female. I would think the fight would be on and the extra male would be left out. The flock has one dominant male and he rules but each male will have a female partner if there are enough females. I have 14. I read that you can have a flock of males and they will get along and live happily.