Should I tame my Guineas (Help Please)?!?!?!?

[C-Bee-A-Pea]

Hi guys,

I have a chance to get some Guineas (Thinking about three to start out with), but I was wandering if I should tame them. My plan is to free range them so they will eat the ticks out in my yard, but I am worried if I hand tame them they will not be good at defending themselves against Foxes, Raccoons, etc (I have heard that they will chase fox, Raccoons, etc away, don't know if the owners hand tamed them. Does that happen?) . So what do you guys think? Also if I do not tame them, will they attack my parents, friends, siblings, myself, etc? They will be living with 13 chickens in a big pen, and then I will let the Guineas out every day, that is if I get them.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Sandshaven]

I wouldn't own guineas that weren't tame... But I also do not like to chase animals. I am much happier when they come to me.
If you don't want guineas to land on / attack people... Don't teach them that.

 

[itsjustme]

Hi guys,

I have a chance to get some Guineas (Thinking about three to start out with), but I was wandering if I should tame them. My plan is to free range them so they will eat the ticks out in my yard, but I am worried if I hand tame them they will not be good at defending themselves against Foxes, Raccoons, etc (I have heard that they will chase fox, Raccoons, etc away, don't know if the owners hand tamed them. Does that happen?) . So what do you guys think? Also if I do not tame them, will they attack my parents, friends, siblings, myself, etc? They will be living with 13 chickens in a big pen, and then I will let the Guineas out every day, that is if I get them.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[itsjustme]

Sorry my phone will not post my quote with a quote for some reason but I forget and try anyways. When my guineas were small my kids and myself would hold them all the time. When they got big enough to go outside we stopped. Mine free range 24/7 and I've never had one attack anyone. They come when I yell chick chick chick. They will eat out of your hand but don't really care for being handled. If I have to catch one I do it at night while they roost. It just makes it easier bc I too do not like chasing anything. I tried to get mine to rooste in the coop with the chickens and would carry all 13 1 by 1 into the coop every night for many nights hoping they could catch on but they didn't and I gave up. I don't think its impossible to teach them I think you just have to have more patients than I do. Lol also beware that chicken math applies to guineas also. I started with 13 and over a year lost 3. but plan to add more this fall.

 

[Sandshaven]

I never heard of chicken math before. lol
I have only lost 2 birds since I started. One by a stray dog and the other by a night predator
But mine go in at night with no problems. They even put themselves away. I just do a head count and shut the door.

 

[C-Bee-A-Pea]

I wouldn't own guineas that weren't tame... But I also do not like to chase animals. I am much happier when they come to me.
If you don't want guineas to land on / attack people... Don't teach them that.

That makes a lot of since!!!!! Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[C-Bee-A-Pea]

Sorry my phone will not post my quote with a quote for some reason but I forget and try anyways. When my guineas were small my kids and myself would hold them all the time. When they got big enough to go outside we stopped. Mine free range 24/7 and I've never had one attack anyone. They come when I yell chick chick chick. They will eat out of your hand but don't really care for being handled. If I have to catch one I do it at night while they roost. It just makes it easier bc I too do not like chasing anything. I tried to get mine to rooste in the coop with the chickens and would carry all 13 1 by 1 into the coop every night for many nights hoping they could catch on but they didn't and I gave up. I don't think its impossible to teach them I think you just have to have more patients than I do. Lol also beware that chicken math applies to guineas also. I started with 13 and over a year lost 3.

but plan to add more this fall.

WOW thanks for the information, I think I will have a lot of people wanting to hold them if I get them. So
what is your guys thought on me just getting three guineas? They would be with 13 chickens like I said
above, and I would just let out the guineas during the day wile the chickens stay in the pen.

 

[Sandshaven]

Glad to help...

My thoughts... I think you should go a few more if you can. Guineas feel safer in flocks when free ranging. When you have 5 or 6 out they can help watch each others backs.
Also if you would lose one, for one reason or another, there would still be a few flock buddies left.

 

[naglady]

You should have atleast 6 guineas to have a happy flock..

 

[JLeigh]

The more guineas you have, the happier they'll be. Some say 10 is a minimum, some say more. I agree with 10 as a minimum with as many more as you can manage for a free-ranging flock. My guineas are penned 24/7 so I have (at the moment) 5. Four females and one male. I can house up to 7 or 8 without worrying that they're too cramped. I wouldn't have another male since the flock is so very small. I'm holding out for a Royal Purple and another color.

Guineas will probably never be tame the way I think you want them to be. They have all of their wild instincts intact, and those instincts come into play first and foremost. With patience you can get guineas to hang around you and eat from your hands, but they'll never (as adults) hop up into your lap.

Also, they aren't predators, they are prey animals, so they might get REALLY loud if a predator comes around, but the odds of them chasing them away are pretty slim, especially at night. It's been known to happen, but I wouldn't count on it. They aren't guards - they're "alarms". The first thing they'll try to do is escape a predator, and often lose in the process.

I've never heard of a guinea attacking a human. Again, they flee from humans because they see them as predators first. "Tame" guineas who are used to humans won't flee usually, unless you make a sudden movement around them. Then they flap and scatter like crazy. My guineas will hang out under my feet (for treats) but if I reach down to touch them, they bolt. That said, a hen on a nest will get very testy if disturbed....

Chickens and guineas can get along if they have a LOT of space, but they aren't "flock mates"; a few guineas in a flock of chickens still wouldn't be happy. My experience has been that chickens and guineas self-segregate, especially when roosting, once they're adults. Guineas like guineas, so get a minimum of 10 since you're going to free-range. More would be better, and don't expect too much from them in the "cuddle" department. That's just not their nature. Let them be who they are - flighty, quirky, weird, dumb, cute and funny - and just let them get used to you and your family enough to feed them from your hand.