Guinea Fowl - When will they fly/roost?

[gypsyhillfarm]

Hi Everyone, i'm new to this fine community and after searching through some past threads, thought i'd just ask my question and hope someone has the answer for me

We've had guinea fowl for about a month and a half. I bought them at an auction and they didn't have an age but were obviously younger ones. We estimated them to be 6 weeks old.

So now, they would then be 12 weeks. When should we expect them to start flying? They've really plumped up and are starting to 'branch out' and though not into the fields, just into the barnyard and mostly in the barn. They don't seem to enjoy direct sunlight.

I can't tell if their wings are clipped (don't know why they would be if they were going to auction) and the birds do try to fly but it mostly looks like jumping with poor landings. We have roosts in their house but I don't believe they use those either, perhaps they're too high.

If anyone has any insight, i'd be happy to hear it and very appreciative as well!

Thanks!
Michelle

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Hello! Welcome to our FUNomenal Flock! Make yourself at home! Best wishes and have Fun!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi Michelle and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us
@CapricornFarm can you offer some insight?

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. I know zip about guinea so i have no input to offer - sorry

 

[Kiki]

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[007Sean]

Howdy Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Thanks for joining us!

 

[Trux]

Hope you get the answers your looking for! glad you joined us

I had guineas given to me by a guy who raised all kinds of exotics from pheasants to deer. He had an over abundance, so I would get like 10 at a time, butcher 8 and turn 2 loose. I ended up with 8 adults who then began to have chicks. I didn't have a pen for them just a small out building and a barn. Also had a grove of trees where they would spend alot of their day. The youngsters started flying about 4-6 months or so. They do roost, the one that we had went up in the trees at night.
When we moved the person who bought the place inherited them. Never had a bug problem in my garden or anywhere else on the place to be honest. They free ranged all the time and I couldn't get near them most of the time, unless I was filling their water trough. They were pretty much like wild birds but good bug eaters

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Welcome to BYC!!!

 

[Ghosty]

If they can't fly, you would think they have clipped wings. Guineas can fly from an early age if they have the room to practice. My 7 week guineas roost at will, flying straight up to their perch, or can fly across the yard.

 

[R2elk]

Hi Everyone, i'm new to this fine community and after searching through some past threads, thought i'd just ask my question and hope someone has the answer for me

We've had guinea fowl for about a month and a half. I bought them at an auction and they didn't have an age but were obviously younger ones. We estimated them to be 6 weeks old.

So now, they would then be 12 weeks. When should we expect them to start flying? They've really plumped up and are starting to 'branch out' and though not into the fields, just into the barnyard and mostly in the barn. They don't seem to enjoy direct sunlight.

I can't tell if their wings are clipped (don't know why they would be if they were going to auction) and the birds do try to fly but it mostly looks like jumping with poor landings. We have roosts in their house but I don't believe they use those either, perhaps they're too high.

If anyone has any insight, i'd be happy to hear it and very appreciative as well!

Thanks!
Michelle

Guinea keets usually begin flying by the time they are one week old. If yours are not flying it could be due to several different reasons. Jumbo or French guineas are not as good at flying as are the normal guineas. If they had their wings clipped, they would have a difficult time flying and if they were pinioned they would not be able to fly and will never be able to fly.