Guineas as alarms

4498 Views 18 Replies 12 Participants Last post by nailladi, Apr 28, 2013

ChickenAdmin

Discussion Starter · Jun 22, 2012

A close friend of mine raised guineas when we were kids. I was talking to him the other day and he said they made great alarms. Does anyone use them for this purpose?

He said they would roost in trees then if anything went by they would make a ton of noise.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Sundancers

· #2 · Jun 22, 2012

I did not get mine for that reason, but I did find it to be true.

If anyone was at near our gate the greese would start then the guineas followed by the dogs.

Keith

· #3 · Jun 22, 2012

Someone I know calls his guineas his "******* alarm"

Sundancers

· #4 · Jun 23, 2012

Keith said:
Someone I know calls his guineas his "******* alarm"

"******* alarm" ~ I like that ... lol

JoeR

· #5 · Jun 25, 2012

My Mom said that guinea hens were better alarms than dogs.
JoeR

kilagirl

· #6 · Jun 26, 2012

We used to raise them. But even though we live 15 miles in the country and no not in a fancy neighborhood. The neighbors hate them. I used to raise them years ago though. And I did enjoy them. But we did have a problem with them roosting out in the trees at night. And that was OWLS. Then will get on a limb between the bird and the tree trunk. And kind of scare them till they take off then grab them in the air and kill them.
But even so if the neighbors would not mind I would have them now.

ChickenAdmin

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 26, 2012

JoeR said:
My Mom said that guinea hens were better alarms than dogs.
JoeR

Maybe, but not at all a deterrent.

Do they just start clucking and not stop till the thing that intruded has gone away?

Sundancers

· #8 · Jun 26, 2012

Austin said:
Maybe, but not at all a deterrent.

Do they just start clucking and not stop till the thing that intruded has gone away?

Well, yes and no on the deterrent. I've watched more than one dog tuck and run with a guinea on his heels. They are very loud and not really a cluck ... The female sounds more like buck-wheat (over and over again) and the male is different from them.

They will stop calling once they feel safe or the group is back together.

Darkhairmama

· #9 · Jul 24, 2012

I change the water everyday. If anything they get dirt in it from their dirt baths.

MariaElena

· #10 · Jul 24, 2012

We have 3 guinea hens & 1 male guinea, and other than their being very entertaining to watch, they have been great "alarms". The slightest noise at night, or a stray dog (or big bird) around the coop is quickly spotted and we are warned. Ours live in run with netting overhead, so they do not perch on trees; they have a perch stand made of branches which we incorporated into the run area. They have blended in very well with our chickens, and make sure everyone is safe when let out for the daily supervised free-range in the evenings. The neighbors have been more curious than bothered by the noise.... they are REALLY loud birds! Overall, they have made for an interesting, and entertaining, addition to our feathered flock.

thewhisperingoaks

· #11 · Dec 19, 2012 (Edited)

We have 12 guineas and they keep an eye on everything, here they are checking out some deer in our yard.

artsy1

· #12 · Dec 19, 2012

we have 8 guineas- 3rd generation- yes, good alarms, and mine are semi tame- if they feel treatened they will cut loose yelling, much louder than a chicken- as they get older and learn what is a threat they don't go off as much- they will eliminate rats, mice, snakes- and are wonderful to watch- they will start fussing and expect me to come check what they have found- i wouldn't recommend them if you are close to neighbors or a busy road-

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toybarons

· #13 · Dec 19, 2012

When I do shows, my poultry class is usually righ next to guineas. I have a friend who also shows and he brings his guineas. No matter where you are, even outside the building, you can hear those guineas. They have no off switch. They constantly call. The pigeon fanciers hold their shows with poultry and a pigeon or two always managed to get out. The guineas are the first ones that let you know "Hey something's flying around!" My friend tells me there isn't anything that happens on his property that the guineas don't know about.

Guineas don't cluck like a chicken. They are also much louder than a chicken. A guinea can sound off without coming up for air. They can just go on & on. I suggest that if you have close neighbours that you might want to consider how they would take to the noise. Not everyone appreciates the guineas call.

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toybarons

· #14 · Dec 19, 2012

@ artsy1 - LOVE that guinea picture. Did you take that?

artsy1

· #15 · Dec 19, 2012

toybarons said:
@ artsy1 - LOVE that guinea picture. Did you take that?

yep- those are one of the pairs from this year- so they still get upset when a leaf falls...

i hope to do a portrait from that photo soon- i just love their faces!

expertnewbie

· #16 · Mar 11, 2013

The yellow one looks like a Buff Orpington to me.

nailladi

· #17 · Mar 21, 2013

Hello, nice to hear from other guinea folks.. I am in North Georgia and I live way back in the woods, can not imagine the poor neighbors if I was not so far from everyone. I have 17 guineas in the yard, woods and everywhere else they want to go. No bugs tho! I also have 22 in coops getting ready to make more soon I hope. If anyone is looking to sell special colors I need some mates for a few. Willing to trade to match up pairs. See my facebook page Haney's Hatchery if you are interested in pictures.
God Bless,
Carole

thewhisperingoaks

· #18 · Apr 26, 2013

I have 10 and noisy is an understatement, they are very loud. they follow me all around the farm and just pick at things all day long. I brought them up in a coop but once they started free ranging they never went back inside the coop. now they just roost on the chain link fence next to the coop. I left the heated coop open all winter (snow) and they wouldn't go in. now they stay out all night and keep an eye on things. They are really good at being alarms.

nailladi

· #19 · Apr 28, 2013

Keith, ******* alarms.. That is perfect!!!

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