Baby guineas (keets)

[janc]

Guineas are kept by many people because they eat ticks, insects, etc. Ticks are a big problem here in TN. They can eat up to 10,000 ticks a day. They are happy roosting in trees at night and they eat ticks, insects, etc. from dawn to dusk. Guineas that roost in trees usually don't live a long time because of predators such as hawks and owls. They are fairly stupid and they make a loud noise when a visitor comes to the house or they see a hawk. Just yesterday I heard them carrying on and looked up in the sky and there was a hawk. My guineas until recently free ranged (walked around all day eating ticks, etc.) and at dusk flew iover the fence and nto the hen house yard and then walked into the hen house. They then flew up to their roost which is about 6 ft. high. When nesting season started I put netting across the top of the fenced in yard area to keep them inside. The female who lays her eggs out in the woods or out in the open is probably going to be killed by a predator. The male guards her during the day but flies back to the hen house at night. I didn't want to lose my female so by putting the netting up over the fenced in yard they can go nowhere. They are not happy and I have gotten no eggs so far. They can lay through Aug. so there is still time. I hope I have explained things better for you.
Janet, thanks for the picture of the guinea. Too bad there isn't a video of them walking.