Someone please explain Guineas to me?

[Suburban Sprouts]

I have a flock of 12 chickens in suburban St. Louis. I have a decent sized area for them (approximately 15' x 25'). A friend who works at the farm ranch for the local Humane Society took in a lone Guinea chick and contacted me about it. I'm familiar with them, I know that they are great for bugs... But most people I know with them have room for them to range and make noise. Can someone please give me the basics on Guineas (the good, the bad, what you need to provide for them to be happy)?

 

[Kevin565]

Guineas are very very loud and love to fly. I tried them in a city setting but it did not work very well for me. These guys loved to free range and that just wasn't a option for me in the city. This is why I found them a new home in the country where they are currently flying around and eating ticks galore.

 

[perchie.girl]

Yep definately need some room between you and your neighbors. Guineas not only fly well they fly far and if they hop into someone elses back yard they may not figure out how to get back home.

Besides a Single Guinea is very lonely. Though I have heard of them paring up with turkeys for buds. But they are very much flock oriented. So often times a single guinea will go out "Looking" for a flock to join. They dont know it they just go walk about.

Best to resist the urge. I have a flock of about ten. and when they go off over something they havent seen before you cannot hold a conversation till they are done. Its not an exaggeration either. I have eighteen acres and my neighbor is at least three acres away. She stopped me on the road on the way out to the highway and asked me if I had turkeys.... LOL. I said no just Guinea Fowl.

So she could hear them. And I haven't even let mine free range yet.

deb