Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[vivaciouswoman]

25*5=125

Quote:

Depending on the area you live in, and the weather and how long your flock's laying season is, Guinea Hens usually lay an egg a day, skipping a day every 10-14 days... (unless they go broody on a pile of eggs and hatch keets, then they may lay another clutch later and be done for the year).

My Laying season starts in January, doesn't really kick in until February then they usually start to dwindle in June and completely stop in July or August because it's too hot. If you figure 25 eggs a month average, for around 5 months... that's 250 eggs. Some Hens lay more, some lay less.

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[perchie.girl]

Peeps is who I got my first mailed order of keets from she is fabulous information.... Unfortunately I believe she has retired from raising Guinea Fowl.

I havent seen her online for a couple of years

But all her out put is here...

deb

 

[R2elk]

25*5=125

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Thank you for pointing out the error. It appears that the staff has corrected her post to show the correct math.

 

[CindyinSD]

Wow! I’ve been reading this thread literally for days. It’s like a book on guinea raising. Thanks to everyone for all of your great insight and information. It’s a genuine treasure. :-D Even with all that, believe it or not I do still have some questions.

First, we’re not swimming in ticks and usually grasshoppers aren’t too bad. It’s mice. This has been a banner decade for rodents here in western South Dakota. Maybe my chickens could deal with the mice (I don’t know... I haven’t had them that long. They’re still on lockdown until they come of age.) Only I kind of want them following along behind the cows next summer to be my manure spreaders and (I hope) cut down on flies. For that I have poultry netting and plan to construct a portable “eggmobile” they can retire to in the evenings.

It looks like the fewest guineas I can order from Guinea Farm is twenty. That seems like a lot—I was thinking more in the neighborhood of ten, but it does sound like one could end up needing spares. How much real estate do guineas expect under roof? Someone said earlier, but now I can’t find it. Is that figure (whatever it was) just for the interior space, or interior plus enclosed run?

I can give the little rogues a big run. I’m not so sure about a big house. It’s not that I couldn’t build one, but I am a little worried about permits, etc. One hates to risk being noticed by bureaucrats. It can get cold here, sometimes (not frequently) for extended periods. Sometimes the cold comes with snow in denominations of up to four/five feet. That only happens every 3-5 years or so. Still, if you need the interior space, you need it—even if rarely.

People say guineas will roost in the rafters of a cow shed, but don’t they foul the hay if they do that? And I’m concerned they might irritate my three pretty Scottish Highland heifers who never, ever poop in the hay mangers though anywhere else... well, just pay attention where you’re stepping. At any rate, I’m not sure that would work as a shelter for the guineas.

Let’s say I were to build the wee miscreants their own digs... would tall (like 10’ or 12’) with lots of fun roosts make up for a small footprint, say, 10’x10’ or even 8’x8’? It would probably be a pole bldg or a hoop coop of some kind. A hoop coop looks more temporary, so that might be safer...

Would it be advisable to put it next to the chickens, or should guinea fowl not told about the chickens?

I have nylon string woven back and forth over top of the chicken run, with orange marking tape tied on here and there. It keeps raptors out (so far), but would it keep guineas in if I used it over their run?

Does anyone use deep litter for their guinea fowl? Does it work all right for them? I’m using it with the chickens & cows and it does keep things from smelling bad... only I’m not having a lot of luck with getting it started composting. Probably it’s just too cold.

Finally, I’m wondering about the jumbos. Are they different from the normal-sized guineas? Fast enough to catch mice, etc.? More laid back, perhaps? Someone said they don’t fly as well, which sounds convenient. Would jumbos do all right in company of their smaller brethren, or would they get bullied? Do they wander as far afield? Guinea Farm’s description says they reproduce just fine. Is that true?

I’m leaning toward jumbos because maybe they’ll be too heavy for the smaller raptors to whisk away, but maybe they’d also be too slow to catch mice. What do you think?

Sorry about the long post, and tia for any advice you may be able to offer... I really appreciate it!

 

[perchie.girl]

Long post LOL... Long answer... first of all Welcome To BYC... belated but From San Diego High desert.

Wow! I’ve been reading this thread literally for days. It’s like a book on guinea raising. Thanks to everyone for all of your great insight and information. It’s a genuine treasure. :-D Even with all that, believe it or not I do still have some questions.

Each situation is different Climate Predeators Availability of materials...

First, we’re not swimming in ticks and usually grasshoppers aren’t too bad. It’s mice. This has been a banner decade for rodents here in western South Dakota. Maybe my chickens could deal with the mice (I don’t know... I haven’t had them that long. They’re still on lock down until they come of age.) Only I kind of want them following along behind the cows next summer to be my manure spreaders and (I hope) cut down on flies. For that I have poultry netting and plan to construct a portable “eggmobile” they can retire to in the evenings.

Both Chickens and Guineas are rodent getters... Where you see one mousie guaranteed there are five or ten more...

It looks like the fewest guineas I can order from Guinea Farm is twenty. That seems like a lot—I was thinking more in the neighborhood of ten, but it does sound like one could end up needing spares. How much real estate do guineas expect under roof? Someone said earlier, but now I can’t find it. Is that figure (whatever it was) just for the interior space, or interior plus enclosed run?

Twenty is a good number... Ten is the bare minimum I would go with... Guineas are not as domesticated as chickens... They have many of their original behaviors and qualities... Dont expect them to act like chickens. their wild qualities get them into trouble so having spares is an excellent idea.

they run along the perches chasing each other... Funner than heck to watch... I use Two by fours hung by v shaped bailing twine supports from the ceiling.. Yep they wiggle Dont seem to bother them... I put my chickens up at about five feet on solid non moving perches So they can get some exercise moving about the coop ... INtermediate perches Help the chickens get up. But Only a few use em to get down.

I set the Guinea perches at six feet and they shoot straight up... during their gymnastics...

Roosting in the cow barn is a great idea.... Poo can be handled by hanging catchers under the perches... Made of canvas or feed bags ... Id put em above the cows heads high enough so the cows cant mess with em...

Poop hammock can be made any way that is convenient... I have an unique setup for my coop The one below is much like I want to do for my own. Feed bags over closet dowls PVC wont work eventuallly bends.

the birds wont walk in them

hammocks are removable for dumping in the compost.

The concentrated pooping happens at night.
I like this one because it has some ends to keep the poo in when you remove it

I can give the little rogues a big run. I’m not so sure about a big house. It’s not that I couldn’t build one, but I am a little worried about permits, etc. One hates to risk being noticed by bureaucrats. It can get cold here, sometimes (not frequently) for extended periods. Sometimes the cold comes with snow in denominations of up to four/five feet. That only happens every 3-5 years or so. Still, if you need the interior space, you need it—even if rarely.

Here animal enclosures have a different set of rules for permitts... But you can build a 12 x 12 shed without a permit providing its not plumbed or wired. There are ways around that of course. Non fixed on a foundation Is a great solution as well. Cattle panel coop has excellent snow load bearing capabilities Lots of tractors are made from cattle panel construction. Take a look at the coop page... Just be aware you may have to anchor it with wind anchors during storms or windy days.

People say guineas will roost in the rafters of a cow shed, but don’t they foul the hay if they do that? And I’m concerned they might irritate my three pretty Scottish Highland heifers who never, ever poop in the hay mangers though anywhere else... well, just pay attention where you’re stepping. At any rate, I’m not sure that would work as a shelter for the guineas.

answered above for both chickens and guineas.

Let’s say I were to build the wee miscreants their own digs... would tall (like 10’ or 12’) with lots of fun roosts make up for a small footprint, say, 10’x10’ or even 8’x8’? It would probably be a pole bldg or a hoop coop of some kind. A hoop coop looks more temporary, so that might be safer...

I use dog kennel panels... Just remember it has to be predator proof Night time.... and Be dilligent on your routine for getting them to come in at night. Predator losses occure at night if they are allowed to roost in the trees. that goes for chickens as well.

Would it be advisable to put it next to the chickens, or should guinea fowl not told about the chickens?

Raising to gether is good... Chicken raised guineas tend to be calmer. One thing to remember As the Guineas mature and become Sexually mature they will start pairing up... The males will chase each other wings raise behind them showing off for the girls while the girls ignore them.... nice thing about having a flock is if there are more males than females the males will form a bachelor flock. All will care for each other during a threat.
During this first year is when they may get aggressive to the chickens... And when they attack they all attack they dont keep it one on one like Chickens do. The next year everyone is more relaxed with only a few scuffles

I have nylon string woven back and forth over top of the chicken run, with orange marking tape tied on here and there. It keeps raptors out (so far), but would it keep guineas in if I used it over their run?

Probably I know they use something similar at the San Diego zoo...

Does anyone use deep litter for their guinea fowl? Does it work all right for them? I’m using it with the chickens & cows and it does keep things from smelling bad... only I’m not having a lot of luck with getting it started composting. Probably it’s just too cold.

Dont know.... have never used Deep litter. YOu might ask some questions on one of the deep litter threads.

Finally, I’m wondering about the jumbos. Are they different from the normal-sized guineas? Fast enough to catch mice, etc.? More laid back, perhaps? Someone said they don’t fly as well, which sounds convenient. Would jumbos do all right in company of their smaller brethren, or would they get bullied? Do they wander as far afield? Guinea Farm’s description says they reproduce just fine. Is that true?

I suspect the jumbos will be only marginally slower. If you look at em with out their feathers they are a very long legged bird.... explains why they can run so fast even though they look stumpy Football helmets in profile.....

I’m leaning toward jumbos because maybe they’ll be too heavy for the smaller raptors to whisk away, but maybe they’d also be too slow to catch mice. What do you think?

Dont think it will make a difference

Sorry about the long post, and tia for any advice you may be able to offer... I really appreciate it!

Glad to put in some input.

deb

 

[R2elk]

Raising to gether is good... Chicken raised guineas tend to be calmer. One thing to remember As the Guineas mature and become Sexually mature they will start pairing up... The males will chase each other wings raise behind them showing off for the girls while the girls ignore them.... nice thing about having a flock is if there are more males than females the males will form a bachelor flock. All will care for each other during a threat.
During this first year is when they may get aggressive to the chickens... And when they attack they all attack they dont keep it one on one like Chickens do. The next year everyone is more relaxed with only a few scuffles

Guineas that are imprinted by chickens lose the ability to understand that chickens are not guineas. Chickens do not understand guinea behavior and can get very stressed when guinea breeding season comes around and the imprinted guineas start treating the chickens the same way that they treat each other. Everything can seem like it is going fine between the chickens and the guineas raised with chickens right up until that first breeding season and then come the guinea attacks on the chickens.

I do not raise my guineas with chickens (Tried it and it was not good.) I do not house my guineas with chickens. My guineas recognize that there is a difference between them and other poultry and leave the other poultry alone. When I free range the guineas, chickens and turkeys in the same area at the same time, the guineas keep to themselves and do not mingle with the other poultry and at no time do they attack the other poultry.

 

[perchie.girl]

Guineas that are imprinted by chickens lose the ability to understand that chickens are not guineas. Chickens do not understand guinea behavior and get get very stressed when guinea breeding season comes around and the imprinted guineas start treating the chickens the same way that they treat each other. Everything can seem like it is going fine between the chickens and the guineas raised with chickens right up until that first breeding season and then come the guinea attacks on the chickens.

I do not raise my guineas with chickens (Tried it and it was not good.) I do not house my guineas with chickens. My guineas recognize that there is a difference between them and other poultry and leave the other poultry alone. When I free range the guineas, chickens and turkeys in the same area at the same time, the guineas keep to themselves and do not mingle with the other poultry and at not time do they attack the other poultry.

Thank you for this...

Are we good? I very much value your opinion...

deb

 

[duluthralphie]

My guineas have been perfect for 18 months now!!

I kept mine with turkeys and chickens... but they were raised by themselves to limit imprinting.

 

[perchie.girl]

My guineas have been perfect for 18 months now!!

I kept mine with turkeys and chickens... but they were raised by themselves to limit imprinting.

Has it been that long? Miss you Ralphie...

deb

 

[R2elk]

Thank you for this...

Are we good? I very much value your opinion...

deb

We have always been good. You post a lot of valuable information.