Thinking of getting a few guineas and really need some info

[robin416]

Yes, they go to their respective coops each evening. The chickens go in the Guinea coop to raid their feeders and the Guineas go in the chicken coop to raid theirs. Same feed, just located in different buildings. You have a big enough group that for the most part there shouldn't be a tremendous amount of trouble between the two groups. On occassion I will see a new rooster or one I moved to a new pen fighting with a Guinea through the wire but once they establish who belongs where it stops.

I've only had one Red Tail try to take one of my adult Guineas, my flock is lavender with a couple of whites. The bird had talon grooves in its back but recovered fully and never left the flock. He kept his wounds covered with his wings so there wasn't really a need to remove him.

My current batch of keets are three months old, body wise they are nearly as big as my adults. The easiest way to know they are not the adults is there are no helmets yet.

 

[dmdhart]

How do you tell the males from the females? Is it possible to tell when they are young?

 

[robin416]

How young? Females, most of the time, will tell you they're girls with their call by two months. Physically there is very little outward visual differences until they are full adults.

Most say that the wattles tell it all. That is not reliable, I have a male with one wattle cupped forward and one rearward. I have one male with smaller wattles than the other males of the same age. Same for size, direction of the helmet.

 

[newchicks8]

Robin, I love information and you are the ONE!!

Its good to know that possibly the 5 lavendars won't be immediate prime targets.

I am very surprised I got lavendars and pearls from pearl parents. Isn't this unusual? The hen has a strip of white along the edge of one wing so maybe that's why I got a mixed batch. Whatever happened it was like Christmas when I saw lavendars from my/their FIRST hatch. I only received this adult pair in April.

I will somehow have to reintroduce the parents to the keets, I have no way of them getting used to seeing one another and keep them protected until they become re acclimated so I can finally release them as an entire group. I suppose I could somehow hatch a plan to divide the stall in half with a temporary framing with wire.

What does ASBC state rep mean? Your knowledge is priceless, I feel empowered when I have the knowledge, it makes me a better critter owner. I know I drive some people nuts with my questions.

Claudia/Ohio

 

[robin416]

Since I can't see your stalls I imagine they are pretty typical with six foot high solid walls. You could make the mod where they can see each other. Another thought is to let them all out at the same time. The adults might surprise you by taking the keets under their wings, so speak. That happened with mine when I had new keets and I only had three adults. They put the keets in to a ball, herded them all over the property all day long. I had to intercede when I saw the keets becoming hot and tired. You could try putting the two adults in with the keets but lay half sheets of plywood against the walls to allow for hiding places for the keets.

I don't know Guinea color genetics but that single white feather is indicative of something. I suspect that one of my females with the white feather in her wing is responsible for the opalines that I have out there now. I see that one of my keets also has that feather so time will tell if it is a good indicator that there is another color looking to come out.

I like my Guineas, I appreciate them for what they are. I can adjust my approach to satisfy their needs or wants, which I strongly feel is what allows us to co-habit the same space without tension. I don't try to change what they are but to work with what they tell me.

Of course its not all hunky dory, smooth sailing. The one thing they will never accept easily is change. Move their feeder or their waterer and be prepared for a fight. Now that its cooler I'm wearing long sleeved shirts or even a jacket first thing in the morning. My keets are finding that unacceptable. If its raining and I wear my Outback hat & coat its all over, the keets would rather get soaked. They recognize that they are prey and anything that does not fit in to their daily routine has to be dangerous and something to be afraid of. That's how they survive.

ASBC stands for American Silkie Bantam Club and I'm the state representative for the breed club.

 

[speckledhen]

Robin knows her stuff in regard to guineas! Robin, one of these days, I may be begging some lavender eggs off you for one of my broodies, if you're willing to sell me a few. I miss Mousse, Dodger, Charlotte and Radar. Saw a flock of them on the side of the road near here. We had driven past them and DH stopped. I stuck my head out the window, called "Guinea, guinea!", they all stopped as a group, looked at us and set up the big alarm, LOL. It was great!

 

[robin416]

Cynthia, you have my email address. Don't lose it between now and next Spring, the eggs are yours. And this time we'll get you going with a few more.

And while you're here, what is the other odd game bird that lives there? I didn't see many when we lived there, they are drably colored, round in body and short legged. I was talking to Bob about them a couple of weeks ago but danged if I can remember what they were called.

 

[speckledhen]

Hmm, not sure. We have quail and grouse, but grouse aren't short and round. Someone around here had a peacock because I could hear it calling from time to time.

 

[chicnchic]

Well I'll tell you all what, I'm sure glad I read this thread!

I have been thinking about getting ONE guinea as a "watch dog" for my chickens

...that'd be a mistake eh? lol Whew!

Anyway, I think I'll let my surprise Roo do his thing...he seems to be a good protector so far and is shaping up to be a handsome boy too

Think I'll just buy me some quilted ovies and call it good!

Thanks 'guys'!!

 

[newchicks8]

Robin thanks so much for all your input. I love your attitude, I agree wholeheartedly, we need to let them be who they are. I think its so much fun to learn about each type of mammal I have. I am feeling more confident about letting them out just too see how they react to everything......except for that murderous road we live close to.....I have picked one dog out of the road and it was heartbreaking and life changing, it strikes sheer terror in my heart. I feel it is my responsibility to protect all of my animals from danger....
A couple of my pearl keets have that same white feather that the adult hen has......I am excited to see what hatches in the next batch next year.....I enjoy my chickens and I am looking forward to enjoying the whole guinea experience.