Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[PeepsCA]

Mine usually stop in September sometime, after it's been wicked hot here from early June on. If they've had a predator scare or something traumatic the Hens may quit laying for a few days, but more than likely if they are out free ranging they are are being sneaky and laying outside somewhere. I sometimes leave mine locked in a full couple pf days to see how many of my Hens are laying, and then if I get more eggs on those 2 days than I normally get when I let the flocks out in the afternoons I end up having to go nest hunting

 

[kuntrygirl]

What does everyone feed their guineas?

 

[GuineaLady93]

I feed mine cracked corn and a little game bird feed sometimes. They also free range 24/7 right now so they don't eat that much feed.

 

[PeepsCA]

What I feed from season to season sometimes varies... but so far for this season I've been feeding a mix of several feeds to my adults, for variety and also because I have a Turkey Hen in with one flock and 4 Peafowl with another AND because I eat a lot of their eggs, so I want them to have a varied diet... (I feed WAY out of the norm, and spend WAY more on feed than I have to, but it works for my flocks).

Here's what I mix together: 16% layer pellets, 24% game bird pellets, some rabbit food, some scratch grains, some sweet feed and either a few cups of cat fish diet, Ultra Kibble, or 4Health cat food (small amounts for extra protein)... and I usually refill their feeders every 5-6 days or so. All feeders are set to gravity feed at the slowest rate possible, so the birds can't pick thru the feed easily, but they typically leave a lot of the corn from the scratch as the feeders near needing to be refilled, which I empty out and give to my goats.

I mix up all the different ingredients in varied amounts depending on what I have, (but I try to use the layer pellets and game bird pellets as at least 50% of the entire mix) and I try to keep the total protein level of what I mix together at about 20% (adult Guineas really only need and can utilize 16% protein as adults tho). I also try to mix in more layer pellets in the laying season and more game bird pellets in the off season.

They also have free choice to oyster shell, grit, fine stem leafy alfalfa hay and they also get greens... plus free range time (1 flock is free range 24/7, 2 breeding flocks get kept in until most Hens have laid for the day then get let out to free range, and one flock is penned full time for the breeding season, for color control. They get wild bird seed mixes (mostly millet and BOSS) and extra sweet feed for treats each night at coop up time.

My full time free rangers only want a little sweet feed or some wild bird seed mix for a treat 2X a day, they don't care for commercial feeds, mixed or not. They eat alfalfa with the horses and goats, and have access to a feeder full of oyster shell, but typically get most of their diet off the land while free ranging.

My keets get medicated game bird starter up to 6 wks of age, then switched over gradually to a non-medicated grower feed that's 22% protein until they turn 12 wks of age (sometimes I'll use Flock Raiser, if I have to). They also get grit, wild bird seed mixes (that don't have BOSS in them), greens and grass/weeds after they are a several weeks old. After they turn 12 wks old then they are weened over to what I feed my adults, and also free ranged, unless they are birds that are for sale.​

 

[FlaDave]

My neighbor who is a retired Vet has guinea fowl which largely freerange during day and he initially was worried re the neighbors and the noise concern etc. We quickly learned that although the birds spread out in a fairly tight group and often along a busy road they never got hit by autos and the various neighbors loved them. They may have read or know that they reduce the TICK population and that is a large problem here in northern florida where our lots are around 3 acres or so. We are joining our vet neighbor in building a cage and raising each 15 and it should be fun. Thanks for the info in this thread.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I have about 35 Guineas at this point. I have an open barn with very high rafters. I can close the doors, but I decided to let the Guineas come and go as they please.

I leave a low wattage light on every night with out fail. I have a feeder with poultry grain and a large waterer in one of the horse stalls that is not in use right now.

For the summer I let the birds free range for the day. They do come in at night to the barn and a few sleep high in a tree that is right next to the barn.

The light is what makes the difference for the Guineas. They can see what is below them and can fly from rafter to rafter.

They are down and running about a half hour after the sun is up. They cover a large area and have even ended up in my neighbors cow pastures. He loves them and tells me he gets free tick removal without the worry !!

I am in a very remote area. The Guineas love the place and so far so good.

In the winter months I do feed Game Bird at 21 percent protein. This seems to keep them all
in nice shape. during the bug season I just feed the poultry grain.

This all did not happen over night. It took a lot of time and patience.
I do have a few birds that get hurt so I have built an enclosure in the barn with a door
and 2x4 hard panels. This keeps the varmits out and the roosters in.

I have various methods for treating my birds. But a nice area to rest and recoop is essential.
They have various levels of roosting and the same rafters as the others.

I do feed the Guineas bread on a regular occasion. I just call them in and they come with out hesitation.

One seems to never stop learning about these little Dinosaurs.

G.G.

 

[blessedchick]

How do you all keep your hens from being victims to predators while on their nests, free ranging? I lost 2 hens because I couldn't find their nests in time...and an entire flock (except for one lonely male, Zambia) because of coyotes. I'm rebuilding my flock and plan to have a free range group for tick control and an enclosed flight/nesting area for my breeders. They have their own coop which they returned to every evening and the males always stayed close to the house. It was those silly girls that found nesting in the fenceline attractive that lost out to coyotes! I sure don't want to go thru another massacre...

I really like the idea of letting them out to free range after everyone has laid their eggs for the day. I just hate the idea of containing birds that are bred to free range (I know, whacky...I don't like cages very much). My guys were just so good at staying close to home and "cooping up" each night. Believe me, I have someone coming out next week to do a little coyote hunting in my back pasture!

Oh! For feeding...keets get the medicated gamefowl + greens + grit till 12 weeks old. By then they are in "Fowlcatraz", my 12x12x6 growing pen next to their future coop. They pick thru the grass and bugs out there and learn to get along with the older flock which, right now, consists of just Zambia! They are fed the adult game fowl mix and slowly switched to half gamefowl, half layena. I leave the 50/50% mix out free choice (with oyster shell) for my free rangers....and of course, they gobble up all the leftover chicken feed and horse feed they find!

Sorry about the long post...I feel better just having written it! Still mourning the loss of my beautiful "Lavender Wave"...

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Yes, yes this is a real problem.
I have two hens on nests this year. I can not find any more.
I do take the eggs when i find the nests and let about 10
eggs stay in the nest. I mark these with pencil so I know
not to take the older ones.
I have collected near 50 eggs this year and this keeps the number
on nests down to a minimum.
I do let the hens build up the numbers after a few weeks and they
sit the nest. THIS year I have tried to mark the Guinea Hens that
are sitting to see if the little Dinos take rurns on the nest.
I have learned that preditors are not stupid.
They seem to let the hens sit until they hear the keets and
then they attack the hen and eat the keets.
THIS year I marked down about when the hens started sitting.
I plan to rob the nests of eggs about a week before they
are ready to hatch and then complete the process in
an incubator. I am sure the hens will not be pleased but
I may save them all.
G.G.

 

[scrapingran]

This is a great thread. I added a couple guineas to our flock and finding information on raising them isn't easy! Thanks for the information.

 

[furbabymum]

I'd love to have our guineas free ranging. Quick question. Since you say the are good fliers can I just rely on them to fly over the fence to free range and then fly back in at night? It's a 5' fence for the chickens. I'm just a bit lazy to go let them out every morning.