Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[Tikkijane]

It's too bad it isn't 2012.... Last year this time, my friend had guinea keets out the wazoo and couldn't get rid of them as fast as they were hatching! Beautiful birds, too. He is in central NC tho.

Where at? Do you know what kind he has? I've got 14 keets right now and sure hope they'll hatch out next year, but if not, I may be looking to get more.....

 

[Tikkijane]

We are new to raising birds and have 15 three week old guineas. One of them has hardly grown at all. The rest are of similar size (pic attached). Is it just a female or is there another issue? Also, they are frightened to death of us. Is this normal? We're planning to coop train them w/ our 12 week old chickens who come to us when called. We don't want to lose any guineas as soon as we open the door. Thanks!

I've read that keets are more squirly than chickens and need to be handled a lot more. This seems to be true, as far as I can tell. We still have to chase ours even though we try to handle them a few times a day. :/

 

[starlingdaly]

Where at? Do you know what kind he has? I've got 14 keets right now and sure hope they'll hatch out next year, but if not, I may be looking to get more.....

Southern end of Sanford, I think.
But he is not hatching this year.
He's got a mix of colors. I KNOW there are pearl grey, royal purple and lavender, but I do think there are others as well.

 

[kynewbchickie]

Royal purples are SO gorgeous! We have the pearl grays.

I noticed two of my guineas getting "randy" the other day - both with the other guineas as well as one of my hens (she was thoroughly not impressed and promptly pecked him good). They're only 12 weeks old - is this normal for that age?? I kinda figured they wouldn't start the coitus behaviors until they got much older than they are now!

 

[Sandshaven]

I have seen mine imitate at that age... But I don't think they can actually produce fertile eggs at that age. I might be wrong...

 

[aseelpak]

how are guineas different than chicken or they are breed of a chicken?? can there Roo crow??

 

[kynewbchickie]

how are guineas different than chicken or they are breed of a chicken?? can there Roo crow??

Guineas are a game bird - chicken are domesticated poultry. Guineas make a lot of noise, both males and females - but I've never heard a guinea crow like a chicken. Maybe the others here have more to add to this.

 

[itsjustme]

My hen sat nearly a month over her due date. I checked her yesterday and she was off the nest finally! So I got rid of the eggs and nest. There were egg shells that looked like something had hatched from it but I haven't seen broody guinea or her husband since tuesday so I'm wondering if she has a baby and her and hubby are off together raising it or what? I discovered another nest and decided I will mark the eggs and leave them then start collecting the others to incubate. I go camp 1 night the next day I find a guinea sitting on the eggs. Uggg I thought maybe she's just laying but nope still there. I marked them with a permanent green sharpie. Should I count them out or could they sill be fine?

 

[aseelpak]

count them...... i suppose

 

[itsjustme]

I think my birds are nuts! I've still not found the super broody guinea or her mate. So still don't no if there are babies wuth them? I'm not positive how many unmarked eggs are under guinea #2 or if guinea #2 is actually guinea #1 and she just found those eggs and decided to keep setting? I have 2 white both females and I can't tell them apart. Either way I'm still missing 2