Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[Austinspoultry]

I have a pearl male and lavender male fully grown. Just got these babies yesterday

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have a pearl male and lavender male fully grown. Just got these babies yesterday

What little cuties! I adore baby keets!

 

[Austinspoultry]

Thanks

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

thanks for your help but sadly she died shortly after i posted she was sick and the worst part was seeing all her friends standing around her as she died they nudged her to see if she would wake up

I am so sorry. Definitely give them chopped eggs, or mealworms. Some meat type protein to help them get the diet they need. Chicken feed Just doesnt have enough.

 

[Pennae]

ok i will

 

[Azure Moon]

This is a really great thread. I do have one question so far though and that is how many weeks until the keets are fully feathered? Also has anyone had any luck raising the Guinea with chickens and just skipping over the keeping them penned part once they are put outside? My though is that since they were raised with the chickens they would act more like chickens although I realize they have not been nearly as domesticated as chickens, so I could see where this thinking might not work out. Thanks in advance.

 

[Austinspoultry]

^^ I have the same questions also

 

[perchie.girl]

This is a really great thread. I do have one question so far though and that is how many weeks until the keets are fully feathered? Also has anyone had any luck raising the Guinea with chickens and just skipping over the keeping them penned part once they are put outside? My though is that since they were raised with the chickens they would act more like chickens although I realize they have not been nearly as domesticated as chickens, so I could see where this thinking might not work out. Thanks in advance.

^^ I have the same questions also

they get along better... and while they run with chickens (run with scissors) LOL... while they run with chickens and hang out and do chickony things... they are not chickens they haven't been domesticated long enough to have removed their natural instincts.

I feel are key words here... I feel that first year or that first season where the Guineas pair off with their mating dances and chases is the one you have to keep an eye on your chicken Guinea Relationships. Because that first season they get very aggressive to each other.

Guineas tend to pair off so having an equal amount of Cocks vs Hens is a non issue... the males do displays for the females during the spring. They raise their wings up lower their heads and chase each other. This is attack behavior by the way. They will do this for hours while the females stand around and BukWheat over and over and over again. Once the females select a male life settles down.... The Volume settles down.

Lots of room after that so the Guineas and chickens can feed separately is a good idea... Higher perches for the Guineas is a good idea.... I had some of my roos in my last flock that prefered to roost with the Guineas... they pretty much ignored each other.

All that being said.... I have seen how Guineas fight and protect their flock.... They are NOT like chickens. They dont go one on one... Guineas attack in a flock... they have very sharp beaks and toes... No spurs but they can still do damage.

as an Anecdote... I have personally seen my small Flock of Guinea Cocks escort a Coyote of my property... Heads lowered wings up and screaming and charging at him... He kept looking back as if to say... "This aint right"

So... watch them the first year in the spring and maybe the second. Aggression over feed mitigated by more than two feed stations.... Higher perches than the Chickens and you will have it covered.

I Started with five adopted Guinea Cocks that were about four years old. and who had lived with chickens all their lives... I saw no more aggression from them toward the Chickens than the occasional squabble over food. But then there were no females in that flock. Later on and much more recently I raised up about ten... With a flock like that I saw and understood what the other people were talking about with aggression.

I plan on keeping them separated in future. Because I plan on breeding a large quantity of Guinea Fowl... The chickens would not have a chance.

deb

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I totally agree on your post. I have raised dozens, probably a few hundred hatched. The larger the guinea flock, the less you want them comingling with the chickens. Once the boys mature, they do go after the chicken roosters. If you keep a 1:1 ratio it lessens the problems within the guinea flock. Feeding stations are absolutely the biggest problem, the cock doesn't want anything near the hen. I keep a separate house for my guineas and rarely have a problem now.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: I am designing a poultry house where there will be separate partitions for Guineas and Chickens. The largest partition will be for the Guineas... They will have a separate secured run as well as access to running amok outside on my property. The chickens will be relegated to their own run and the use of my back yard....

I am also going to raise breeds of chickens for broody duty... Hopefully I wont have to crack out the incubator. Once I get setup I will be going full force on the Guinea threads.

deb