Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[BiophiliaDJT]

I have a pen. I use on my young breeders. They do not free range until I get my 500 eggs from them. It is 50x50 or 50x60 something like that, Huge pen. I have the net 15ft high in the middle. I have an attached coop out of wire and plastic with high roosts 10-12 feet up. The building is 20x10 and 16 feet high.

I have cross bars on the posts holding the netting up about 3 ft from the netting. The birds stay in this pen about 8 months before they get freed. I lose a few even in the pen to owls, they will hit the net hard and fast and it stretches to the point the owl gets the head of the guinea.

I really wish you luck, you sound determined to make it work. That is a good thing. Be flexible and adjust as need be. The Guineas will return to their coop at night for me. most the time. However, there are nights they refuse to go inside. Full moons are the worst. Just get extra birds knowing some will die.

Good luck!

Of course. Thank you for your advice!

 

[holm25]

Biophilia I agree with everything Ralphie says! If guineas can do something dumb they will. Like try and kill my turkeys or roosters.

 

[BiophiliaDJT]

Biophilia I agree with everything Ralphie says! If guineas can do something dumb they will. Like try and kill my turkeys or roosters.

Yeah I know they are markedly aggressive for such a small bird.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Small bird yes but when you have several count them all as a Pack... I had five males Mature ones I adopted. After they imprinted on the property I let them free range. I personally have seen the five escort a coyote off the property screeming and lunging at him.... it was a sight. Because Guineas dont attack one on one they attack in a mob.

I am planning on raising about thirty on my next go round... Good luck.

deb

 

[Tikkijane]

The plan would be to have a panel of dancing I could move aside, and push the coop against it and let them into the protected area, then when I needed to rotate their pasture I would move the coop at night when they were all closed up.

Think about a light. Guineas are basically night blind and may not be able to see into the coop.

That being said: I have a guinea side of one of my coops. When we had the fox issue, I kept them in there a good amount of time; only out for a few hours.

They can fly. Getting them out of the trees is a royal pain, because they can fly and roost up 30-50+ et up in them. And then they can't really see, which makes them easy pickings for owls.

One upon a yonder several years ago, we changed coops. They guineas actually transitioned to the new coop a day earlier than the chickens. It really was not a huge deal.

Somehow within the past month or so, my two little flocks have merged. I'm down to only 10, so come spring, I'll be hatching if I can. I would never- and I mean NEVER- keep them contained in a small tractor. My guineas roost on the upper beans in their coops, which is at least 20 feet up. If they become agitated due to confinement, they can break wings and get head damage from banging around.

And they are LOUD. The 1/4 rule is spot on, unless you have neighbors that don't mind the noise. Good luck!

 

[Tikkijane]

Biophilia I agree with everything Ralphie says! If guineas can do something dumb they will. Like try and kill my turkeys or roosters.

For whatever it's worth- my guineas coop and free range with my ducks and chickens and have never been aggressive with my roos {usually around 20 of them}. My minimum number of guineas was 7 a few years ago because of spring time nesting. That's the bare minimum, imo. The more the better. And even in higher numbers {when I had around 30 of them}, they left my boys alone. I think there may be issues when the numbers of guineas is fewer.

 

[Tikkijane]

Small bird yes but when you have several count them all as a Pack...    I had five males  Mature ones I adopted.   After they imprinted on the property I let them free range.   I personally have seen the five escort a coyote off the property screeming and lunging at him....  it was a sight.  Because Guineas dont attack one on one they attack in a mob.

I am planning on raising about thirty on my next go round...   Good luck.

deb

Wish mine had done that when the pack of coyotes hit several months ago. I didn't lose a single guinea, but lost at least 20 roos {mostly lf} and a very few hens. I just need more.....

 

[duluthralphie]

I stopped a robbery in progress today and frightened off the burglar!

He was just about to cut the screen and ransack the place for drugs, guns and money. These guys cannot be trusted!

It use to be a safe neighborhood until the gangsters moved in.

 

[generaldsherman]

I stopped a robbery in progress today and frightened off the burglar! He was just about to cut the screen and ransack the place for drugs, guns and money. These guys cannot be trusted! It use to be a safe neighborhood until the gangsters moved in.

scary!!! Stay safe!

 

[memphis]

Naw Ralphie....he wants to be a lapper!