New additions!

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

Hello backyard chicken community! Well on a spur of the moment decision we decided to get 4 guinea fowl from the local farm store! They don’t have names yet (just got them less than an hour ago). We have never raised Guineas but have raised other poultry. Is there anything I need to know that would be helpful as I know almost nothing about them. Can they be raised with ducks and ducklings or is this not a good idea.

 

[Chicken Chiquita]

So exited for you!!! So adorable!!! I've never had Guineas so i don't really know a lot, sorry. I think you can raise them together, but i wouldn't. Good luck!

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

So exited for you!!! So adorable!!! I've never had Guineas so i don't really know a lot, sorry. I think you can raise them together, but i wouldn't. Good luck!

Thank you very much! I’m thinking they’ll just go separate. I’m excited as I will also be adding 6 call ducklings on Wednesday!! It will be a handful but also a lot of fun!

 

[PouleNoire]

Guineas are pretty aggressive and often chase or otherwise annoy/try to fight the ducks, best keep them separated. If you had a larger number of guineas they might keep themselves occupied but certainly not plausible with four. Though I've never had guineas myself I've heard/read about some of their behaviors from others. I love call ducks I think they're adorable, always wanted some!! Good luck with your birds!

 

[R2elk]

Hello backyard chicken community! Well on a spur of the moment decision we decided to get 4 guinea fowl from the local farm store! They don’t have names yet (just got them less than an hour ago). We have never raised Guineas but have raised other poultry. Is there anything I need to know that would be helpful as I know almost nothing about them. Can they be raised with ducks and ducklings or is this not a good idea.

It is not a good idea to brood guinea keets with waterfowl. In addition to having different nutrition requirements, keets need to be kept dry. Waterfowl do not tend to keep their brooder dry.

You can read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by PeepsCA

Guinea fowl are a flock bird and do best in large groups. I do not recommend having fewer than 10 guineas. The ideal ratio of male to female guinea fowl is one to one.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

Guineas are pretty aggressive and often chase or otherwise annoy/try to fight the ducks, best keep them separated. If you had a larger number of guineas they might keep themselves occupied but certainly not plausible with four. Though I've never had guineas myself I've heard/read about some of their behaviors from others. I love call ducks I think they're adorable, always wanted some!! Good luck with your birds!

Thank you! I will keep them separated. I appreciate the advice. I’ve had an obsession with calls for a long time and am looking foreword to the new additions.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

It is not a good idea to brood guinea keets with waterfowl. In addition to having different nutrition requirements, keets need to be kept dry. Waterfowl do not tend to keep their brooder dry.

You can read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by PeepsCA

Guinea fowl are a flock bird and do best in large groups. I do not recommend having fewer than 10 guineas. The ideal ratio of male to female guinea fowl is one to one.

Thank you very much! I will definitely read the thread! I was just wondering about them together but made sure to ask. I will keep them separate and maybe think about adding more sometime.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

On another note does anyone have name suggestions for the guinea keets?

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

We were thinking about naming one of them
‘peep’

 

[PouleNoire]

Aww I had a Easter Egger chicken named Peep that survived a dog attack that claimed the entire rest of the flock and getting stuck in the middle of a roll of welded wire that took hours to safely remove her from and she's still thriving in her new home that we had to unfortunately give her to as we moved across the country but maybe if you name your keep Peep the 9 lives will live with the name!