A guinea fowl has wings and can fly at an estimated 5-10 mph speed. They can cover a distance of 100-160 meters above the ground while flying. However, when a predator appears, they prefer running rather than flying. This implies that if you must keep them, put them in a cage to prevent them from flying since they can go and never return.
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Can guinea fowl fly over fences?
A guinea can fly high that no fence can prevent flying since it can fly up to over 100metres high. However, you can keep them in a fenced area and train them not to roam around. They enjoy going on the hunt for food. It is in their nature for them to act in this manner.
The most typical reason for a domesticated guinea to fly is fear. When scared, they may run or even fly in the process due to unexpected creepy movements around them. When this occurs, they erupt into the air, generating tremendous noise.
Can guinea fowls fly with clipped wings?
No, a clipped guinea fowl cannot fly since their muscles are held together, making them weak. The fowl will be unable to fly if their wings are clipped, which will stop them from escaping their cage and nesting in trees, but it won’t prevent them from getting out of their predators.
You must clip both wings if you want to keep your guinea fowls from flying away. Engage a professional whenever you want to clip your fowls to ensure their wings are safe.
The best time to clip your guinea is during spring, when they are laying eggs to keep them near their coop. Then when their laying season is over, you can unclip them and let their feathers grow back. During this time, they can fly and move everywhere they want. Since clipping is not permanent, never worry about its temporary effects.
Does it hurt when clipping guinea fowls?
The greatest reason why most guinea keepers fear clipping is they think it will hurt their fowls. If you consult a veterinarian and do it the way they should, there should be no pain or injuries caused to the guinea. Clipping is the same way you get a haircut; your hair has no nerves, like the feathers.
Morning hours are the best to do the clipping before your fowls leave their coop. Once it gets out, it will be difficult to catch it. Have some gloves on, and make sure the scissors are sharp.
How high can guinea fowl fly with clipped wings?
Clipping your fowl’s wings is the most typical remedy if you’re worried about them fleeing away. A fowl with both wings appropriately clipped will jump about 2-3 ft only.
Moreover, clipping ensures the safety of your guineas since it will be difficult for them to jump out of a fence or into open windows. Also, your bird will depend on you, and it won’t at any time fly to look for food.
How to stop guinea fowls from flying away
The easiest way to discourage your guineas from flying is to make them comfortable. Avoid any dangers or anything that may rattle them.
If they feel at home, they can roam or even fly, but they will always come back since it will be the best place with ready shelter and food for them. Here are some tips that you may use to control or stop guinea fowls from flying away:
1. Provide for their requirements.
Fulfilling your guinea fowl’s food, water, and heat demands is one of the most effective ways to keep them from flying. Guinea fowl are initially from Africa; therefore, they obviously want a warm environment, particularly keets. Maintaining their comfort is an essential step in preventing them from escaping.
Most keepers prefer white millet as a guinea fowl snack; however, whole maize kernels are avoided since guinea fowl loathe them, if not despise them. Wheat, sorghum, and barley grain are other favorites. Moth larva is another excellent treat for your guinea fowl brood.
2. Build a covered coop for them
Guinea fowls will fly higher than any fence or coop, but if you cover their house with a mesh or a net, it will prevent them from jumping out of the homestead.
But you can still train your guinea fowls how to get back home after flying out of the coop. However, it is not a wonder to sometimes find them still resting on the trees. They are self-sufficient and capable of fending for themselves. If you opt to keep guinea fowl in a cage, ensure the compartment has enough room for them.
Guinea fowl require a sufficient area, around 3 square feet per bird. A lack of enough space may stress them.
3. Clipping the wings
Another best way to keep your guinea from flying is by clipping their wings. As we had mentioned earlier, a clipped guinea fowl cannot jump or fly. The only distance it can jump is the utmost three feet, which is less than a fence or enclosing wall.
4. Raise their keets together with chicks
If you raise the keets and chicks in the same way, it will be easier for them to adapt to chicken life. Also, it will be easier for you to train them since they are not exposed to the guinea’s flying behavior.
The same principle applies to raising keets with a doting mother hen. When you use a sociable broody hen, you’ll get tame keets who are used to their caretaker and are far more likely to remain at home.
5. Mix the male and female guinea fowl
Most male guinea fowl will fly in search of their female counterparts. As a part of their life, they must mate for reproduction. The unfertilized egg cannot hatch. If you keep them separately, they will escape from their coop to look for their mates.
Have a mixture of both male and female, and they will never leave to look for a partner if that was why they were flying away.
Conclusion
As we have seen, your guinea fowls can fly higher than you think. They mostly fly in search of food and for their safety in times of danger.
If your guinea fowls don’t have enough comfy roosting options in the setting you give, they’ll venture out looking for them. But you can still stop them from flying away by providing them with food, safety, and treats.
