Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[pattyhen]

The Suburban Guineas sitting on daddys lap.

 

[Pyxis]

My guineas have always been very well behaved and they are definitely not suburban. They're skittish, but they go in every night without needing prompting, are fine with the chickens (mine live together), and I have yet to have any try roosting in the trees. Maybe that will change this coming year when I have more of them than the small flock I had before, but I even brought in adult guineas when I first started my flock, imprinted them on the coop, and they've never given me any trouble. Seems like the troublemaker guineas are the outliers, not the well behaved ones from reading the recent posts in here.

 

[perchie.girl]

Mine come to Keeterssss. So far I have not found a treat they like. The chickens, ducks all get in a big huddle to eat treats and the guineas will come up and try it and spit it out. They only eat their gamebird and boiled eggs. Do I have strange guineas?

its a function of "something New".... once they figure it out you will be mugged

 

[cabinchicky]

Patty hen you a guinea whisperer? I have not been able to get mine to come near me ever. They stay 4 ft back when called for treats and trying to catch them, ummm suit up with body armor and a dirt bike helmet and goggles! Them birds are crazy!

 

[Tikkijane]

1)  Does it help bring guineas into the coop if there is a night light?  I normally use an automatic popdoor that closes 15-30 mins after dark, generally.  Is that likely to be a problem with guineas?

2)  I'm only using cattle panel as the skeleton.  It will be armored in 1/2" hardware cloth.  I should have made that more clear.

Absolutely, yes. Guineas are pretty much night blind. Having even low light attracts them much better than having it completely dark. That being said, many of mine go right in and coop with the chickens.

Hardware cloth over cattle panels should work just fine.

 

[pattyhen]

Patty hen you a guinea whisperer? I have not been able to get mine to come near me ever. They stay 4 ft back when called for treats and trying to catch them, ummm suit up with body armor and a dirt bike helmet and goggles! Them birds are crazy!

They were brooded in the house and we tried to hold them everyday. With just the two of them I think they bonded with us. They love my husband the most I'm their second choice. They even let my great grandbaby pet them. They would walk by her and she would take her little hand and pet their back. They never once tried to peck her.

 

[duluthralphie]

I read all this stuff suburban Guineas do and I so wish I had them.

My Guineas will come running but at the sound of a switchblade opening or Rap Music coming from an obvious drug dealers car will send then into a glorious tither.

My Guineas will carry around little boom boxes playing said rap music as loud as they can, just to annoy me. They know I am a country music guy.


They never go to bed until it is good and dark. They always elect one of their own to stay out until the last possible second.

I would never try to hold my guineas like those on the swing without wearing a complete set of Hockey protective gear and Kelvar leggings.


Do not get me wrong I love my guineas, I just know they are not all that well behaved. I know they like to roll the homeless and steal cigarettes from the 7-11 in town.


I know when the Deputy show up my Guineas have broke into someone's home somewhere around.


I have realistic expectations for my guineas. They will always be primo tick killers, they will never sing in the church choir.

 

[harley587]

Mine come to Keeterssss. So far I have not found a treat they like. The chickens, ducks all get in a big huddle to eat treats and the guineas will come up and try it and spit it out. They only eat their gamebird and boiled eggs. Do I have strange guineas?

Mine come running when we call "boyyyys" but quickly disperse if we do not have fresh caught crickets for them. Sometimes they'll just stand there and "buckwheat" at us like a warning until another one "cack cack cacks" at us like a tommy gun!!

 

[duluthralphie]

Patty hen you a guinea whisperer? I have not been able to get mine to come near me ever. They stay 4 ft back when called for treats and trying to catch them, ummm suit up with body armor and a dirt bike helmet and goggles! Them birds are crazy!

I am guessing we have the same strain of guineas..

 

[duluthralphie]

Mine come running when we call "boyyyys" but quickly disperse if we do not have fresh caught crickets for them. Sometimes they'll just stand there and "buckwheat" at us like a warning until another one "cack cack cacks" at us like a tommy gun!!

OH NO!! Your's are forcing you to catch crickets for them? Mine threatened me with bad behavior if I did not catch them fresh crickets, I refused... Which could explain their behavior.