Some questions on guinea fowl(please help)

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
Thanks, I'll go that route. He just asked what I was doing and I said getting info's on guineas. He rolled his eyes at me and smiled. I wonder what that means??? I'll start checking the hatchery catalogs. I don't want but maybe 6 at the most. Need to see if they are shipped hatched or eggs only. If shipped hatched, can they be shipped with chicks. Gotta a lot to check into. ? ? and more ?'s.

 

[pringle]

So how loud is a guinea?Do they make the noise all day?If you were to compared it to a roo how loud is it?

 

[sundance]

mine only around people. or strangers. and one makes a sound like they are saying buckwheat,(I think It's the female) the other just goes chi ci. I don't know where you live, but if some byc person lives close enough, ask about going for a short visit. to check out the guianas. there is a lady on BYC named the guiana lady look her up and she may be able to help you more than I can, if live near liberty tn, if its close come for a visit. marrie

 

[TheGoldenRoo]

Well I know that really any breed of guinea will eat bugs and ticks... But I don't think out of what I know of, a breed that is quiet. I hope this helps and I hope you get the guineas you wanted!

 

[Bulldoggergal]

We currently have two pearl guineas...20+ weeks old. The guinea hen we've had since she was 3 weeks and the male is more recent addition. They hang out with our 1 EE rooster, 2 OP hens and 1 barred rock hen. All the others are 25+ weeks...all pretty young.

They eat together, sleep together...sometimes willingly going into our cages (semi-coup situation, still working on building/buying one), other times we wear gloves and pick them up to put them in. As soon as the sun sets, they all gather in or near the cages or on our porch. Once the sun sets they are docile (will still peck) and won't really fight too much.

They can be very loud, especially the female, but I think THEY think they are chickens. Our EE roo has mounted the female guinea but since the male guinea is getting older, our EE roo must know not to mess with either anymore. The male guinea will dominate the EE roo I've heard...so I think the roo knows this.

I throw out the chicken scratch and kitchen scraps and they jump in to eat along with the chickens. They dust bathe with the chickens, snuggle with the two OP twins...but they have been known to freak out and fly up onto the roof every now and then.

I LOVE the guineas...the guinea hen can be very obnoxiously loud...but they are a great addition to the flock.

 

[kcardella]

I have had guineas for about 5 years, and yes, they can be very loud! However, it's usually when they are startled, or something is amiss (such as a predator). They will also "yell" at newcomers. They are certainly not noisy all day; really not that often if you don't live in an area where they will constantly be upset.

They roost with my chickens at night, and roam around with the chickens and ducks during the day. The only time they don't get along is during the guinea's breeding season, when the males get a bit aggressive.

Oh, and they are AWESOME tick control! I have not seen a tick in years, and I am surrounded by woods.

 

[Akane]

Young guineas are constant noise. The first year they find everything concerning. Everytime they see you, everytime they see another bird, every time the wind blows... much guinea yelling. After they start to figure out what is and isn't dangerous I'm told they do chill a lot and only make noise when there is a reason to.

 

[Bulldoggergal]

Quote:
I think that is what we are going through right now is the first year stage...described very well by Akane! They get upset if the chickens are "honking" or upset...the female more than the male.

When is the breeding season for the guineas. My male, still quite young, is beginning to show aggression against one of the OP hens who has just begun to lay eggs. They all are actually...thinking it's a stage. They get along fine a good majority of the time...always together as a group. So fun to watch!!!

 

[Akane]

In southern climates I don't know if they'd have stopped laying for the year now or not. Up here they had pretty much stopped a month ago. I actually had trouble getting some a couple months ago. The main guinea farm had about half their colors no longer laying reliably by the end of august. Then they will start again next spring. Again it may be different farther south but somewhere around May the guinea farm starts selling eggs and then chicks again.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

How are their laying patterns? Like chickens (everyday) or more like geese or turkeys (seasonal)?