How many guinea are ok to have?

[eggcited2]

I was reading on Purely Poultry that guineas are better kept in smaller number of birds.

They have started keets for sale, 4 maximum. They said it is better to have smaller flock.

What is the number for too many?

I have a place not far from me that has guineas for sale. Keets that are a week or two old, keets that are old enough to not need heat lamp, and some even older.

I am going to get some, but don't want to make a mistake and get too many, but I don't want to make a mistake of getting too few.

I was thinking of at least 6 but not more than 10-12. Is that acceptable? Would 6 be better or the 10-12 be better?

Thanks for any help!!!

 

[R2elk]

I was reading on Purely Poultry that guineas are better kept in smaller number of birds.

They have started keets for sale, 4 maximum. They said it is better to have smaller flock.

What is the number for too many?

I have a place not far from me that has guineas for sale. Keets that are a week or two old, keets that are old enough to not need heat lamp, and some even older.

I am going to get some, but don't want to make a mistake and get too many, but I don't want to make a mistake of getting too few.

I was thinking of at least 6 but not more than 10-12. Is that acceptable? Would 6 be better or the 10-12 be better?

Thanks for any help!!!

Apparently whoever wrote the article that you are speaking of does not know guineas. Guineas are a flock bird. They do best when there are more of them. The recommended minimum number of guineas is 10. Keeping at least that many will let the guineas apply their unique behaviors to each other rather than terrorizing other poultry around them.

Your thought of 10 - 12 keets is a much better idea than only 6.

 

[subhanalah]

Apparently whoever wrote the article that you are speaking of does not know guineas.  Guineas are a flock bird.  They do best when there are more of them.  The recommended minimum number of guineas is 10.  Keeping at least that many will let the guineas apply their unique behaviors to each other rather than terrorizing other poultry around them.

Your thought of 10 - 12 keets is a much better idea than only 6.

X2

BUT
how much room do you have for them? The only thing restricting your flock size is adequate space for all the animals cohabiting in the same space.

 

[eggcited2]

X2

BUT
how much room do you have for them? The only thing restricting your flock size is adequate space for all the animals cohabiting in the same space.

Almost 6 acres to free range, with adjoining land that belong to neighbors. For housing, a 30 x 40 barn, or if they decide to use the chicken house that is 9 x 15. But I imagine they would use the barn rafters.

 

[Chicken Review]

Almost 6 acres to free range, with adjoining land that belong to neighbors. For housing, a 30 x 40 barn, or if they decide to use the chicken house that is 9 x 15. But I imagine they would use the barn rafters.

You can get as many as you would like. 10 - 12 would be a very good number. If you want more, get them. Guineas are a flock bird and work better in flocks than alone or small numbers. 6 acres is a good bunch of land and your Guineas are going to love you for it. They are truly free range birds! That article you read was a little misleading.

 

[subhanalah]

You can get as many as you would like. 10 - 12 would be a very good number. If you want more, get them. Guineas are a flock bird and work better in flocks than alone or small numbers. 6 acres is a good bunch of land and your Guineas are going to love you for it. They are truly free range birds!  That article you read was a little misleading.

X2

 

[KAZROB]

Hi,

I have 5 acres, and I started with 3 older guineas, then went to two and they did just fine only 2 of them, they wander around and free range, however I have one paddock on the 5 acres which is fully fenced with 6 ft fences and my animals all free range in this area, this area would be less than an acre maybe half acre, maybe a bit less they are happy and have enough space. They share this space with chickens and ducks, they are safe and secure and have their lock up huts in this area as well.... I have added to my guineas as one was sitting on 30 eggs, I have seven more total of 9 guinea's now and I am happy with this amount, the birds are happy and still for some reason wont go out into the main paddocks, they just like to stay in my backyard or the fenced paddock area they are obviously happy! So I think you could have anything from 2 upwards to at least a dozen.....Enjoy them they are cute to have around...I adore them. I do I eat and sell their eggs, otherwise they are just pets doing their job alerting us if there is anything different happening, being protectors and just enjoying their environment

 

[eggcited2]

Good news. I go pick up 10 guineas the first week of July. They are all out from under the heat lamp and ready to go without a heat lamp. They are about 2 months old.

 

[KAZROB]

Yay! How exciting, I loveeee guineas, they are amusing to watch, I was just watching one of my guineas, picking the face of my rooster, calmly and nicely of course, he had cheese sauce on his face and the guinea was cleaning him up lol........My guineas loveeeeeeee grated cheese, so they get a good handful everyday! Good luck with your adorable Guineas....

 

[bachbach1]

You are probably almost certainly going to loose some to predators, if they free range. They will learn as a group what is dangerous and what is not. But with no adults to learn from they have to pay for mistakes with their life's many times. Once they learn danger they will be better equipped to survive nature. Start off with 20 to 50% more than you want that way your flock can absorb the losses, the bad things nature will throw at them.

I know this is sort of a dark side you probably dont want to think about, but it is a pattern I have seen over and over, there really isn't any avoiding it if they free range they are part of the food chain.