Comments on: Guinea Hens http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html simplicity, creativity, self-sufficiency,...minivans Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:47:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Maven Koesler http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-4813 Maven Koesler Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:11:27 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-4813 Guineas don't do well with neighbors as a rule. The hens' alarm call (which they use constantly) sounds like a squeaky screen door slamming...over and over and over ad infinitum. That said, we have free range guineas roaming our old hometown (pop. under 2000). They do what I call, "Cricket Patrol" in front of the post office and library. The lady who "owned" them passed away last year, and they continue to thrive and raise chicks in the abandoned lots and local gardens despite stray cats and dogs (and opossums, owls, and 'coons in town) The population seems to stay around a constant 15 to 20 birds. I think the neighbors throw out leftovers for them, and I know they raid dog and catfood bowls when available. Few folks seem to mind them, but they do spread out and make noise in different areas rather than in one backyard. I look forward to starting them next year out here on the farm. I don't mind the noise - my peacocks are louder. I am waiting to order until the second and third goat paddocks are finished. My yard dog (Anatolian ShepardxLab) cannot resist free range chooks and carries them around until they have a heart attack. The "lab" is strong within him. ;-) But he has seemed to have gotten the raccoons respect. They avoid the chicken house now. I will let the guineas 'range with the does next summer. Guineas don’t do well with neighbors as a rule. The hens’ alarm call (which they use constantly) sounds like a squeaky screen door slamming…over and over and over ad infinitum.
That said, we have free range guineas roaming our old hometown (pop. under 2000). They do what I call, “Cricket Patrol” in front of the post office and library. The lady who “owned” them passed away last year, and they continue to thrive and raise chicks in the abandoned lots and local gardens despite stray cats and dogs (and opossums, owls, and ‘coons in town) The population seems to stay around a constant 15 to 20 birds. I think the neighbors throw out leftovers for them, and I know they raid dog and catfood bowls when available.
Few folks seem to mind them, but they do spread out and make noise in different areas rather than in one backyard.
I look forward to starting them next year out here on the farm. I don’t mind the noise – my peacocks are louder. I am waiting to order until the second and third goat paddocks are finished. My yard dog (Anatolian ShepardxLab) cannot resist free range chooks and carries them around until they have a heart attack. The “lab” is strong within him. ;-) But he has seemed to have gotten the raccoons respect. They avoid the chicken house now.
I will let the guineas ‘range with the does next summer.

]]> By: Ivory Soap http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1507 Ivory Soap Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:40:46 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1507 So sorry to be the bearer of bad news....but the guineas are no more. Mama fed them wrong and they didn't take it very well. So sorry to be the bearer of bad news….but the guineas are no more. Mama fed them wrong and they didn’t take it very well.

]]> By: Monkeyfister http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1436 Monkeyfister Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:44:37 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1436 Deborah-- I'm just over in Brighton! If you want to trade seeds, eggs, surplus veggies, or any fruits of our labor, I'd be happy to meet-up with you! There are just too few like-minded, good people in this area. I'm busy helping three of my neighbors keep their first gardens, which I helped to make, growing healthily, and I am working on a Central Tipton County Food Bank with a local non-denom church who want to feed anybody and everyone in need. Busy, busy, busy, but never too busy! I'm glad to meet someone from my area here1 --mf Deborah–

I’m just over in Brighton!

If you want to trade seeds, eggs, surplus veggies, or any fruits of our labor, I’d be happy to meet-up with you! There are just too few like-minded, good people in this area.

I’m busy helping three of my neighbors keep their first gardens, which I helped to make, growing healthily, and I am working on a Central Tipton County Food Bank with a local non-denom church who want to feed anybody and everyone in need. Busy, busy, busy, but never too busy!

I’m glad to meet someone from my area here1

–mf

]]> By: Janelle http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1265 Janelle Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:07:24 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1265 We've been raising 15 of them and they're now 4 weeks old. My husband is building a shed for them to roost in once we move them outdoors. They've been trying to fly already in the dog kennel we converted into their first 'home'. After two weeks we gave them branches to roost on so they'd stop jockeying to be the one on top of the waterer. Good luck! We’ve been raising 15 of them and they’re now 4 weeks old. My husband is building a shed for them to roost in once we move them outdoors. They’ve been trying to fly already in the dog kennel we converted into their first ‘home’. After two weeks we gave them branches to roost on so they’d stop jockeying to be the one on top of the waterer. Good luck!

]]> By: deborah http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1243 deborah Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:25:13 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1243 Wow, i have been thinking about guinea's too. Dont want too many because of the noise, but definately something i will look into. And Monkeyfister i'm in Arlington! Wow, i have been thinking about guinea’s too. Dont want too many because of the noise, but definately something i will look into. And Monkeyfister i’m in Arlington!

]]> By: ed hardy http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1227 ed hardy Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:37:30 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1227 I'm very happy to see it. Thanks. I’m very happy to see it. Thanks.

]]> By: Monkeyfister http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1223 Monkeyfister Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:14:10 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1223 Atoka? Atoka,OK, ot Atoka, TN? If you're near Atoka, TN, then, heck, we're practically neighbors. Hmmm... rainbarrels, chicks... Sounds like the dude across from the Tipton dump. Anyhoo-- If we're nearby each other, I'd be happy to barter veggies and seeds with you. --mf Atoka?

Atoka,OK, ot Atoka, TN?
If you’re near Atoka, TN, then, heck, we’re practically neighbors. Hmmm… rainbarrels, chicks… Sounds like the dude across from the Tipton dump.

Anyhoo– If we’re nearby each other, I’d be happy to barter veggies and seeds with you.

–mf

]]> By: Lindsay http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1211 Lindsay Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:58:03 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1211 OK, remember me? The girl you keep reading my mind? And happen to be posting articles about everything I need to know about homesteading? Yeah, you did it again. I was at a gardening class today lamenting about the fact that I have bugs and I can't let the chickens in the garden. Someone mentioned guinea's and I thought, yeah right, they'll do the same thing. Thanks for clearing that up. Guess I need to order some of those. They'll replace the 7 chicks we lost to heat and fill out our brood nicely (will make 35, YIKES!). And just so you know, you can continue to read my mind.... OK, remember me? The girl you keep reading my mind? And happen to be posting articles about everything I need to know about homesteading? Yeah, you did it again. I was at a gardening class today lamenting about the fact that I have bugs and I can’t let the chickens in the garden. Someone mentioned guinea’s and I thought, yeah right, they’ll do the same thing. Thanks for clearing that up. Guess I need to order some of those. They’ll replace the 7 chicks we lost to heat and fill out our brood nicely (will make 35, YIKES!). And just so you know, you can continue to read my mind….

]]> By: JavaLady http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1198 JavaLady Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:42:07 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1198 These babies are sooo gosh darned CUTE !! I want some !! Having chickens is adicting. I already have 5 who should start laying eggs next month and now I want some guineas! They make super-uber cute teensy tiny eggs. These tiny eggs taste great. I've eaten many of them. The kids go bonkers for the tiny eggs during an easter egg hunt. Yaaay for YOU!!! These babies are sooo gosh darned CUTE !! I want some !! Having chickens is adicting. I already have 5 who should start laying eggs next month and now I want some guineas! They make super-uber cute teensy tiny eggs. These tiny eggs taste great. I’ve eaten many of them. The kids go bonkers for the tiny eggs during an easter egg hunt. Yaaay for YOU!!!

]]> By: tiffany http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/07/guinea-hens.html/comment-page-1#comment-1197 tiffany Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:54:01 +0000 http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/?p=1326#comment-1197 Goats and chickens! Your backyard must be the cutest thing ever. Goats and chickens! Your backyard must be the cutest thing ever.

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