Guinea tips

Luca · **Posted:** Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:48 pm

I am considering getting some guinea fowl. At this stage though I don't have time to build a new house for them. I have heard they are quite independant. Could they survive in our orchard without fencing or housing. We have some large mature tree that would provide good cover. Or should I wait until I can provide a safe enclosure?

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Luca, You do need to lock them up for a period when you first buy them. If you buy Keets then a few weeks is all that is needed but if you buy Adults then at least 3 months. Once released to free-roam they don't need fencing or housing/shelter as they will sleep up a tree, but you will need to supply food & water. We have an Article on our Web Site at www.peacocksaustralia.com/GUINEA%20FOWL%20ARTICLE.HTML

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

Luca · **Posted:** Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:57 pm

Thanks PA, good info. If fed an watered how far do they generally roam? Do they scratch much?

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Luca, they can roam quite far particularly in the breeding season but from our experience usually only 500m from food & water. If you have other Poultry then they will stay even closer so they don't miss out on anything (very inquisitive birds). Yes they do scratch around but far less than say Chickens & they are excellent for keeping down Grasshoppers, Ticks, and other pests (not to mention they are great for snake control) We have Tropical Gardens and our Flock do little or no damage infact it is quite the opposite and we rarely have any pest damage to our Plants because of the Guineas.

A great little all rounder!

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

broken bird · **Joined:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:34 pm **Posts:** 125

I totally agree with PA, I own 7 acres and once my flock ventured too far, I could see them only about 700 metres away across a clear, level paddock. But they were lost, crying and carrying on, so I had to call them and wave my arms, so they could come back home.

It was so funny to see them react to seeing me and come running and flying back.

I have also found that the more you have the less noise they make. Most of the noise they make is to find the flock as they are lost. I can have up to 300 at the end of breeding season, you will see them running around in little flocks, and if one stays behind to eat a insect, then another flock is not too far away to join, so no crying.

Because I have an established flock, when I buy new ones, I can release them straight away. Once I released a group of 20 juvenile in front of my shed, instead of behind. The next day, those 20 were lost and crying and were found on top of my neighbours roof. Once re-captured and released behind the shed, were the other guineas were all was OK.

Luca · **Posted:** Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:28 pm

mmm, they sound like interesting creatures. We have 2 acres so unfortunately if they roam 500m they would pass through about 5 of my neighbours blocks, with associated dogs, and disapper over the hill. We do have a lot of ticks though.

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

That would be a problem Luca, we have sold 3 pairs to a couple in NSW that only have 1 acre but they have a 6 ft linkmesh boundry fence and they have not had any problems.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

guineamum · **Posted:** Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:18 pm

We live on 2.5 acres in Nowra NSW and have 5 guinea fowl. They are locked up at night and they free range all day. They never leave our property even though the gate is mostly open and the fences are only 1 metre tall( also they could go threough the wire if they wanted to) I have LOTS of garden and permaculture as well as a native plant boundary. My birds are happy and never bored so they stay home

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