Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[fowlin]

is humidity important in the first three weeks after hatching. guessing dry is better? However, would an area lets say, in the house with wood stove heat be too dry? or douse it just not matter as long as it is not damp?

 

[terrilhb]

Thank you so much for the info. I am getting my 1st eggs tomorrow. I am so excited.

 

[PrinceSandwich]

How many eggs will a Guinea lay a year?

 

[Cynth]

couple questions...there are part answers through the last 6 pages but I can't seem to find these answers together.
Can guineas be raised from babies with chickens? If the protien has to be 18-20% do chickens need protein also? We have 24% protien which is quail feed.
We are raising them in a bathroom in our house for right now and looking into housing in a couple weeks outdoors. Do guineas need the same space as chickens or more?
As other chickens, geese, ducks etc enter the flock as young birds do the guineas treat them as predetors? or just harass them like the rest of the flock?

 

[PeepsCA]

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 125 eggs. Some Hens lay more, some lay less.

 

[flitter]

We should be receiving a shipment of guinea eggs this week. When they outgrow the brooder they will be housed in a small coop with an attached fenced run next to the chicken run. As they age they will free range. The chickens have a wired top for protection but I was planning on no wire ceiling for the Guineas and building a landing board at one end so they could fly into their run whenever (especially in the evening for their evening feed). Would this work? At what age do they fly proficiently?

 

[Jchantecler]

Quote:
Guineas can be raised with chicks. I almost always raise mine with chicks, and I have never had a problem. Just don't raise keets in a pen with adult chickens.

 

[Jchantecler]

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.

I think that is a fairly accurate estimate. Guinea eggs are slightly smaller than those of chickens, but their shells are so much harder. We have to bang the eggs against our metal stove to crack them.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
A friend of mine gave me a good tip... cracking the eggs open first with a quick smack with the back side of a butter knife (not the sharp side), it usually cuts thru the shell and membrane both so you can crack the egg open the rest of the way fairly easily. It's kind of a technique/skill that you have to personally perfect tho, or you end up with shell pieces everywhere (and in the pan if you don't crack your eggs into a separate dish first).

 

[Anianna]

Forgive me if this has been asked, I only glanced through the thread, but I want to know if guinea keet feather out in about the same length of time as most chicks.

Thank you so much for the OP, it is a nice collection of info for a new potential guinea mom.