guinea info?

we are hatching guinea fowl eggs and we are new to guineas, do u have any tips on how to raise them? are there any diseases we should vaccinate them for? should they be raised with chickens?

There were a lot of threads on guineas earlier this spring. I don't know where they are now. But I'll bump this up in case someone else remembers.

Hello!
I have raised guineas for years. For me they are the most hardy bird and very useful at my home and in my garden. They kill snakes, rats/mice and eat ticks. I live deep in the woods and not one tick have I found on any of my dogs or myself. I have a variety of colors and they are good sellers. I always sell out and have to turn people down. 10.00 for pearl and 15.00 for colors.

They say they are good to eat, but have never eaten one. Mine are close to wild. They will not roost in the hen house and prefer the trees. The way I catch them is either with a fishing net or locate the nest and incubate the eggs myself. They also don't scratch like a chicken in the garden. They just go through it eating bugs like crazy.

Now mine also hate dogs and cats. They attack mine all the time(not bad, just mostly chase them off) The puppies learn quick to stay clear! They even are aggressive towards strange dogs and cats. They do "herd" the chickens a lot. Especially at feeding time.

The only complaint I hear from people are the noise they make. The female makes a "buck wheat" sound and the male is kinda a high pitched sound, but when I hear this at night I know somethings up. Great watch animals. The only ones I have lost to predators are to owls and hens on nests. I added my hound puppies and the hens on nest are doing much better. The owls I can't do anything about. I would never shoot one.

Others may feel different, but I love them and will never be without them. Oh, I know nothing about disease or vaccination for them. The only time I have lost guineas is when they are young and we have a cold snap or a disappearance which I think was an owl or a hen on the nest. As for taming them. I think It's impossible. I have caught them and they will peck you and their beaks are sharp. They have drawn blood on me before. If you have ever watched an African animal show. They are the birds at the feet of the animals.
George

I found very good Guinea info at guineafowl.com

thats cool, ill go there now!:)

I am stunned by George's description of life with guineas--gotta get me some (well maybe not until I get out of this city). Do you eat the eggs, George?

Yes, Cat I have. They are small and the shell is really hard. The yolk is a rich dark color and taste great! I just am greedy and would rather incubate the eggs and sell the birds!
George

I am with George there, their eggs are so much better in the bator.