Yam
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by Yam on Nov 3, 2009 14:31:58 GMT 8
Hello all! I've been asked to raise some guinea fowl for a friend. ;D I've raised ducks, chickens, native water fowl and other species, but never guinea fowl. Okay, I have one big mamma LIGHT SUSSEX hen who is a proven mummy. She is quite big and can incubate many chicken eggs, but I want to know HOW MANY EGGS to give her...any ideas? Also, can someone/multiple people give me a rundown on exactly what I need/what I need to know about these little fellas before I get started. Also, what should I expect and look out for? Any information on raising and incubating guineas would be great! thanks, Yam OR would it be better to incubate them myself...?
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Post by fluffychook on Nov 3, 2009 14:56:45 GMT 8
She can sit on a good dozen as she is a big girl. As for the guinea fowl, do you have any idea how N OISY they are? You must be a fantastic friend. Or are you just hatching them? I have never had nor never will have them but there are some who do like cluck n waddle so hopefully she will and others can help you with your queries.
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Sam W
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by Sam W on Nov 3, 2009 20:47:25 GMT 8
hey yam yeah you should get easy 15 or more i have had 12 under a bantam Hahaha um they arnt much different to a chick but dont have your keets in a pen were birds can get at them as i have found they arnt as reliant on there mum and are more open to pray and they will get out of your pen even if there is the littlest hole they may look stupid but never under estimate a guinea fowl Hahaha ive learnt from experience hahaha
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 3, 2009 21:11:17 GMT 8
Guinea fowl eggs are about the same size as a Silkie egg so a Light Sussex would sit on a dozen no worries. Guinea fowl eggs incubate for 28 days. The keets need to be started on Turkey Starter Crumbles not Chick Starter as being wild type birds they need to grow hard and fast. I raise mine on Turkey Starter for the first 6 weeks then switch to Pullet Grower until 12-16 weeks. Word of warning, make sure the mum and chicks are in an enclosed pen as once the little buggers are about 2wks old they can fly like parrots. They are naturally very flighty. They're like little helicopters! Yes, guineas are extremely noisy but only once they find their voices which isnt usually before about 12 weeks.
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Yam
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by Yam on Nov 4, 2009 1:08:32 GMT 8
Oh thanks everyone! Fluffer, the hen is huge! Er, I had considered the noise factor, and am hoping they will be mature enough to go to the farm before the females start their imfamous calling! Cluck & Waddle: so they aren't THAT noisey until around 12weeks eh? So, at what age can they be separated/are 'weaned' from the mamma? If they grow rapidly, I'm hoping this will be around the 3month mark, but I need to make sure they are happily independant from mum when they are taken back to the farm to add to the depleting flock at my friend's house.. Sam W: you reckon she could successfully take around 15? oh good! I have just found another broody hen, so it looks like all 18 eggs are going to mamma hens and not the fridge! yay, I'm so excited! Okay, so I have mealworms (I farm them), turkey crumble, various seed mixes, a baby feeder & water dispensor, a couple of brood pens, a couple of devoted mamma hens and a lot of [hopefully] fertilised eggs. Also, I'll have to adjust the biggest brood hen to ensure the little ones don't excape (thanks Sam and Cluck)
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 4, 2009 10:42:59 GMT 8
Wean them at 6wks. Being a wild type bird they mature pretty quickly. The female call is not the noise problem, thats just irritating. Its the screeching that both sexes do whenever theyre alarmed, separated, hungry, bored, dont like the weather lol The female will start calling at about 9wks, thats usually the best way of sexing them at a young age.
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Sam W
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by Sam W on Nov 4, 2009 18:28:49 GMT 8
haha yeah i think if she is a good mum she should take 15 easy as my bantam took 10 and she is quite small
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Post by mikemurphy on Nov 9, 2009 6:34:53 GMT 8
I have had broody hens sit on a dozen guinea fowl eggs without problems. Even my little silkie cross mum can do that, but she can do anything! Get them away from the broody early as they can attach themselves strongly and think they are chooks. I just feed mine poultry mix, but I do that with all my chicks. I find the Mums prefer the popultry mix and the chicks do what their Mums do. I've tried starter crumbles and various mash recipes but usually end up with bowls of hardly touched waste while all the best bits have been picked out of the poultry mix quick as a wink. Guinea fowl are not so noisy if they are in small groups of two or three. Once they get into a mob they set each other off and can be a pain in the parson's nose. I've found hatching time is usually more 30 days than the 28 it says in the book. Keep them penned, at least at night, if you don't want them flying up into the trees to roost.
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Yam
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by Yam on Nov 13, 2009 20:50:52 GMT 8
"Its the screeching that both sexes do whenever theyre alarmed, separated, hungry, bored, dont like the weather lol" haha Cluck! Oh dear, it sounds as though I should prepare for angsty little buggers then! Thanks everyone and sorry I've taken my time to reply to this thread. Well, I now have five broody hens [the light sussex hen, an isa brown X, a random-breed green-egger, and two RIRs..], so I'm sure that all of the eggs will be be incubated well... haha. It's crazy how the hens choose the same time to go broody en masse! M.M, I think I'll mix up the feed for a while and let the bubs decide on their fav, as you have done. Sam, sounds like your lucky to have such an efficient bantam mamma! I'm pretty sure the five broody hens I have atm will manage the eighteen eggs between them! ;D Hehe! Thanks again! Three weeks (plus or minus a few days)... EEP
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