Need some Info about Guinea/Keets

[animalsroc4evr]

I'm trying to get my order in for the hatchery that is an hour away but who will meet me half way. 4 guinea 2 geese, I will try to add 2 more guinea to my order... I understand that they are not as tame as most birds, I plan on rearing them with as much contact with me as I can give them (online college classes so this is the best time to get guinea keets). Then once they are old enough to go live outside they will be in the pen with goats, ducks, and chickens. They will get their wings clipped one good time and hopefully before the wings grow back they will consider this place home base. They have a little over 6 and 1/2 acres to free range, and a nice tree right in the middle to roost in if they don't want to come back to the coop.

I do have a question, how well do they hide their eggs? where would they hide them? I don't want to become over run in guinea..... BUT getting 4-6 there is bound to be both males and females so there will be fertile eggs and they need to be collected.

Thanks a ton! I have learned a lot from both this posting and my own research/observing the neighbor's guinea down the street. Finger's crossed that they like being down here rather than with the 20 + down the street...

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
key in the words Gardening With Guineas for a great book on guineas.... also the website

http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/

has a host of info about socializing and encouraging them to stay home.

have fun

 

[robin416]

perchie.girl :

Quote:
key in the words Gardening With Guineas for a great book on guineas.... also the website

http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/

has a host of info about socializing and encouraging them to stay home.

have fun

And I will recommend that you stay away from that book. Its a bunch of fluff that gives a false impression about Guinea keeping and their challenges. The one place that has caused grief for many new to Guineas was the "how wonderful" it is to keep chickens and Guineas together.​

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
key in the words Gardening With Guineas for a great book on guineas.... also the website

http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/

has a host of info about socializing and encouraging them to stay home.

have fun

And I will recommend that you stay away from that book. Its a bunch of fluff that gives a false impression about Guinea keeping and their challenges. The one place that has caused grief for many new to Guineas was the "how wonderful" it is to keep chickens and Guineas together.

Okayyy? So what kind of reading do you suggest for new Guinea owners?

 

[robin416]

The one place to get the straight scoop on Guinea keeping is on forums. The book is good for the basics only but you don't need to spend money on a book to find out that your keets should start out on a higher protein feed. Does that sound like I had the book? I did. And over the years of keeping Guineas I've found that the book glosses over all of the challenges and there are many, that you need to adapt your ways to be able to live successfully with them.

If you go by what is written in the book you would probably give up on them because it is nothing like what is described in the book. You'll feel for certain you're doing everything wrong because your birds are different from what the book says. They are frustrating, independent, dependent, smart, dumb, stubborn, easy to get along with birds. If anyone can adapt to those challenges having these birds around will be a positive, long term endeavor.

 

[beesong]

I agree about that dreadful book. What a waste of money! I felt really cheated, as it was not a cheap book to buy. And to top it off, it's awkward to read because the author uses an overabundance of exclamation points constantly. Looks very childish.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
This bit of personal experience and info would have been much more helpful instead of flat out dismissal.

I personally would love a good book to go by for a foundation or even SEVERAL books. Please take note I am not saying "that" book. My recommendation because it was the ONLY book I could find, I actually found it humorous. Forums often times have a wealth of conflicting information.... and as a new person to a specific breed or animal sometimes gets way too confusing. So a rounded education through discussion and yes reading Is what I aim for. I cannot speak for others. And as a reasonable, fairly intelligent person I tend to absorb information that is palatable and logical.

so for now I am done with the subject of Guinea books.

 

[robin416]

I didn't flat out dismiss it, I said not to get it and why. I didn't feel a long, drawn out explanation was necessary.

You might have enjoyed the book for parts of it but if you try to follow the gloss she put in that book your experience could very well have ended up being very negative.

If you get your information from a Guinea board there is not the conflicting information that you will find with a general board like this one. That is why new Guinea keepers who would like to delve deeper are sent to explore boards like Guinea Fowl International.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
I've heard people say they cant stand them and people who like them better then chickens. I personally love them

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
So are you saying they should or shouldnt be? I keep mine with the chickens and they are less agressive then all of my roos