Re: Questions about Guinea fowl

From: Unicorn (SomeOne_at_Somewhere.net)
Date: 06/23/04 

Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 15:05:13 GMT

"McTavish" <mind@yourown.biz> wrote in message
news:f147cfe8ab52fdd02e6a5d02afba1382@localhost.talkaboutagriculture.com...
> Hi all,
>
> I have some questions about guinea fowl I have been unable to find answers
> to on the internet. Said guineas being my latest craze, much to the
> despair of my wife. Have seen a bunch of stuff on the net about free
> ranging them, and allowing them to fly off and return at night, and so on,
> but if anyone can help me with the following, i'd appreciate it :
>
> Can I keep Guineas in a pen? That is, can I clip their wings to stop them
> from flying off? Will they do well under these circumstances?

They are quite happy in a pen, but without regular live food and LOTS of
Green they tend to not lay very well. There is also the issue of the male
agressivness. In the mating season they spend all their time running after
one another and the hens, until you are not sure is the hens are not laying
because they never get to stand still long enough to get the urge.

>
> Can I keep them with Chickens?

Yes, but again the territorial aggresiveness of the males make life VERY
tough on them. I have seen them kill half grown chicken that simply could
not run anymore.
>
> Are there any good guinea breeders in the UK from whom I can buy (at an
> affordable price) some young birds.

I have NFI

>
> Can I keep more than one *** in the pen, or will a single *** service
> all the hens?

The recommended ratio is arround one *** to 8 hens. Multiple *** birds
just cause more havoc, unless they are running free range. Free range the
ratio appears to be about 3-4 to 1 with the *** standing guard while the
hen lays.
>
> thanks in advance for any info. Am umming and ahing, in that I would love
> to keep Guineas, but that's highly dependant on answers to the above
> questions.

The biggest issue with Guineas, is noise. They never shut up! Make
Peacocks sound very quiet.

They go off as a flock, everytime something new or differant happens. A new
bird, a hawk, a new motor bike for the postman etc.

The funniest thing I ever saw however was the flock trying to go to bed, but
completely unable to go into their run at dark because I had limed it while
they were out. The lime had them standing at the gate with their heads
cocked for about 10 minutes before anyone was game to actually walk on the
stuff.

Matt
>
> mctavish
>