We're planning on getting guineas...

[Bantam_Lover1]

...so I need some help. We've already got chickens, so I'm more used to living with them. I've got a few questions-can you please provide the information I need? Would appreciate it!

1. I heard they were fast growers! When do they grow their full coat of adult feathers?
2. Do they lay eggs daily or just in the spring? And when do they start laying?
3. What kind of food do they need/will they eat cracked corn or layer pellets/do they need a special mix?
4. How much space will they require?
5. About what is their average size?
6. Can they be in a pen with around 15 chickens?

~Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Those questions have been answered quite a bit here. It's been awhile since I had guineas, so don't remember when they're fully feathered.

Regular guineas lay spring and summer and early fall. French guineas have a longer laying season.

They need game bird feed, high protein starter or about 28-30%, then game bird grower then breeder feed.

They usually start laying around 16 weeks, but if that falls in winter, may be later, like in spring.

Not sure of the exact space, but they are generally smaller than chickens, about 5 lbs fully grown.

They can be super aggressive to chickens, which is why I don't currently have any. They tend to gang up on roosters and have been known to kill them, even.



You may want to read in this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=312682

 

[ravencreek]

I don't know the answers to most of the questions but I currently have 30 chickens and 4 guineas...They freerange during the day and put themselves up at dark. ALL day the guineas will run and chase my roosters, they actually tore one of my roos wattles off. All 4 will gang up on a single roo and run him til he gives out and just lays down. At which time I can actally get him and put him up in a pen beaten and bloody. I feed the guineas the same thing I feed my chickens. Which is a mixture of layer pellets(they make up half of the mix), sweet feed, scratch, and BOSS. I love both my chickens and my guineas but I will not buy anymore.