Keeping Guinea Fowl with Chickens 9 Things You Must Know

[@valid421]

I have raised x6 keets with silkies of the same age. They all stick together, with the silkies thinking they are guinea fowl 😂 they are the funniest most endearing birds, I just love them ❤️

[@OldManMuskrat]

I bought 13 of them and kept them in my backyard in town while I prepared things around my little farm outside of town. Once they got their adult voices it was shocking how loud they were and for a couple weeks you could hear them all over town. They followed us around like puppies and once they had a proper home on the farm they were great predator alarms and just cool critters to have around

[@davis4555]

We had these guys growing up. We had a large farm and all the chickens and guineas were free range. They seems to get along, but preferred to keep to their own kind if given the choice. They really are LOUD. Our neighbors had given them to us telling us they were good at spotting snakes, and perhaps they were, but they spotted everything else, too, and wouldn't stop screaming. I still love them, but you need A LOT of land to make them work. They were louder than the roosters and called more often. One would start and the whole flock joins in, so it isn't ever just one calling; it's always a screaming party.

[@SLC259]

I just LOVE my Guinea Fowl! I have 4 that I was able to coop train. My Guineas have been raised with my ducks since day 1 as keets. My ducks and chickens and Guinea all live together in harmony! I've fed all my birds chicken feed and they're all doing great. I have 1 male and 3 female. They get along great with all the things on the farm. They're the coolest birds I own!! LOVE my Jerry and Phyllis girls 😂 They even went Rouge and hatched 10 babies this year... only one survived

[@lefthandedleprechaun8702]

Ive had guineas most of my life so the noise never really bothered me, i feed them very little storebought feed, they are pefectly capable of fending for themselves if they have enough land, they also dont dig holes or scratch like chickens, They get along pretty well with chickens and can handle the heat in my part of Texas.

[@donnastormer9652]

It was really fun to watch your video on guinea fowl! Thank you for putting this out! I have a small flock of guineas for several years I started out with 12, knowing I would end up with five or six because as soon as the female sat on nest, I knew that raccoons would get them so yes, I have a small flock of all males. When they were small Keats, I rang a cowbell every time I fed them to habituate them to the noise. They are about five years old and free range as far as a half a mile away, but if they are in hearing distance when I ring that cowbell, they start making a noise and come running because they know they’ll get their corn. I have them primarily to keep ticks off of my property, but they are a joy to watch. They are very wild, but they do come home 2 to 3 times a day to eat and drink I would never be without guinea fowl. So many health problems could be solved if county parks would put a flock of guineas in the park to kill ticks and small snakes they take care of themselves that’s for sure.

[@sir_marlfox]

I heard they don't really prefer corn.

[@donnastormer9652]

@@sir_marlfox that’s funny that’s all mine will eat. I tried giving them scratch and they picked through and only ate the corn so I just started buying them cracked corn. I think it’s just their daily treat because of course they eat off of nature of the rest of the time and now that the weather is getting warmer there’s a lot of bugs out there so they’ll only come in and eat a tiny bit before they go to bed in the cedar tree next to my house.

[@rosieemdey3498]

I'd be miserable without guineas! I've recently rescued 6 😊young ones. They were terrified+ very thin. They're settling in with my 6 chickens + 1 peacock They rarely make a sound. I hope that changes. I did a female for a moment at dawn. They all live in a very large aviary ❤

[@scroungyredneck936]

Spring of 2022 I had 4 wild guinea keets show up at my place they took up with me follow me around like pup dogs go out the gate when I do when they get tired of roaming around they come back to gate and head back around hen house . One in particular considers me his brother I throw bits of bread to him and he catches it in the air like a dog would with treats . They been sitting on eggs thru this extreme Texas heat and 4th of July weekend hatch over a dozen little ones . The noise don’t bother me I hope it bothers my neighbors cause they are stupider than these birds ever have been I suspect they showed up here due to my chickens and probably knew there’d be food . I’m disabled and use a golf cart to get around my property on they follow me everywhere. I call em the goof troops . Funniest birds I ever seen

[@Jesussavestheonelost]

😂

[@Jesussavestheonelost]

That is hilarious, you just sold me on my decision to get some

[@lonesome_crowded_life]

Yasssss our neighbors are not nice humans, I can’t wait for the keets to get big enough to annoy them (I say this with a humorous good-natured spirit, I’m not just a jerk)

[@vasanthbenjamin]

More than keeping the Guineas I loved the way you put through this video and the script you took on. Was laughing all the way how you described them. Sounds like fun keeping them, and I think I for sure will.

[@sy01mamabear83]

My grandmother would get a pair of guinea fowl as chicks, and they would be the guards of the whole flock. Had several sets of them over a decade. Not for if you have close neighbors, because they are noisy. My grandma had several acres in her yard, and then the guineas would also forage with the chickens on the edge of the woods where we used to live. Dinosaur running around. They are very independent.

[@thehappychickencoop6460]

Yes they are, independent and they unfortunately will venture off farther than I'd like them to lol

[@kyliec9602]

Great video, lots of good info. Our G-F & chickens get on really well. They are housed together & come back each afternoon. We don’t find the G-F noisy unless they are warning us of something. The G-F have done an amazing job of managing ticks through the La Niña we just went through in SE Australia. Love the G-F!!!

[@jbdjessa2]

Could you raise chick's and keets in the same brooder? Could you feed them the same food, if so what? Thanks in advance!

[@smadcore]

I'm seriously gonna throttle he one that has the 'every thing is OK' alarm outside my bedroom window at 5 AM.

[@diwilliams2960]

My grandparents had guineas and I love their eggs for breakfast!!

[@SuperCaptbob]

Thanks a lot Bob Laos good vidéo more more more Bob In Laos😊

[@tabithablankenship6214]

I just recently bought me some guineas to keep with my chickens

[@Chickenmom777]

Phenomenal! Thank you for this educational video

[@shawndonnelly862]

We have four guinea fowl and four chickens. Everything said in the video is accurate. Our guineas stay home pretty well, but do roam to the neighbor's house where they were originally from. However, they are well acclimated. to their new surroundings. That is probably because we treat them like pets and sit out in the yard with them. They also do well with our chickens, pit bull, and cats. I do put them in the coop, however when the weather is really bad. I didn't know anything about them until ours moved in. One recently had babies in the brush but because we watch them so closely I had kept an eye on the nest. We had 100 percent survival of all the keets. But like the video said, they are not good mothers so we kept them in a box in a heated bathroom until they could be adopted out. They are well worth there trouble of keeping them.

[@jbdjessa2]

Could you raise chick's and keets in the same brooder? Could you feed them the same food, if so what? Thanks in advance!

[@druthomas7157]

My guineas and chickens were together from the start they loved each other the guineas taught one roo to fly. Theit names were George,Lester and their band of goons.

[@jbdjessa2]

Could you raise chick's and keets in the same brooder? Could you feed them the same food, if so what? Thanks in advance!

[@dawnvalfre]

⁠​⁠@@jbdjessa2yes you can raise them together, in fact the guineas will do better if they have chicks to show them how/where to eat and drink. I prefer a Gamebird crumble, never feed medicated foods. Guineas also require heat for longer than chicks, they are very susceptible to chilling and dying

[@jbdjessa2]

@@dawnvalfre this is helpful, thanks! So does this mean you'll feed a gamebird feed to the chickens as well? Pretty difficult to keep it separate without keeping all birds also separate. As adults, do you feed the same food, if so what? Ty

[@dawnvalfre]

@@jbdjessa2yes I typically feed all my chicks gamebird starter anyway we don’t use medicated food. Once they are all big enough to free range they will eat layer pellets (I think 16%) and lots of bugs, I do teach mine to all come in for treats when I call. We use “chicken crack” ie scratch grains in very small quantities it is like candy

[@Haddley333]

One time I thought my lawnmower was going to hell because I heard this grinding noise. I was relieved that one of our hens decided to panic over the lawnmower even though I was almost done with the lawn lol. They always make me laugh and aren't loud at night.

[@OswaldoJimenez-f9s]

How can you tell the difference male and female

[@mattharp5090]

Great video! Absolutley rolling - "and do other suicidal thungs". 😂😂😂

[@janvanaardt3773]

Here in South Africa is two kinds of guinea fowl the wild type and domesticated type

[@migjtyalfie4501]

love love love my gamebird they are so smart and loyal

[@Patrick-sh5qv]

Your video is very informative. Thank you.

[@donnastormer9652]

Another interesting fact about my small flock of guineas is even though they are wild I do have egg laying chickens, as well as I raise butcher chickens, and when my chickens are free, ranging the guineas will come in and mingle with them with no problems whatsoever they have accepted each other very well. And if a guinea fowl gets wounded, it actually stays with the chickens in the chicken run. It’s quite interesting. This is some thing they did on their own and it’s a habit I adore.

[@jbdjessa2]

Could you raise chick's and keets in the same brooder? Could you feed them the same food, if so what? Thanks in advance!

[@donnastormer9652]

@@jbdjessa2 absolutely you can and just feed them a good high-quality chick starter. It will suffice and you’ll have a much greater chance of your guineas sticking close to home by doing so just remember, though every time you feed them ring some kind of like a cowbell and they will habituate to that bell so if they do go feral just ring the bell and they will come running for their little treats.

[@jbdjessa2]

@@donnastormer9652 thanks for your response. I will get a bell! Did you do this even when in the brooder, or once they were in a coop altogether at the time you would feed the birds? Do you think a specific protein content is preferred for the first 4 weeks? When they're older, have you had to snip one wing on your keets, or perhaps you've had coop-training-success whereby you haven't needed to? Thank you!

[@donnastormer9652]

@@jbdjessa2 18 to 22 percent protein, start ringing the bell once they are out of the brooder and only each time you feed or clean the water. Always clip both wings before it’s needed. Hope that helps

[@jbdjessa2]

@@donnastormer9652 I very much appreciate your advice! Thank you! 😊

[@slockywush04]

Can guinea hens lay eggs on their own or do they require a male for that?

[@falconcorban4128]

Did not know Guineas could be difficult to keep. Anytime I've gotten some they always stay in the yard mostly, they'd wander, but not far and they don't mind following the chickens into the coop and haven't been to mean with the chickens.

[@sir_marlfox]

Do you know what breed?

[@jbdjessa2]

Could you raise chick's and keets in the same brooder? Could you feed them the same food, if so what? Thanks in advance!

[@NicoleEivissa]

Just the EXACT video I needed, thanks! I have a new interest now hahaha!

[@ms.r9000]

Another great video! We're starting our homestead from square 1 so we will be building a coop for both but realizing the Guineas will probably do their own thing regardless. Is it better to get chicks first and get them to say 4-8 weeks then add 2-4 week old keets, get the keets first then add chicks a few weeks later, or get both chicks and keets of roughly the same age at the same time? Thanks for such informative videos.

[@Healthypersuasian]

Would like to know this too

[@jbdjessa2]

Did you ever figure out the answer to these great questions? 😊 Also - Could you raise chick's and keets in the same brooder? Could you feed them the same food, if so what? Thanks in advance!

[@ms.r9000]

@@jbdjessa2 I never got an answer but did a LOT of research in the meantime. We have 15 assorted fancy keets arriving in 11 days and are so excited! We decided to go with Guineas first because the ticks are so thick around here and we don't want to have to repeat the expensive ($300) spraying of nasty chemicals again this year. The Guineas will have their own special coop built in and around the remains of a tree where they can roost in branches and have a large area enclosed with wire to be safe from predators when they're old enough to go outside. They'll have free-run of the yards and gardens during the day and be in the coop at night or when we're out of town. Chick will be added in a couple of months and will have their own coop and "tractor". Keets need a different starter feed than chicks so it seemed logical to raise each species separately and at different times so we can spend more time with them as they grow.

[@jbdjessa2]

@@ms.r9000 thank you so much for taking the time to reply! 😊 I'm excited for your keets! I'm sure they will be wonderful! We did something similar. We got 15 various chickens to start about 4 weeks ago and now we have 5 keets coming in 2 weeks. The ticks here are BAD as well, and we are excited to have a solution that will make us and them happy! 😊

[@ms.r9000]

@@jbdjessa2 We received 16 "assorted, fancy" keets on 5/30 and are enjoying watching how quickly they grow. We're handling them several times a day and visit them frequently during the day and evening. On 2 separate occasions we took a tick we found and squished to see if they would devour it and had success with the 2nd one today. Once one found it and started pecking at it 2 others came over and there was a tussle over it - yeah! Even at just 6 days old they're running, starting to jump and quite entertaining. We'll see what the noise level is in a few months and may opt to relocate the coop farther from the house as we're going to train them to return to it in the evenings for safety. As soon as they're in the outside coop in 7 weeks we're getting chicks for fresh eggs and meat for us and our pets. There's always something new on the homestead. Good luck and enjoy your chicks and keets!

[@diwilliams2960]

I heard that either males or females are not as loud. Does anyone know which is easier on the ears!

[@angelagravlin9511]

I have 2 guineas a male and a female, they are sweet I can usually pet them, but my male just started attacking 2 of my chickens.... they were raised with my chickens, they are all the same age....

[@OswaldoJimenez-f9s]

How can you tell from male and female

[@maryfoust970]

The female cones hang down and the males cones look like a baseball gloves

[@euclideszoto997]

These Guinea fowl eat a lot of ticks. That's what great about them.

[@Volsby90]

About to get my first flock. I’ve raised chickens for years looking forward to guineas, how long would you keep them in a coop before free ranging them?

[@donnastormer9652]

I kept mine in a coop for the first 6 months and habituated them to a cowbell when I fed them every day. At the time I did not have chickens so the day that I turned them loose, they never came back to the coop. They roosted in a cedar tree near my home and five years later that’s where they end up every single night. I hear that if you raise them along with chickens, they will go back into the coop at night with the flock.

[@Volsby90]

@@donnastormer9652 appreciate the advice

[@jbdjessa2]

​@@Volsby90 did you have much luck? What was your experience with them? Do you happen to know if you can put keets and chick's in the same brooder or give them the same feed?

[@Volsby90]

@@jbdjessa2 ended up finding adults and so far so good. Gonna let them free range in a couple of months ready to see how that goes

[@marklacasse6794]

Hilarious! Super helpful

[@renzbay123]

I swear every team reps is on goes god mode.

[@michaelcarlton9571]

Are these birds loud from the beginning or does it start at a certain age? I was thinking about adding some to my backyard small flock. But the goal would be to keep only one for egg laying and to harvest the others around 3-5 months of age. Are they already loud birds before then?

[@OldManMuskrat]

They get really loud at 8 or 9 weeks when they get their adult voices.

[@mattieclark5235]

I have a 6 week old keet that has a crooked foot its turned in. I did have it splitted till yesterday. it was slipped for a week. The keet gets around ok, so I don't know rather to split it again or just let it stay the way it is. Whats your thought?

[@dawnvalfre]

I’d keep it splinted

[@EliHeffernan-jv1jp]

Chickens are in the wild. There known as Jungle fowl, and I'm pretty sure they can fly for a bit.

[@roblena7977]

If you want guineas this video is a great introduction. Personally I love them, sleep on the basket ball hoop

[@thehappychickencoop6460]

Thank you for the compliment!

[@soxfan]

keeping a nite lite in the coop, does that bother the chickens?

[@LARB-j1y]

This was helpful

[@thehappychickencoop6460]

Glad you liked it!

[@deleo2541]

How do you raise them with chicks when they can’t be fed the same medicated food chicks eat

[@genericyoutubeuser8957]

Don't use the medicated feed. I just feed game bird starter to all of my chicks in that flock.

[@GibblizSmall]

Do they eat Colorado potato beetles?

[@lauriephillips4286]

cant you clip the wings so they dont fly? I ended up having to on some of my chickens

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

Only clip 1 wing

[@benthenormalone4156]

If you have rats problems in a week it's all done, they'll run like crazy because of the noise the birds make.

[@thstorvik]

Does anyone have experience keeping them in cold climates? I know they are african natives, so im sure they prefer hotter climates. I’m in Norway, so lots of rain and cold days, but during the summer lots of ticks!😓 would love to have a predator for nasty insects

[@jw4879]

Guineas do just fine in cooler climates where it snows. I've had them for years and the only time I have had one die is in the summer! The chicken coop is not heated either. Got down to -20F last winter. Never even had them get frost bite, whereas several of my chicken roosters have.

[@gregzeigler3850]

I tried guinea fowls twice. The author of this video is correct. They are dumber than door knobs. The first set, I let run free and in less than a month, I had none. The second set, I ran with my chickens in an enclosed area. One Ohio winter, we had snow that melted with heavy rains. All the chickens stayed on the roost. ALL the guineas flew head fist into the icy cold water killing them all. Stupid animals. If one wants a "guard bird", that is tough as nails, get White Chinese geese. Oh, and cold water doesn't affect them.

[@thehappychickencoop6460]

Thanks for the tip! I'll check them out. What are your thoughts on the Sebastopol geese? We just did a video on them if you'd like to check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJaplXidpNCkbcU

[@gregzeigler3850]

@@thehappychickencoop6460 Can't say. Never raised any of them. Seems to me, the feathers of them might be a an issue. That's just an observation, not any kind of facts I know.

[@kms409]

Not to be a douche but maybe they're not dumb....just not meant to be put up in the frigid weather? I personally would not make an animal from Africa live in the Midwest. Kind of inhumane

[@gregzeigler3850]

@@kms409 No, they are dumber than a box of rocks. Then second time I tried them, in summer time, they didn't survive...

[@yankingtv8710]

I wouldn’t say they are stupid these birds doesn’t belong in these regions where you have snow and man made structures around

[@infiniterecycler]

In case anyone thinking about getting guineas reads this: video touched on it some, but not enough. If you spend much time outside anywhere close to them(our chickens and guineas free range in the day time), they will drive you nuts with the noise! We had 4. Something had to give, so we slaughtered 3. The one by itself has been no problem. Alarm birds? No, they cry wolf ALL DAY LONG!

[@thehappychickencoop6460]

Good input! Thank you for your experience!

[@WorkHardBeNice]

Sounds like you should have researched a bit more.

[@Drcssmc]

This comment is a relief. My daughter talked me into the lone guinea keet at the store when were getting a replacement chick.

[@infiniterecycler]

@@Drcssmc I feel obliged to let you know that after about two to three weeks of the lone guinea, it went back to its old loud bossy behavior. Chasing my chickens away from feed so had to separate at feeding time. Suffice it to say it made its way to the slaughter shed. All is at peace now

[@Latino_Burrito]

@@infiniterecycler LMAOOOO damn man poor guys never stood a chance did they at least taste good?

[@Renee94015]

How do differentiate male from female Guinea Fowl?

[@hexane8]

Ask them their pronouns.

[@dawnvalfre]

The female has a one syllable call the has a two syllable call.

[@Spankydoodle]

Can they cross breed?

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

No

[@fridabawa2466]

I want to know about guinea chicken

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

Not a chicken. Like duck isn't a chicken

[@TheFrogfeeder]

My neighbors have a donkey, my other neighbors have a couple hundred fighting type roosters, we all have ticks… I just added half a dozen French guineas to an order chickens I have… The neighbors are lucky I’m not getting peafowl…!

[@richardhatfield915]

Thank all of you for your comments. I will try 10.😂

[@migjtyalfie4501]

your so wrong . i have one they sound like a dinosaur nobody even knows what the hell it is it’s such a cool sound !!!!! mine was found in a stairwell half clipped wing - mine is so smart he goes back into his pen he’s in love with my ducks he’s in love with my chickens - people who leave them so loose are idiots -

[@bertdesantis]

3:40 is the sterile female offspring still capable of laying eggs?

[@thehappychickencoop6460]

Good question, maybe someone in our community has done it. I personally haven't tried it. After doing some research, it would appear that they might be able to it just depends on WHY the hybrids are sterile. The female offspring SHOULD still grow reproductive organs. Maybe you can ask a breeder

[@jw4879]

@@thehappychickencoop6460 No, and they usually die early.

[@ahvc6180]

I'll keep my chickens only.

[@javierhillier4252]

They look like mini cassowaries

[@SPM-tm1ti]

Silly narrator guy…What’s not so smart is calling birds that can survive on their own, can find their own food, breed and can keep their species going without human dependency “not so smart”

[@uncledenis2]

Guineas look so beautiful with good meat but are not friendly. My guineas keep flying away at the slightest threat

[@AManofSpirit]

My pot property 😋 🙊

[@AManofSpirit]

Really helpful information 👌 no disrespect intended.

[@geigertec5921]

I had Guinea Fowl but a wolf got them.

[@danamartin8286]

Just too noisey!!!

[@jackbroadway7241]

can you talk anymore nonstop?

[@fridabawa2466]

Don't want to know about fowl.

[@maleficent3333]

Me, smartas, bought ginis with out any knowledge, had 0 issues or troubles, then after 3 years learned they are apparently difficult and problematic XD

[@azsunburns]

One male to 5 females is not monogomy 😂😂

[@jw4879]

Quite right. However if you have a large flock, they will pair up exclusively. The odd hen out will call for a mate, and the odd male out will be chased around by the other males.