Guinea fowl

[Darwin.]

As something a little different I'd like to add Guineas to my flock at some stage but know very little about them.

Will they mix alright with the chickens or would they need a separate run?

Will they need a similar coop to chickens with a roost and nesting box?

I've never seen their eggs anywhere but I heard you can eat them, has anyone here tried them?

Are they as friendly as the chickens or more wild?

[Guest]

I don't think guinea fowl thrive being enclosed. I think they have to range. I have never kept them or know anyone personally that keeps them. Just gone past a couple of places that rear them. I would definitely recommend doing your homework on this one

I have eaten guinea fowl but like a lot of things I wouldn't miss not eating it ever again.

[fishpond]

Looked into keeping some many years ago, decided they were not for me , I haven't changed my mind since.
If you click on the link and look under Guinea Fowl, it tells you pretty well everything you need to know to base your decision on.
They are noisey!
https://poultrykeeper.com/

[burnie]

I too have looked at keeping them in the past, there's a farm park run by the council near us, they tell me the Guineas make more noise than the donkeys!! Never ate their eggs, but the birds are one of my favourite meats(sorry to any veggies).

[Darwin.]

I'm not keen on too much noise myself and with a rooster already, the neighbours might not appreciate it. That's a useful link up there, it covers geese and ducks too, they're my other options.

[Nicos]

Yeh...very noisy.
There is a guinea fowl farm not far from us and you can hear them from miles away!

There are 2 types...one is more friendly than the other.

Roitelet has kept them...might be worth asking her?

[Nicos]

Are you wanting them for eggs or meat?...geese etc?

[Nicos]

Hmmm...I've just remembered...I have 4frozen ones in the freezer....must get them out...ever so yummy! ( sorry veggies)

[Darwin.]

Mostly for entertainment. I'd eat duck eggs and have eaten goose eggs in the past but I'll have my chickens for eggs. The others are for something to do and I think it's good for our 5 year old to have animals around the house.

[roitelet]

Yeh...very noisy.
There is a guinea fowl farm not far from us and you can hear them from miles away!

There are 2 types...one is more friendly than the other.

Roitelet has kept them...might be worth asking her?

It was quail that I kept and wouldn't bother again. Guinea fowl as I understand are noisy and flighty so never tried them.

[Nicos]

Oooops! It was indeed!
* such a rubbish memory!

[Nicos]

And it's quail I have defrosting.....

[Guest]

^^^LOL, not much difference (good job I already finished my cuppa )

[mothhawk]

I've kept guinea fowl with bantams, they were actually hatched under one of my broodies, so got on quite happily with them. Yes, they can be noisy, but only when something disturbs them, so they make great watchdogs - you will always know if there are strangers about.

For about the first 8 months or so they slept quite happily in with the banties, but after that, once they became independent of Mum, bearing in mind all my birds had free run of an acre of garden and paddock with fields at the back (sigh,those were lovely days), they preferred to roost outside either in the trees or along the ridge of the henhouse, and when they've made their choice you can't persuade them inside. They all slept out even in the frost and snow of winter.

They tend to stick together, all foraging as a flock, as opposed to hens who will wander off on their own. They occasionally laid eggs in the henhouse, but mostly I had to search for them. They taste just the same as hens eggs. They were fed the same as the banties, which was straight wheat any kitchen scraps, plus all their eggshells back, and whatever they found in the garden/compost heap/paddock.

Of course, they are seasonal layers, unlike hens.

I loved keeping them.

[Scarlet]

The farm next door tried several times to keep a few. They just let them roam....always in my garden! I didn't think they were any noisier than my turkeys! Though as Mothhawk has said, it was very difficult to get them in at night. They generally lasted 6months or less here before getting picked off by the fox as they insisted sleeping out.
They aren't friendly like chickens either