New owner of 8 guinea fowl - I need some advice

[Percheron chick]

I will soon be a guinea mom as well..we were thinking 12 but will go for 8….so I can't wait to experience what you are describing!

If you want to end up with 8 which is probably about the perfect #, start with 12. Keets are slightly more delicate than chicks. I started with 13, ended up with 9. I usually only lose 1-2 chicks.

 

[gfnovice]

Hmmm….sounds like a plan! thanks.

 

[gander007]

Betty is probably Billy. Males have a rounder, fluffier shape than the hens. They also tend to be more vocal if something is amiss. They will have longer handlebar waddles. Cocks will have a single syllable screech.
The 2 in the foreground are males. The one in the back is a hen. Very different shapes.

Hen and cock side by side.
If you observe 2 chasing each other with their wings fluffed up, those are 2 males jockeying for position.

My guineas always return to the coop at night. They do need a higher roost. Mine is 6'. Before I put one up high for them them they would sleep in the rafters outside the coop. As soon as I put that one up, they haven't slept outside.

Good info ....

Have you ever had them go up on top of building tops and run around keeping an eye out or what ever they are doing it for ???
as mine like it up high till summertime when it just gets to hot .....

 

[Percheron chick]

Mine will run the lenght of a 100' horse barn screeching. Run across a rafter, come out the other side and do it again. They'll do 2 laps before they tucker out. It will have me in stitches. The entertainment value is just as high as the bug eating value.

 

[Percheron chick]

Billy Betty

 

[wyoDreamer]

DH is has to come out to WY for 4 days. He is worried about leaving the Guineas alone for that long.... haha
Actually, he is worried about the resident skunk getting into the coop since there won't be anyone to shut the door at night. We have already scared off one skunk once, haven't seen or smelled it since, but that is not a guarantee that it isn't around.

Do you think it would work to make a short gate to put in the doorway? He is thinking something framed in wood, with 1/2" welded wire stretched across it, with a board across the top for the birds to hop up on for going in and out. Not sure how high to make it, maybe 3' or so high.

 

[gander007]

DH is has to come out to WY for 4 days. He is worried about leaving the Guineas alone for that long.... haha
Actually, he is worried about the resident skunk getting into the coop since there won't be anyone to shut the door at night. We have already scared off one skunk once, haven't seen or smelled it since, but that is not a guarantee that it isn't around.

Do you think it would work to make a short gate to put in the doorway? He is thinking something framed in wood, with 1/2" welded wire stretched across it, with a board across the top for the birds to hop up on for going in and out. Not sure how high to make it, maybe 3' or so high.

My Guinea just jump over a 6 foot fence

 

[Percheron chick]

Mine can easily fly 15'feet up to get in the rafters. Just buy am automatic pop door. It can run on a timer or light sensor.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Here is a poor picture of my new guineas - or should I say DH's guineas. He has become quite attached to them.

He thinks the white is a female.

 

[gander007]

Here is a poor picture of my new guineas - or should I say DH's guineas. He has become quite attached to them.

He thinks the white is a female.

Oh with all that brush to play in what a life and I bet if the lady's want to make a nest you wont find them

I had to get with in several feet it even see her nest and two weeks to go ...