Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[R2elk]

I am not sure I want to bond with them? Do I need to for them to eat my bugs more than they eat the neighbors’?

You do not need your guineas to bond with you. It is helpful to teach them to be herded.

They will eat bugs where they have access to them.

kept the chickens from getting into things in that regard.

They will not take care of your chickens. If they are not chicken impriinted they will leave your chickens alone. If they are chicken imprinted they will harass your chickens especially when breeding season comes.

I am going to have to do a little work on their stall today and I will post pictures later so you guys can tell me what I miss. Right now there are some places a raccoon or possum could easily wiggle through

It is very important that their "home" be predator proof. Guineas are delicious and predators learn that very quickly.

I need to get some bedding for the floor. The chickens use the old feed troughs as nesting boxes but I don’t think the guineas will so I am just going to make them a nesting box on the ground.

I live on a sand dune. I never put bedding on the floor.

The guineas may or may not use the mangers for nests. One member used a wheelbarrow with nesting material in it for her guineas. They seemed to like it.

One method is to set up bales of straw or hay in such a fashion that it provides a hidden "hole" they can use for a nest area.

Guineas are ground nesters and given the opportunity with make hidden nests outside. Allowed to do so, ends most often in the loss of hens to predators.

My Coop

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

It is very important that their "home" be predator proof.

The boys are working on it now. Not sure how I wriggled out of that chore but I did oversee things for a minute and it will be solid once they’re done. I will have to go out and at least put some pine shavings or straw around for them to lay eggs in. I will take some pictures then.

 

[R2elk]

I will have to go out and at least put some pine shavings or straw around for them to lay eggs in.

My guinea hens just dug holes in the ground in hidden places.