Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[Tikkijane]

I have never owned Guineas before. I'm hoping they don't annoy us or our neighbors.   

I'm from NW Washington. Is your family from Tri-cities? That's the only city I can think of in the SE corner. 

Prosser. Sunnyside. Grandview. Yakima is a bit further west. Ellensburg.

Hard to believe there's a desert in the same state that is known for its rainforest....

 

[Mysterious]

1 survived on the order, and older girl started to lay eggs. By the way I'm still mad cackle. I got 6 because I don't want 30 of them, our coop is small at the moment.

I have 2 questions: how do I get my little survivor to fit in with our male? Our female is fine with the little one but the male tried to get through the fence and got a tiny peck on him.
How can I ifincentlly pick up my female? I tried to get her out of the cage leading to a small bit of blood and I want to know how I can prevent that.

 

[Waldomtnman]

First to get the small one assimilated put it in a smaller pen with its own food and water and put that pen inside the large pen with the adults, leave it for a week and then open the door enough for the little one to get in/out but not enough for the larger birds to get in. Now let me clarify the young one should be at least six weeks before you attempt this.
At first the older ones especially the male will pick on the young one but after several weeks of this they will eventually work it out. I have rarely lost a chick this way but occasionally a weak one just cannot handle the stress.
Now getting a bird out of the cage, well if it is a large cage use a long handled large bait net to catch the bird and then take her out of the net by the feet, once you have her by the feet she will be very docile almost limp.
If it is a small cage put on some heavy long sleeves and light gloves and just grab her, about all you can do. If you let any of them see you are scared of them they will take advantage of the situation and you will be the one that comes up on the short end of the stick.

 

[harley587]

Update on my guinea, Lefty: Lefty is now gimping along with some pressure on the injured foot. He is now able to get the claws in a forward facing manner instead of dragging them behind the leg. Thanks for DR, I did not take him out as quickly as I thought I should and he is doing wonderfully! Best yet, the crew would help and watch over him when he couldn't put any pressure on his foot, but now that he is putting some pressure, he is picking on the crew! Ungrateful B**tard!! Also found another nest of eggs on higher ground this time. Have massive doubts that this nest of eggs will make it!!

 

[Jessie22]

No guineas will not tear up a garden. If you have enough guineas they will even kill a snake! If you are a stranger to your property, better watch out, they protect it. I have 3 guineas and they own my property. They will also clear your bug and tick problem. Great fowl.

 

[Jessie22]

Sorry to say but my guinea eggs are white and do have a few a little darker. She has never laid a brown egg but I am sure some of them do lay brown eggs. My guineas are about 3 years old. I have 2 pearl gray (1 male, 1 female) and 1 solid white male, he is the largest. They can not see anything at night time.
They free range and sleep in the trees. My female guinea laid 8 eggs first then continued with 1 a day for a total of 15 eggs but she hasn't stayed on them yet. Maybe when she is finished laying she might stay. I would like a broodie Silkie Hen, she would make a better mother than my female guinea. Thanks for all of the other information. Can always learn more.

 

[guineapeeps]

Sorry to say but my guinea eggs are white and do have a few a little darker.  She has never laid a brown egg but I am sure some of them do lay brown eggs.  My guineas are about 3 years old.  I have 2 pearl gray (1 male, 1 female) and 1 solid white male, he is the largest.  They can not see anything at night time.  

They free range and sleep in the trees.   My female guinea laid 8 eggs first then continued with 1 a day for a total of 15 eggs but she hasn't stayed on them yet.  Maybe when she is finished laying she might stay.  I would like a broodie Silkie Hen, she would make a better mother than my female guinea.  Thanks for all of the other information.  Can always learn more.

I am thinking that if she has layed all of her eggs in on area, she will go broody once she is done laying this cycle. My Guinea hens will usually lay around 30 eggs before they start sitting on their nest. Every guinea hen that I've ever had has gone broody and has at least attempted to sit on and hatch the clutch of eggs she has layed. Likewise, I've never had a guinea that was a bad mother. They are fiercely protective and very watchful mothers and even the males help parent the keets. My only gripe with them is that they will occasionally take small keets out into bad weather to free range. I just counteract this by keeping an eye out for rain and storms and locking them in if that is possible. Other than this I find my Guineas to be great parents. I hope you find that with yours as well!

 

[Jessie22]

I was worried about my guinea eggs because my female originally laid 8 and then 1 a day until 17 eggs. I was going to incubate them but just as I was getting ready to incubate them to my surprise my guinea hen started sitting on them, constantly. When she hatches them I am going to round them up and brood them so they have a better chance of survival. It gets chilly to me about 60 and below and she is keeping them warm. Her nest is hidden really well so no predator will find her easy. I haven't seen a predator yet! If I do I am afraid he will meet his dimise. Yea for baby keets!! It is day 5 and I cant wait.

 

[Victoria-nola]

I was worried about my guinea eggs because my female originally laid 8 and then 1 a day until 17 eggs. I was going to incubate them but just as I was getting ready to incubate them to my surprise my guinea hen started sitting on them, constantly. When she hatches them I am going to round them up and brood them so they have a better chance of survival. It gets chilly to me about 60 and below and she is keeping them warm. Her nest is hidden really well so no predator will find her easy. I haven't seen a predator yet! If I do I am afraid he will meet his dimise. Yea for baby keets!! It is day 5 and I cant wait.

Again, I think it would be better to let the mother guinea take care of raising the keets. She can do a fine job on her own with the help of her males. They aren't as likely to accept the keets as their own if they don't raise them themselves, and the keets will be better off. Much better to let them reproduce on their own if at all possible. If you try chasing the female guinea and steal her babies I think it wouldn't be that great for your relationship.

People on here do talk about taking the eggs or taking the keets, but it's quite clear that you'll have trouble integrating the babies if you do that. Many of them take eggs and hatch the keets for sale, not for return to their own flock.

 

[guineapeeps]

Again, I think it would be better to let the mother guinea take care of raising the keets. She can do a fine job on her own with the help of her males.  They aren't as likely to accept the keets as their own if they don't raise them themselves, and the keets will be better off.  Much better to let them reproduce on their own if at all possible. If you try chasing the female guinea and steal her babies I think it wouldn't be that great for your relationship.  

People on here do talk about taking the eggs or taking the keets, but it's quite clear that you'll have trouble integrating the babies if you do that.  Many of them take eggs and hatch the keets for sale, not for return to their own flock.

I completely agree with Victoria-nola. This is about the only way I hatch keets anymore. I let my Guineas hatch and parent their keets and find that they do a great job. A good portion of the flock will help take care of the little ones and they integrate into the flock seamlessly this way. My first year with Guineas, I incubated my eggs and then introduced them into the flock gradually. It took weeks to get them to start to accept the keets and it was several months until the new ones would even go out to free range with the others. So, unless you are planning to sell the keets, I would take advantage of your broody hen and let her hatch and parent her babies.
As a side note: if you do still decide to take the keets from her after they hatch, be prepared! They are crazy protective of them and attack viciously if they think their babies are in danger. Be quick, wear gloves, make sure your arms and legs are covered,and be prepared for all hell to break loose. I've been attacked just for trying to help a keet into the coop!