Raising Guineas with chickens, but then moving them

[jnafouse]

We'd really like to get Guineas (we have a 16 acre goat farm plus 10 chickens and LOTS of ticks), but I'm trying to do all of my research before moving ahead.

We've read that it works well to get fertilized Guinea eggs and put them under a broody hen. It sounds like that method has great benefits, but our coop really isn't big enough for a bunch more birdies. We'd like to build a shelter for the Guineas under our deck, which would also position them right where we need the most pest control (around the house and garden). Our chicken coop is mobile and we'll be moving it from its location in a back field to the other side of our garden in the near future. I had been thinking at first that this would be an ideal time to get the Guineas since the coop will be located close to where we'd want to house them.

The question is, would we be able to train them to a different shelter if they were raised by a hen in the coop? Has anyone done this successfully, and is it worth the trouble? In our situation, is there a better way to start our Guineas?

Thanks for any help any of you can provide!

 

[PeepsCA]

I highly suggest starting them where you want them to return to, to roost at night.

If they imprint on a different coop, and bond with your chickens they will want to return to those birds and that coop. It generally takes 6 wks to imprint/condition them to a new coop, but it can take a lot longer if other poultry is involved.

 

[MiniHorses]

This is my first yr with guineas but, I can assure you that they do not like to roost in/on low items.
Mine actually want to use the roof of their building. Yep, they return to their house every night but do not like things (like roofs) over them. I actually took down one side of their building so that it was only 3 sided!!

So, I suggest that you not attempt to use "under your deck " for roosting if it is not really high. I could be wrong but, this has been my experience. Oh, they'll go under the deck to pick at stuff but it probably won't be their choice to roost. My chickens has a coop next to (no they didn't want to share) the guinea house. The chickens go in and roost happily, I close their door but the guineas don't want a part of that. LOL. Oh, they have been IN the chicken coop as they know their is always feed/water units in their but, rush in/out. They tend to roost later into the evening than my chickens want to do, also. Both groups free range all day.......but, chickens are attached to their "coop" while the guineas see more attached to their "location".

Just my observations. I've had chickens often at past farms...they go in at dusk, period!


What kind of goats do you have? I'm looking for some Nubians, full size or miniatures.

 

[jnafouse]

Honestly, we were thinking of the under-the-deck area more as a shelter than a roost. I was figuring they could roost in the trees, though I understand they're more open to predators that way. We give the chickens a large but enclosed run because we do have plenty of ground predators nearby... a fox den on a neighboring property, coyotes somewhere close because we hear them at night, lots of feral cats, etc. We have a nice tree line around our yard and garden, so I'm hoping the Guineas will be able to find plenty of safe roosting places.

If we don't start them with the chicens, what's the best way to start them? We got the chickens as chicks, but from what I'm reading, it's really better to get the keets as eggs. I hadn't looked into what was needed for incubating, though, since I was thinking a hen could raise them.

 

[jnafouse]

Oh, and our current goats are meat goats, though we'd really like to add dairy goats at some point. We need to build on to the goat barn before we can, though. Right now we have Boer does and a Kiko buck, with some mixed children.

 

[MiniHorses]

I raised Boers for several yrs.....actually brought some of first into VA. TX is a long way off!
Easy to handle goats even tho large, at least mine were -- does 225-250# & bucks 300+. The nubbies were nice complement for Xbreed, and some were bought embryo implanted with the fullblood Boers. Good milkers, the nubbies.

All goats are great for weed control and right now, I attest to that from not having any on site last 5 yrs. Getting more, LOL. Besides I like them...........