Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[dirtychick]

I'm curiest if any one knows what time of day -when do guineas mate? I have 17 now never seen it happen. ///////Also wonder about- the thought of needing one male to one female ratio -as one a friend says they pair off and won't mate out of the pair, also read some similer thoughts on the net?

 

[Kim Z]

Not sure about timing. I've never caught them at it either.

As for mating out of pair. It does happen. For a while I had only one male for several females and all of their eggs remained fertile.

Males will stand guard while his female lays and he will only guard his favorite. BTW, that is a great way to locate hidden nests. If you see a lone male hanging out by himself and staying in one small area, he is guarding his mate while she lays. After they leave, poke around until you find where she hid those lovely eggs.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

guineas like some of the male species, sneak around. they do hide out for the most part to mate. i have had them for a few yrs. and have only seen it once. as far as faithful, nope ! they are supposed to be i have heard. i have one male, 9 hens, 3 sitting. fertility is good. just recently, i inherited 2 stray males , guess they heard the lonely calls of the left over hens and decided to come join them. no offence intended.

 

[sunshineaviarie]

How do I keep Guineas from eating certain plants? They don't bother too many things, but we have some beautiful Mexican Petunias that they have decided to pluck clean. I made a wire cage to put around it.

They also chewed off all my Irises down to the rhizomes.

Does anyone have any other ideas or ways to keep them from picking on plants?

 

[twoquinns]

I think you misspoke when you said that guineas need to be kept at 95 degrees until fully feathered. They need to be kept at 95 for about a week, then you can start lowering the temperature by 5 degrees a week till fully feathered.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

guineas like some of the male species, sneak around. they do hide out for the most part to mate. i have had them for a few yrs. and have only seen it once. as far as faithful, nope ! they are supposed to be i have heard. i have one male, 9 hens, 3 sitting. fertility is good. just recently, i inherited 2 stray males , guess they heard the lonely calls of the left over hens and decided to come join them. no offence intended.

spoke too soon. lol twice, their still at it. its past broody time for them too.

 

[potagergirl]

My keets will be shipped to me and I am realizing (first time for guineas) they are not chickens!

It happened to cross my mind last night that with chickens you dip their beak in water when you put them
into the brooder.
But with keets that drown easily do you do the same thing even though I have large pebbles in the water
to keep them from drowning?

I also read somewhere to feed them turkey starter, is turkey starter higher in protein?

I'm going crazy with excitement!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i have one pipping right now and everything i knew just went out the window. lol i do know you need the higher protein, i use flock raiser for all of mine, chickens, guineas. crumbles of course for the babies. and yes, you dip them. i wonder how they ship them? i have been told, they need to eat within 4 hrs. of hatch. maybe i have been misinformed. i am looking for hatching advise. they dont have a yolk to absorb? is there blood veins after the first pip or what is going on now?

 

[Kim Z]

My keets will be shipped to me and I am realizing (first time for guineas) they are not chickens!

It happened to cross my mind last night that with chickens you dip their beak in water when you put them
into the brooder.
But with keets that drown easily do you do the same thing even though I have large pebbles in the water
to keep them from drowning?

I also read somewhere to feed them turkey starter, is turkey starter higher in protein?

I'm going crazy with excitement!

I'm excited for you too! My current set of keets should hatch on the 28th. We can watch them grow together.

Yes, dip their beaks once in the water, then in the food and then back in the water. They will be fine! You have done such good research and planning. You will be a great guinea Mom!

Turkey starter IS usually higher in protein but always look at the labels as brands vary.

 

[Kim Z]

i have one pipping right now and everything i knew just went out the window. lol i do know you need the higher protein, i use flock raiser for all of mine, chickens, guineas. crumbles of course for the babies. and yes, you dip them. i wonder how they ship them? i have been told, they need to eat within 4 hrs. of hatch. maybe i have been misinformed. i am looking for hatching advise. they dont have a yolk to absorb? is there blood veins after the first pip or what is going on now?

They have a yolk to absorb just like chickens. No worries about shipping. Yes, there are blood veins after first pip. Keets usually rest after pipping and finish getting ready to hatch just like chicks do.

Just do like you do with your chicks. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!