Teach me about guinea hens...?

[chickenpiedpiper]

I have a mixed flock of about 20 birds, One mature resident Rooster, 2 Juvenile roosters, and hens from Japanese up to a Jersey Giant! We have a Hawk population that so far has only claimed one polish hen this spring. But I worry. I have heard conflicting information regarding Guinea Hens. One person told me they will kill chickens....? Others tell me they are territorial and attack strangers...? I have a Garden Center and people come with their children to feed and pet the birds, I can not have anything aggresive.... I have Cats and Dogs that work together to keep the Chickens safe (strange I know) my cats hunt the weasels, and the dogs the coyote and fox and fishers that live nearby. Will Guineas bother these furry members of the flock?

What is the truth about Guinea Hens?

 

[monarc23]

i dont have any info on guinea hens other than that they're really vocal lol. Our neighbors have some. Don't give up i know theres many guinea owners on here they'll probably reply to this tomorrow

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I have 2 white female guinea fowl, 4 Lavender guinea fowl and 4 purple guinea fowl. They tend to keep to themselves. One of the white ones will occasionally range with the big leghorn roo. They are not evil. They are very vocal and they will alert to hawks and ohter animals. When the alert it is usually a big racket and a flight of about 50 feet. I feel they are very gentle to humans, yet they do not wish to be held, caught or otherwise fooled with. The adult females are the most vocal. They use a two syllable noise that sounds like "budk-wheat" or "come-back". They come in the chicken barn with the chickens at night and roost side by side with them. No fighting, no pecking, no problems. They eat the same as the chickens, but prefer to free range almost exclusively. They are not intellegent birds, but either are chickens. Oh I can see the posts on that one. I have introduced 10 Guinea, two by two without a hitch into the flock which is now over 90 birds. I have never seen a Guinea fowl fight nor any roos after them or they after the roos. I MUST say once again though. These fowl are VERY vocal to the piont of irritation to some.

 

[monarc23]

it sounds like someone is continually dropping pots and pans on cement ground at the neighbors house and if im looking towards his property i see white and lavander guineas up in the air...it's not bothersome but they do almost constantly call out the warning jamble of noises lol

Someone on here has pictures of a guinea male attacking their roo I do know that but i can't say anything for them being aggressive other than that picture.

 

[ChickaD]

My experience with guineas (males) is based on the ones owned by our neighbor down the road, who would continually come down and try to take over our yard, terrifying our flock of chickens. They are VERY determined, once they discover a source of food, such as our yard. As often as I'd chase them away, they'd come right back. It was a big problem, since the neighbor couldn't figure out a way to keep them in his yard...talk about super free range. I grew to absolutely hate the loud, obnoxious noise they'd make as another invasion was coming. Their purpose was to eat ticks, so it's a coincidence they ticked us off!

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Yes, If you do not introduce guinea to a piece of property, they will "wonder off" especially transplanted ones. The best way to get around this is to raise or get fowl and at around 8 weeks put them in the barn. I will NEVER go over 10 fowl. Big groups will start to wonder and sometimes they will go miles. The reason i have white, lavender and purple is that they do stay with thier respective colors. Sometimes it is the lavs and the purps, sometimes the whites and the lavs and sometimes it is the whites and the purps. VERY rarely are all the colors together. I usually see one white and the four lavs. The purples stay in a group always. The other white as i mentioned likea to go with the big leghorn roo. There is usually no more than five and on occasion eight.

 

[ChickaD]

That's interesting. The neighbor got his guineas as chicks and they stayed in his barn & yard the first year, then got wanderlust the second year. By then there were only the 4 males. I could always hear them way down the road when they were coming. We haven't seen them for a while, so he may have gotten rid of them.

 

[greyfields]

They are great pets to have. They generally roost in trees on thier own so are predator safe. I've never ever once heard of them terrorizing chickens or other animals. They're generally very self sufficient and keep your property free of flies, bugs, slugs, etc.

Most people who have them will just shoot one for food like a pheasant.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Did you get the colors at same time??
I have 13, and they tend to stay in groups of those that were raised together, but not by colors. In fact I have 3 that stay with a turkey and duck because they all hatched together, they want nothing to do with the other guineas.

Ocassionally I will have one that will chase off a chicken, or guinea from a different group, but havent had any real violent attacks.

They are loud, and will definatley let you know when something that doesnt belong is in the yard, (such as yourself with hat on, the electric meter reader, a snake etc... if it isnt always there, they will let you know.

Have never had one attack a person, they are brave(or stupid depends on your perspective), they will circle and scream at the intruder.

Mine stay in the chicken house with the chickens, in fact they taught mine to abandon the roosts, and start sitting in the rafters.

 

[chickmamawannabe]

This is the ultimate guinea site. It's run by the author of "Gardening with Guineas"
http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/