Questions on Guineas

[TheTwoRoos]

I recently read somewhere guineas are great for ticks.We have a ton so I figured why not get some.We have a an Amish store somewhere that has mini sales every weekend I think.Maybe very first of the month weekend.Rrgardless,were getting some.I was thinking about getting adults,or teens,but have recently heard their crazy,loud,and obviously flighty.But Besides that their her for the bugs.Although I would want them to be friendly but don’t think their good pets,overall I just want info from people who have kept them.How often do they lay?

 

[TheYLWFlock]

I’ve read that they lay about an egg a day during their laying season, skipping a day every 10-14 days...

Their season is from around January/February to around June/July... with about 25idh eggs as a monthly average and about 5 prime egg laying months, you can get maybe 150 eggs a year...? But I’ve never had them so I can’t tell you much! Don’t trust me!

I do know that they can be VERY noisy though!

 

[R2elk]

I recently read somewhere guineas are great for ticks. We have a ton so I figured why not get some. We have a an Amish store somewhere that has mini sales every weekend I think. Maybe very first of the month weekend. Regardless, we're getting some. I was thinking about getting adults, or teens, but have recently heard their crazy, loud, and obviously flighty. But besides that they're here for the bugs. Although I would want them to be friendly but don’t think their good pets, overall I just want info from people who have kept them. How often do they lay?

Read Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by @PeepsCA

I recommend starting with keets rather than adults. If you start with adults you need to keep them confined until they learn that your place is now their home. Confinement may be necessary for as long as 6 weeks.

Guineas are a flock bird so I do not recommend having fewer than 10 guineas.

In season, guineas lay one egg daily until they go broody. I don't know where you are located but mine usually start laying in mid April and stop laying in October. In the southern states they may start laying in November or December for a brief time and then start again around the end of February or first of March.

They are good tick eaters and many report few tick problems after getting guineas. They are very susceptible to predators especially if they are allowed to have their hidden nests in unprotected places.