If you want them tame, get a hen to set on the eggs (guinea eggs) and then as soon as they hatch take them away from the hen to an inside cage (we use an old aquarium) and hand feed them. I use an eye dropper and that grow-gel stuff for chicks for the first three days to a week while introducing them to game bird ration (but sometimes have to force feed them for about a week till they realize they can eat by themselves.) As they get grow and learn about eating other stuff they are excellent for cleaning up rolly pollies (pill bugs, sow bugs) under rocks and border material in flower beds/gardens. Ours will follow me (or whoever is taking them out to eat) around like puppies where ever I go because they know I'm taking'em to the bugs. So cute! We have accidently uncovered scorpions and before we could get them away one would eat the scorpion. It is a funny thing to watch too because it's as if they know the scorpion is harmful - the guinea will dance around and peck and when it finally grabs the scorpion beat it on the ground and then gobble it down. They will live peacefully with the chickens too if you put them in the chicken pen at an early enough age. We still take them out "hunting" though when the weather is good.
BTW, guineas absolutely LOVE broccoli when they are little. Just cut the flower/tops up (according to the size age of the guinea) and they chow down!
My Texas Native Plant Christmas Wonderland.
When you mention, "taking them out", it suggests they dont run free. Where do you keep them?
We have 1/2 acre of our yard fenced off for them (the chickens and guineas are in there together.) We had guineas before these (the parents of the ones we have now) who never were tame even though we got them only a couple days old, and raised them the same, and they roamed the whole fenced in part of the yard (back yard) about 2 acres. But they would find ways to get into the neighbors' yards and were attacked by dogs (they are definately "the grass is greener on the other side" sort when mature.) So these young ones we keep in with the chickens (safer that way.) They have started getting over the chicken fence so it's wing clipping time.
Stephanie....you couldn't keep guineas inside...they would become cat toys!
My Mother had guineas at my sister's house once, but the hawks picked them off one by one.
I have 10 Guineas and they are fun but they make loud noises ALL DAY LONG. They are great "watchdogs" though, they all make a loud, prolonged call when anything gets near the property, including my neighbors horses which have been there forever.
I am late, as usual. Loved the Christmas snow and am LOVING this drenching rain we're having now. Josephine, you are so cute!! :-)
Carla
Hello Carla, that looks so nice !! Good to hear from you.
I am loving the rain, so good for us, but I am bored to tears, oh well that is life.
Sheila, I wouldn't WANT to keep guineas...inside or out!
That snow pic is beautiful Loonie1. So glad we are getting rain this time though - not the "thunderstorms with heavy rain" that the weatherman promised, but drizzle is better than nothing.