Question, Question, and yet Another Question! Please Read!!

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
The only reason my mom let me get guineas is because I told her they would keep the bugs down in the garden. The whole idea was to keep them in the garden, but they wouldn't stay. So I moved their coop to the Back Porch I feed them on the Back Porch they go in and out of the Coop all day long. No worries. My mom isn't just too happy with them cause they don't find their own food. Okay, so I didn't ask how to keep the guineas at home, I asked How to get the Away from the house!
I had to lead them outside the yard w/ their feeder and I took the a little ways from the house and then hid the feeder behind my back, they kinda stared at me for a minute then wondered off chasing bugs. They all attacked his one bush that had seeds on it. So keeping my finger's crossed they stay out there for at least an hour or so!

 

[robin416]

They are still babies. And just like babies they need to explore their world with caution and as they feel more confident that one more step is OK they'll take it.

Your Mom has nothing to worry about when it comes to the bug eating, once they feel safe and confident in their surroundings they will spend the majority of their day searching for them and weed seeds to gobble down. Give them time, that's all they need. What you're seeing is entirely normal.

 

[racuda]

It is very easy to tell the sex of 3 month and older Guineas if you know what to look for. At least it is with mine.
Here are a couple of 3 month olds:

How do I know these are male and female? The one with small wattles says "buckwheat" and the one with big wattles doesn't.

Here's another with more 3 month olds, (there is a 2 month old female in the foreground):

Con you see the difference? Robin says she can't tell the sex of her Guineas just by looking at the wattles, so maybe she has a strain that isn't so easily differentiated as mine.

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy, when you compare your Guineas to each other it should be easy to tell the difference. At 3 months they should be "buckwheat-ing" a LOT! Just notice what kind of wattles she has when she calls, then look for ones that have larger wattles and they should be silent. If you are still unsure, just post some pics!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I have heard 1 or 2 do the buckwheat alot! I will try to get head shots of all of them!

 

[racuda]

Here is a test for you

These are one year old adults, a female and her mate. Can you tell which is which?

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
Male on Left, Female on Right! Am I RIGHT?
I took pictures of each guinea today, all but one! He flew away when I was trying to grab him!

Pictures coming soon ...

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

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The 7th guinea got away! He was one of the Pied ones ...

Will have to catch him later! Get it?

Gender Guesses Please?

 

[racuda]

I must say that yours are not as clearly defined gender-wise as mine yet. Number 3 looks to be a male, and possible number 1. The others look female-ish. When you are looking at them in person, from all different angles, how do they look to you?

And, yes, you're right about mine!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I'm thinking I have mostly hens. I got 3 Lavender Keets from a friend and 12 guinea eggs in the bator now!

 

[ColbyNTX]

What ever you have, you will know in time. They are all fun to watch. This spring, the males will pair up with a female and be pretty quiet. The hens will be the ones walkin & talkin. The waddles are a good rule of thumb but not always exact science. Just watch and listen and you will know. Give them time.