Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[starlingdaly]

they will get louder lol when they are just out pecking around they are no louder than the chickens. Definitely not as loud as my peacocks which are just learning honks and idk what the other is it sounds like a sick cat sayn meew lol. My guineas are only loud when they are sounding the alarms. But anything can set them off. Strangers, predators or use to squirrels lol the cat is still terrified to come into the yard even though they no longer view her as a threat so she can pass without being screamed at and chased lol

Haha, love it!
Peacock sounds make me think of Kevin from Up... So you know if I end up having a peahen I will have to name her Kevin.
The two keets I have right now made quite a fuss when I turned off the light tonight. Bf was all "What's wrong with that bird??" Hahah.
They are not used to the routine yet.

 

[itsjustme]

I never thought about Kevin in up. Lol I have a pair Diva is the hen my kids call the male Blue I call him Drama lol my poults hate when I turn lights off. I tease bf they are afraid of the dark. Lol I had guinea eggs in the bater due Sunday but Its not looking good there's a hen sitting but she's on a community nest and she run the 2 girls sitting with her off so idk about them either.

 

[starlingdaly]

Hehehe. I only have one turkey and she's enough of a handful.
But the eggs are nice... Maybe when we move I will get a couple more.
Oh no, so sorry to hear about the eggs.
My turkey ruined 6Ameraucana eggs so I'm down to 9 in the incubator but one wasn't moving last night when I candled so we shall see in one week!

 

[nailladi]

OH YEAH!! They get the loudest in the spring when males are competeing for hens..

 

[itsjustme]

I have 3 tom turkeys :/ and just bought 6 poults a couple weeks ago hoping no more than 2 are boys. My luck they will all be boys. lol guinea eggs in the bator are due Sunday haven't tried candling again. Have 2 broody hens due Monday. And I'm working on getting some chicks shipped from Florida and I'm really hoping it all works out!! If so I will trade my bird guy some of my shipped chicks 4 some keats lol I no he's been looking for the same kind without luck.lol

 

[starlingdaly]

I have 3 tom turkeys :/ and just bought 6 poults a couple weeks ago hoping no more than 2 are boys. My luck they will all be boys. lol guinea eggs in the bator are due Sunday haven't tried candling again. Have 2 broody hens due Monday. And I'm working on getting some chicks shipped from Florida and I'm really hoping it all works out!! If so I will trade my bird guy some of my shipped chicks 4 some keats lol I no he's been looking for the same kind without luck.lol

Lol, having all toms could be considered good luck around Thanksgiving!

Sounds like a fair trade!
So far my new keets have not died! WHICH I AM VERY PROUD OF but at the same time I am expecting them to fall over dead any day.
My 10 week old lavender orpington hates them. But she also doesn't like my 5 day old chicken chicks so hopefully no vendetta towards the keets...
So far no injuries just targeted pecking.
Hoping to move her outside soon but nobody likes her out there in the big flock so it is going to be a bit slow transitioning her out.

 

[itsjustme]

You have no idea lol. Bf bought me . Poults last year and reminded me constantly that we would only keep 1 tom. Any extra toms would be dinner. I always agreed. Months past it was obvious all toms. We were in the yard 1 day ( maybe it was timing?) Lol I said to bf I want to keep Rocky we cqn eat the other 3. I got a "WHAT you want to eat the boys?" I said hey that was your rule. "He said well that was b4 I got attached to them. These are our 1st babies. Lol I sold 1 of the babies. Have been trying to sell 2 more lol don't get me wrong I love them each for a different reason but I don't need that many toms. I don't have a single hen its crazy! Sounds like your lavender just wants to show them who's boss. And being the new girl in the big coop has to be told she's at the bottom of the pecking order. I would say in time she will learn her place and be accepted. But sounds like it may be a bit of a process. Lol how old are the keats again? glad they are all doing well. I hope they continue to do well! What color are they? I just seen the bronze online for the 1st time and now wish I new where to find them. But am kinda glad I don't know bc I have so many babies now and more due soon lol I'm going to start running out of room. lol

 

[starlingdaly]

Hahah! That's great! My bf is a bit like that. He doesn't like the idea of eating our chooks so I will be the one to "process" any when the time comes.
I have had it in my head since I was 8 years old or so that to be self sufficient I would have to eat some of the animals I raised, so it's always been in the back of my mind and I think I'm almost ready to deal with it. But I won't have any spare roos for a few months.

The keets are between 1-2 weeks I think. The sleep under my ecoglow so pretty hard to overheat. I've got a pearl grey and a lavender. The lavender is super skittish.
I would love a bronze as well.

 

[itsjustme]

My grandparents raised animals to eat. And my bfs mother had chickens and would clean a ton of them every year to put in the freezer. For the winter he was always in charge of killing the chickens so they can be cleaned. And they raise beef cows so idk what his deal is? Lol mabe bc these are his not his moms? Idk either way we are not keeping all these roos and toms lol I have helped process animals but besides hunting have not killed any. I think I could though....maybe? Lol

 

[itsjustme]

I have 10 adult guineas but I'm not positive of all their colors lol when I bought them as keats I was like I want 2 of this color 4 of this etc. As they got older is was obvious I didn't have what I ask for and through research have I think I no all their colors now lol some of them are to similar in the pics to tell apart. Luckily I'm not picky I just wanted to no so I can get some more of the ones that I have only 1 of now. And maybe add a few colors? Lol guinea math is just as bad as chicken math I think? Lol