Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[perchie.girl]

Did not heed warning of Guinea wings as I should have. Oww, safety glasses and a hockey mask next time. Was trying to catch Black Australorp cockerel that was bought same day as keets. Just say the Guinea thought he was one of their family.

 

[cabinchicky]

Did not heed warning of Guinea wings as I should have. Oww, safety glasses and a hockey mask next time. Was trying to catch Black Australorp cockerel that was bought same day as keets. Just say the Guinea thought he was one of their family.

Thanks Perchie.girl! Lol, I know better for next time! Dirt bike helmet and goggles will be worn.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have a question. I just bought two adult Guineas one make and one female, I want to know on how to unstress them. They are free range but they are fences in about half a hector of land. I also have about 150 chickens with the Guineas. I just need help on how to relax them so they are not always going crazy and being relaxed. Please help.

'When you figure this out let me know too. Guineas live to be stressed. They are the drama queen gangsters of the bird world...not to mention secret society assassins..

 

[duluthralphie]

Did not heed warning of Guinea wings as I should have. Oww, safety glasses and a hockey mask next time. Was trying to catch Black Australorp cockerel that was bought same day as keets. Just say the Guinea thought he was one of their family.

Did you happen to get this on video?

Guinea wrassling is my second favorite spectator sport behind Broody turkey hen wrassling..

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I recently found out that my DH used to raise Guineas as a boy. He has no problem if i want to raise a few myself.
From the sound of it he left them to roost in the trees and be mostly wild. I have a barn i use to house my chickens and could easily house them in there as well.
I have been told that you can allow Guineas to range in your garden and they will leave your plants alone. Is this true? If so I may have to get a couple of these birds immediately.

 

[R2elk]

I recently found out that my DH used to raise Guineas as a boy. He has no problem if i want to raise a few myself.
From the sound of it he left them to roost in the trees and be mostly wild. I have a barn i use to house my chickens and could easily house them in there as well.
I have been told that you can allow Guineas to range in your garden and they will leave your plants alone. Is this true? If so I may have to get a couple of these birds immediately.

If you want guineas to leave your garden plants alone, NEVER feed them treats from the garden. If you feed them treats from your garden they will go after those plants when given the opportunity. They can be much easier on your garden because they do not dig as severely as chickens.

Guineas are a flock bird and do much better in large groups. I never recommend that a person get a couple of guineas.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I recently found out that my DH used to raise Guineas as a boy. He has no problem if i want to raise a few myself.

From the sound of it he left them to roost in the trees and be mostly wild. I have a barn i use to house my chickens and could easily house them in there as well.

I have been told that you can allow Guineas to range in your garden and they will leave your plants alone. Is this true? If so I may have to get a couple of these birds immediately.

If you want guineas to leave your garden plants alone, NEVER feed them treats from the garden.  If you feed them treats from your garden they will go after those plants when given the opportunity.  They can be much easier on your garden because they do not dig as severely as chickens.

Guineas are a flock bird and do much better in large groups.  I never recommend that a person get a couple of guineas.

So they will eat plants. I may still eventually get a few (I appreciate your advice on getting a flock) but they go back into the someday pile, my hands are full enough.
I will just continue to encourage the girls to throw all the frogs they catch into the garden

 

[MeepBeep]

So they will eat plants.

Yes, they love plants... What they won't do it dig up your garden as readily as chickens do when they scratch, they still will eat the plants though...

 

[duluthralphie]

I agree with R2elk you need lots of guineas, 10-20.

They are not that rough on our garden. They prefer the bugs to the veggies. Plant cabbage and cabbage moths will keep them full, as will potato bugs,

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have a question. I just bought two adult Guineas one make and one female, I want to know on how to unstress them. They are free range but they are fences in about half a hector of land. I also have about 150 chickens with the Guineas. I just need help on how to relax them so they are not always going crazy and being relaxed. Please help.

They are naturally timid and flighty, instincts. Just keep them confined a few weeks, they will settle in.

Quote: I keep several and really don't keep count. I don't have tick issues, ants, spiders, snakes and a whole other list like we did, surrounded by cornfields and woods.

Quote:
Exactly. Leave them to be guineas and most folks appreciate the reduction of bugs, mice and snakes.

Did not heed warning of Guinea wings as I should have. Oww, safety glasses and a hockey mask next time. Was trying to catch Black Australorp cockerel that was bought same day as keets. Just say the Guinea thought he was one of their family.

Owwch, hope you're ok! They are territorial and protect their flock.