Not sure about Guinea Fowl...

[ChickenWhisper0]

Hi Everyone!

Just wondering about guinea fowl, I don't know much about them but got interested in them a few weeks back. Will they get along with my chickens? are they loud or are the like roosters where only the male will make alot of noise and crow? Can they eat chick starter feed and layers pellets? I really dont know anything about them so please help!

 

[Sandshaven]

Hi.. They can be loud.. In my experience the females are louder than the males. The males will establish a pecking order but they do not fight the same way roosters will. Guineas can be tamed if you do it right. I have 2 therapy flocks. I do not own chickens but I do know people who do mix them. I am sure some will chime in.
In my opinion I would not feed them chick starter at first... I like to feed mine a high protein when they are young.

 

[JacqueOCS]

Our guineas do fine w/our chickens & roost in the same coop. Our one female must be a weirdo as we NEVER hear her "buck wheat." We know she's a female as she payed eggs this year. They can be loud, we call them our burglar alarm

 

[JLeigh]

I think guineas are louder than roosters because they tend to sound off as a group - and a lot more often during the day. Bird for bird, I think they're both loud when you're up close . Guineas are almost always in a flock and almost always sound off together, and it's LOUD.

In my experience, guineas and chickens can get along if they have plenty of space to "go to their corners". Some people have nothing but problems, others have few if any. Space seems to be the common denominator of those who have few problems.

 

[ChickenWhisper0]

I think guineas are louder than roosters because they tend to sound off as a group - and a lot more often during the day. Bird for bird, I think they're both loud when you're up close . Guineas are almost always in a flock and almost always sound off together, and it's LOUD.

In my experience, guineas and chickens can get along if they have plenty of space to "go to their corners". Some people have nothing but problems, others have few if any. Space seems to be the common denominator of those who have few problems.

Our guineas do fine w/our chickens & roost in the same coop. Our one female must be a weirdo as we NEVER hear her "buck wheat." We know she's a female as she payed eggs this year. They can be loud, we call them our burglar alarm

Hi.. They can be loud.. In my experience the females are louder than the males. The males will establish a pecking order but they do not fight the same way roosters will. Guineas can be tamed if you do it right. I have 2 therapy flocks. I do not own chickens but I do know people who do mix them. I am sure some will chime in.
In my opinion I would not feed them chick starter at first... I like to feed mine a high protein when they are young.

Thanks everyone! Ours free Range so I they will be fine, the coop is a little tight but they rarely have to be locked in. The noise worries me a little bit, do they do it early in the morning? And are there different breeds of Guinea and which one would you guys recommend when it comes to being pets? ( Our chickens are completely spoiled, they peck at the back door when they are hungry!)

 

[JLeigh]

Guineas make noise off and on all day. They are great birds for warnings/alarms, but they aren't "guard" birds. It's rare for a guinea (it's happened though) to ward off predators, but they'll definitely let you know when one is around. They'll also let you know when the wind changes direction, a leaf falls, a squirrel climbs up the wrong tree, lol. When they perceive something that is threatening to them, they'll make their calls.

There are the more exotic guineas, like Vulturines (very expensive), but here in the U.S. there are mainly just helmeted guineas. There are many different colors: White, Pearl Gray, Royal Purples, Lavendars, etc., but the only difference is their color - behaviors are the same except for the differences in their individual personalities. Guineas aren't like chickens. Acclimating them to humans takes patience and is time consuming. They rarely become "lap birds". They're quirky, silly and interesting, and they aren't as intelligent as chickens. People get them primarily to control insects - particularly ticks - and because they're amusing.