Guinea Fowl Adult Care and Feeding
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Poultry Housing Guineas
Many people like to allow their guineas to free-range 24/7. Although this is a pleasant thought and provides for easy keeping, owls will typically begin to figure out where the guineas roost and will literally sit next to the resting guinea, push it out of the tree and then feast upon it as a late night snack. Because keets are not inexpensive chicks and it takes a while to raise these birds to maturity, it is recommended you provide shelter for them much as you would your chickens. They will imprint and return to the coop for water and rest in the evening and then happily return to the field in the a.m.
The requirements are much the same as for the chickens except you may want to allow some additional square footage per bird - a minimum of 4 square feet each, for those days when the birds will not be allowed to free-range. It is important that poultry have adequate shelter in their coop to allow them to get to shade and move out of the rain.
Allow the birds to imprint to their home for no less than 14 days before allowing them to free-range. Releasing them sooner may result in the birds not returning.
Housing guinea fowl with chickens is not recommended unless you have only 2 or 3 birds. Guineas are aggressive birds and will bully the chickens. Under most conditions, you should not confine male guineas with chickens if there are roosters in the same flock. When male guineas are housed with roosters full-time, the guineas will chase the roosters, keeping them from food and water. If your flock is allowed to range freely during the day and is locked up only at night, it is safe to keep guineas and roosters in the same barn. It is also safe to house them together in a short-term emergency such as a blizzard or other bad weather.
More ideas for building a guinea coop.
The requirements are much the same as for the chickens except you may want to allow some additional square footage per bird - a minimum of 4 square feet each, for those days when the birds will not be allowed to free-range. It is important that poultry have adequate shelter in their coop to allow them to get to shade and move out of the rain.
Allow the birds to imprint to their home for no less than 14 days before allowing them to free-range. Releasing them sooner may result in the birds not returning.
Housing guinea fowl with chickens is not recommended unless you have only 2 or 3 birds. Guineas are aggressive birds and will bully the chickens. Under most conditions, you should not confine male guineas with chickens if there are roosters in the same flock. When male guineas are housed with roosters full-time, the guineas will chase the roosters, keeping them from food and water. If your flock is allowed to range freely during the day and is locked up only at night, it is safe to keep guineas and roosters in the same barn. It is also safe to house them together in a short-term emergency such as a blizzard or other bad weather.
More ideas for building a guinea coop.
Clipping Wings
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Feeding Adult Guineas
In the wild, guinea fowl and other members of the Galliformes family feed on insects and vegetation and have evolved beaks and feeding patterns to match the geographic regions in which they are found. In domestic poultry situtations such as commercial guinea farms and the casual backyard, individuals should take proper steps to feed guinea fowl the right guinea feed. As noted above with in the Keets Section, guineas need differing types of guinea feed depending on their age.
Ideally we like to allow our birds to free range as much as possible during the day. It's more enjoyable for the birds and they will selectively eat the insects and worms such as grubs and catepillars, thereby helping reduce the number of these pests that might otherwise find their way to our garden. However, there may be times that you will either want, or need to, supplemental feed. This is particuarly true during the colder months when insects are less plentiful. Feed guineas standard poultry layer mash with a protein percentage around 16%. You may choose to use chicken feed or feed intended for other types of poultry species, as some feed stores may not carry specialized gamebird feed. However, guinea fowl must be fed a high protein diet. At all times, provide your guineas with clean, fresh drinking water. This is especially crucial in hot summer seasons. Provide drinking water even if your free range guineas are near a lake or pond. |
Guinea Nesting BoxesIf you are keeping guineas for egg production (for hatching or human consumption), you should provide nest boxes.
Nest boxes designed for chickens are usually acceptable. To reduce the likelihood of hens laying eggs in hidden nests outside, keep guinea hens confined to a hen house until noon each day so that they will lay eggs inside. Many people will say guineas will not lay in nesting boxes, but that's simply not true (see above photo). More nesting box information can be found here. |
Guinea Eggs Facts
- Guinea eggs are a little bit richer than chicken eggs, so you may want to account for this in your cooking. The taste is similar to a bantam chicken egg.
- 2 guinea eggs is the equivalent of one standard chicken egg.
- The egg shells are TOUGH. Crack the eggs on a solid surface. Do not use the side of a fragile bowl.
Egg Laying and Collection
Guineas will usually lay the spring after they are hatched and begin to lay in April or May.
Guinea hens lay approximately two clutches of eggs per year. but do not become broody early in the season. The clutches are typically 20 to 30 eggs.
After the hen has laid about a dozen eggs, she will become broody and stay on her nest. She will also protect her eggs, so bear this in mind when collecting. You may want to wear leather gloves when collecting eggs from a broody guinea hen.
If your are birds are free-ranging, it may be very difficult for you to locate the nest and more than likely the eggs will be past their prime for eating purposes.
Guinea hens lay approximately two clutches of eggs per year. but do not become broody early in the season. The clutches are typically 20 to 30 eggs.
After the hen has laid about a dozen eggs, she will become broody and stay on her nest. She will also protect her eggs, so bear this in mind when collecting. You may want to wear leather gloves when collecting eggs from a broody guinea hen.
If your are birds are free-ranging, it may be very difficult for you to locate the nest and more than likely the eggs will be past their prime for eating purposes.
Predators
Hawks, owls and other birds of prey are the biggest problems for guineas. When you are missing a bird, that's most likely the culprit. Birds of prey learn where to find an easy meal. Sadly, it's also been seen where hawks will simply take the heads off the birds so sport. When this happens, be immediately prepared to keep your birds housed for a week or two - or until you are confident the danger has passed.. Even turning them out while you are supervising them is not 100% effective.
Guineas also have a tendency to wander into roads where they may be hit by vehicles. Be sure to contain your birds securely where ever they may have an opportunity to get themselves into traffic.
More information on predators is available on the Poultry Predators page.
Guineas also have a tendency to wander into roads where they may be hit by vehicles. Be sure to contain your birds securely where ever they may have an opportunity to get themselves into traffic.
More information on predators is available on the Poultry Predators page.
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