Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[NashvilleLuLu]

Thank you, R2elk! The ten of them drink 5 quarts of water a day. I'm happy to know that loose stools are common. No visible blood or worms. And the ones that are out of the pen all day are eager to get at the feed when they return.

Unfortunately, none of our co-ops or Tractor Supply stores have 20% Flock feed. I don't mind giving them the B complex vitamin water, but how do long to you recommend that continues?

What's more important in their feed: 20% protein or the vitamins??

 

[R2elk]

Thank you, R2elk! The ten of them drink 5 quarts of water a day. I'm happy to know that loose stools are common. No visible blood or worms. And the ones that are out of the pen all day are eager to get at the feed when they return.

Unfortunately, none of our co-ops or Tractor Supply stores have 20% Flock feed. I don't mind giving them the B complex vitamin water, but how do long to you recommend that continues?

I would continue until they are at least 6 months old.

Tractor Supply carries Purina Feeds which does have a 20% flock raiser available. If your local TSC doesn't keep it in stock, they can order it for you.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/purina-flock-raiser-crumbles-premium-poultry-feed-50-lb

 

[R2elk]

What's more important in their feed: 20% protein or the vitamins??

The vitamins and the lysine and methionine are more important than the protein content. Unfortunately I don't know how you can increase their lysine and methionine intakes without giving them a proper feed.

 

[Marmack]

Do you have a Southern States available in your area? They have a Flock Balancer for less than $15.00 for a 40# bag. I have fed this to my Guineas after the initial game bird starter and they have done well.

 

[NashvilleLuLu]

I would continue until they are at least 6 months old.

Tractor Supply carries Purina Feeds which does have a 20% flock raiser available. If your local TSC doesn't keep it in stock, they can order it for you.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/purina-flock-raiser-crumbles-premium-poultry-feed-50-lb

We have been feeding them the Purina Flock Raiser. We are mixing it in with the last of the 24% chick starter. They are pooping a well formed sh*t-storm. I realize that may be because we are transitioning the feed, but I'm wondering if it is the actual Purina flock feed that is making them just poop more.

It is 5% fiber. Is it possible that is too much for them or is literal sh*t-storm the norm for 10 Guineas? Please keep in mind we let eight out of the tractor each day. All ten are in am 8x8 tractor coop for only 12 hours a day.

[Monday was the first day we let all of them out and they stayed in the yard. Yesterday they tried to make a run for it up and over our fencing! We got two back in the coop and of course everyone else circled back. We are going to keep two in the coop for a few more weeks.]

 

[NashvilleLuLu]

Do you have a Southern States available in your area? They have a Flock Balancer for less than $15.00 for a 40# bag. I have fed this to my Guineas after the initial game bird starter and they have done well.

Unfortunately no Southern States near us. We have Tractor Supply and some small co-ops. Neither carry any feed for game birds. :-(

 

[duluthralphie]

Unfortunately no Southern States near us. We have Tractor Supply and some small co-ops. Neither carry any feed for game birds. :-(

Tractor supply has a game bird feeder if you ask them to order it in they will.

 

[R2elk]

We have been feeding them the Purina Flock Raiser. We are mixing it in with the last of the 24% chick starter. They are pooping a well formed sh*t-storm. I realize that may be because we are transitioning the feed, but I'm wondering if it is the actual Purina flock feed that is making them just poop more.

It is 5% fiber. Is it possible that is too much for them or is literal sh*t-storm the norm for 10 Guineas? Please keep in mind we let eight out of the tractor each day. All ten are in am 8x8 tractor coop for only 12 hours a day.

[Monday was the first day we let all of them out and they stayed in the yard. Yesterday they tried to make a run for it up and over our fencing! We got two back in the coop and of course everyone else circled back. We are going to keep two in the coop for a few more weeks.]

I would not mix chick starter with the flock raiser. While your chick starter may have a higher protein concentration, it does not have the necessary concentrations of lysine, methionine and niacin. By mixing the chick starter in you are reducing the concentrations of those ingredients below their optimum levels.

Keets being fed the optimum feed will grow faster and healthier and will crap more. Guinea excrement also seems to have a higher odor factor than other poultry.

Unfortunately no Southern States near us. We have Tractor Supply and some small co-ops. Neither carry any feed for game birds. :-(

While Tractor Supply does not carry proper game bird feed they do carry Purina feeds. Purina does make proper game bird feeds. Depending on the local TSC management they can order in the proper feed.

 

[CityGuineas]

Hello from San Antonio! Rosie n Lee- 2yrs old- ran into trouble a week ago by getting stuck into the ONE and ONLY yard out of their one block radius they're definitely NOT welcome! After 3 days of hiding in wild banboo- and a harrowing capture- they 've been secured in their new coop ("Gitmo!") - and they are NOT happy! They have roosting branches suspended so they can sleep , but notice their favorite oak tree they're so used to, and so prefer! My father in law, who owns children's, & gave me my babies, said I cannot release them until he clips their wings- ( I am not happy about this!) and I hate seeing them cooped. I am spending as much time outside as possible with them while they're in coop...I know once they're out, they won't return! They are eating, drinking fine- but Rosie isn't laying any eggs since her adventure. Their poop is normal, and fortunately, both are still talking to me.They dont try to escape when I go in to feed them...but they are starting to pace and getting frustrated today. (day11 of being cooped)!!
Dad in law says we must leave them in another week! They may make it- but it is breaking MY heart not seeing them roam free as they are accustomed.
So, one neighbor ( who threatened to sue me) is happy...my Rosie, Lee , other neighbors and I are miserable!
Any advice??
My Guineas were raised on good quality wild bird seed, tried meal worms as treats- thankfully, no go - they found them as gross as I did.Tried fruit, sunflower seed, etc...have NOT found white millet yet, however.
Is it ok to order this by mail?
Need to find a training treat while cooped...
Thanks for any of your kind help!

 

[guineapeeps]

Hello from San Antonio! Rosie n Lee- 2yrs old- ran into trouble a week ago by getting stuck into the ONE and ONLY yard out of their one block radius they're definitely NOT welcome! After 3 days of hiding in wild banboo- and a harrowing capture- they 've been secured in their new coop ("Gitmo!") - and they are NOT happy! They have roosting branches suspended so they can sleep , but notice their favorite oak tree they're so used to, and so prefer! My father in law, who owns children's, & gave me my babies, said I cannot release them until he clips their wings- ( I am not happy about this!) and I hate seeing them cooped. I am spending as much time outside as possible with them while they're in coop...I know once they're out, they won't return! They are eating, drinking fine- but Rosie isn't laying any eggs since her adventure. Their poop is normal, and fortunately, both are still talking to me.They dont try to escape when I go in to feed them...but they are starting to pace and getting frustrated today. (day11 of being cooped)!!
Dad in law says we must leave them in another week! They may make it- but it is breaking MY heart not seeing them roam free as they are accustomed.
So, one neighbor ( who threatened to sue me) is happy...my Rosie, Lee , other neighbors and I are miserable!
Any advice??
My Guineas were raised on good quality wild bird seed, tried meal worms as treats- thankfully, no go - they found them as gross as I did.Tried fruit, sunflower seed, etc...have NOT found white millet yet, however.
Is it ok to order this by mail?
Need to find a training treat while cooped...
Thanks for any of your kind help![/QUOT

My guineas were picky as far as treats go, so I tried lots of different things. This is the one thing that they loved. They went crazy for it...like crack for guineas! I got it all Walmart but you can probably get it all sorts of places. They seemed to like the orange zest kind the best.
As for the confinement, guineas will be perpetually unhappy until they can roam some. And for clipping their wings, I would make sure that there are no predators that can get ahold of them, otherwise they’ll get picked off by something in short order.