wanting to try guinea

[dstinett]

Ive been told guineas will solve my snake problem. I've been reading up on them. I've owned chickens for 8 years and consider myself a near pro with them. Its my understanding that they take little care once grown. That fits me to a tee! A few questions I can't seem to find answers
1.can males live happily together? Roosters sure can't
2.Are males going to come after my toddler like roosters?
3.Do you prefer one color over another? Why?
Thanks. Sorry so condensed. I'm mobile and henpecking

 

[chasiekitten12]

1. Yes the males can live happily togather
2. Most likely not. They will problobly just chase him if he runs out in front of them. But will not hurt him or even try to.
3. Not really

Well good luck! I can always help!

 

[Percheron chick]

I have guineas with my chickens. Added them about 1 1/2 years ago.

Guineas will do best in a flock of 6+. I have 5 hens and 3 cocks. As a group, they are very low maintenance. They stick together during the day and return to the coop to eat and sleep. They do wander much more than chickens. In the warmer months, they like to sleep up in the rafters of the barn. They pretty much leave the chickens alone but do get after the younger ones now and then. They are much more aware of their surroundings and are always the first to sound the alarm. Mine are pretty wild and give me a wide berth if they are anywhere close to me. I can catch them in the coop if I have to but they aren't happy about it. Probably should of worked more with them when they were little but you know how that goes. They have gone after my dog (100#) when he innocently got too close to their babies. The cat doesn't make eye contact with them. I'm sure she's been beat up by them as well.

There are many beautiful (if you can call guineas beautiful) colors to choose from. I have white, lavender and pearl. I'm hoping for some pieds one of these days but so far have only raised white and lavender keets. Just like with chickens, start with a few more than you want to end up with. They are probably harder to add more birds to once they are older as they seems to be a rather tight flock.

 

[dstinett]

Thank you. Looks like the only prob will be picking my color. 6-8 will be perfect.

 

[mommaguinea]

ve been told guineas will solve my snake problem. I've been reading up on them. I've owned chickens for 8 years and consider myself a near pro with them. Its my understanding that they take little care once grown. That fits me to a tee! A few questions I can't seem to find answers
1.can males live happily together? Roosters sure can't
2.Are males going to come after my toddler like roosters?
3.Do you prefer one color over another? Why?

Yes- roos can live together but they need space to allow decisions of rank particularly in breeding season. They do not come after people unless they are interested to see what you may have for them to eat! Mine come to the car too. They are quite easy care when grown but do need shelter that is predator proof and getting to come to that shelter as home takes some effort. (please visit www.fowlplayguines.com to the about us page for an ebook that addresses some guinea questions.)
Colors- there is a rainbow! some people stay away from white as they feel they are picked out by predators. There are pearled (those with spots) and non-pearled colors- greys through blues to tans and browns. I have stared with some browns and creams this year, in addition to my lovely pearl (original guinea shade), lavender, buff and royal purples.

Good luck with your birds- they are quite entertaining.

 

[kaestark]

you should get some!
1- they are great alarms for barn life. all animals will hear their alarm and will know it means danger. they have a very high screech i call it when they see something bad like a predator amd it usually scares predators away
2- roosters will live happily together! i think they like it more so if another comes and tries to take hens theres more of a chance to keep the hens.
3- i dont think they will. they are usually quite calm and like to leave other animals alone and keep to their own flock. if they see you have food they kinda walk a distance from you and may go up to you but surely not attack. may make the alarm but nothing bad.
4- i have pearls and speckles and mixes of both. i will say it doesnt really matter what kind you have. they all are cool!

 

[GuineaFowling]

Guineas will be wonderful for your snake problem. They took care of my giant lizard problem and even go after the opossums(and cats, and dogs, and basically anything they think is fun to chase). A little something you should know about guineas is they enjoy chasing. They wont attack you but they sure will give you a scare so be careful your toddler doesnt run around them. I had a mail lady come and she saw my guinea roo, screamed, and ran the other direction, he started happily chasing her and she just screamed louder. My guineas love chasing us when we jog. Also be sure to interact a lot with them while they are growing up. You'll need to handle the keets more often then chicks because if you dont they will grow up wild. My guineas are tamer then my hens because I interacted with them so much. They come when called, know their individual names, allow me to catch and hold them, and roost back in the coop and lay in the coop.

As of colors, the pearl grey and lavender are most popular but I love the coral blue, royal purple, and violet.

Its a shame you live so far away I have some 4 week old purple babies available but they are parent raised and we hardly interacted with them because of the weather so they aren't very tame.

Good Luck with your guinea adventures.

 

[GuineaFowling]

Oh forget to mentio, You will need more hens in your flock then males or at least and equal amount or breeding season will be a mess. Guineas are monogamous but some do take two hens.

 

[dstinett]

Oh forget to mentio, You will need more hens in your flock then males or at least and equal amount or breeding season will be a mess. Guineas are monogamous but some do take two hens.

thank you. I assumed that just from having chickens. We need some manogamy around my henhouse. My roo is a pimp daddy. Lol

 

[dstinett]

How early can they be sexed. I've read it is tricky