Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[pattyhen]

My keets are almost 5 weeks old. Is it to soon to clip one of the wings? I caught them perching on the side of their pen. I do not want them flying across the fence.

Thanks

 

[perchie.girl]

My keets are almost 5 weeks old. Is it to soon to clip one of the wings? I caught them perching on the side of their pen. I do not want them flying across the fence.

Thanks

if they can fly they can be clipped. Good luck

deb

 

[cabinchicky]

Yeah good luck catching them even on the roost! Holy cow!

 

[pattyhen]

Thank you very much I will clip their wings and hopefully they will stay grounded.

 

[perchie.girl]

I use a landing net..... catch em when they are running or flying by.... In the coop.

deb

 

[MeepBeep]

I just walk over and grab mine off the roost at night, no problem actually catching them, it's the kicking and biting that some do after being caught that can be a hassle, thus when catching them I wear long sleeves, generally a coat or sweatshirt as they can leave quite a bruise when they bite...

My peafowl on the other hand can be quite the challenge as they are simply too big and strong to scoop up, I need to pull their legs out from under them then wrap my other arm around their body to control their wings while still holding the legs...

 

[cabinchicky]

MeepBeep your pea fowl method sounds the same as our Fester method. Big guy does not like being handled, but it gets done. He runs from us for several weeks after it happens. Big baby.

 

[Serenade1]

I'm looking at finally adding Guineas to our home, just trying to find advice if I'm better to start with Keets or older birds up to a year? I've currently got chicks and ducklings along with older chickens and ducks. I'm really wanting to free range them since we have almost 70 acres. Plus wondering how many I should have?

 

[guineapeeps]

I'm looking at finally adding Guineas to our home, just trying to find advice if I'm better to start with Keets or older birds up to a year? I've currently got chicks and ducklings along with older chickens and ducks. I'm really wanting to free range them since we have almost 70 acres. Plus wondering how many I should have?

I would start out with keets as I think they would be easier to integrate in to your flock of chickens and ducks and would get along with them better if they grew up together. I also think it's easier to get them to stick around your place if they start out as keets. As for the how many to start with, I would get a minimum of 5 or 6. It sounds like you have a lot of acreage, so if you want them for bug/ pest control you may want to do quite a few more. I have 5 acres and have 7 Guineas (which I let free range during the day) and they do a fair job of keeping ticks and other bugs under control, but a few more would do a better job. I've had upwards of 20, which almost completely eliminated all pests on my property (great for my garden) but then they started wandering the corn fields around my house where hungry predators awaited them. Which brings up another point....predators. Because you plan to free range, you may want to a few more than your ideal amount as you will probably lose some to predators. Mine don't run away from things like fox. They are too brave for their own good and try to stand up to predators, which of course, comes to a bad ending for them.

Good luck!

 

[Serenade1]

Thank you, I've got a possible lead on some week to two week old keets. I'm thinking if I started with 20 or 30 (I've got 30 plus chicks between one and 3 week old chicks) that I'm thinking I could keep them with that I'm hopeful to be able to have around 15 once they are mature. We've been lucky with our one dog who's decided all the chicks are hers so we really haven't had a predator issue closer to the house and coop, but if they move up by the barn I understand that I'll probably lose some over the winter. Definitely hoping that guineas will help with ticks. So I think at least early on more is better.