Guineas and chickens not getting along. Any ideas???

varidgerunner said:

I had guineas once. HAD. The two happiest days of a guinea owner's life are the day you brought them home, and the day you got rid of them.

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pattyhen said:

Does anybody have guineas and chickens and ducks that get along togeather? I have 15 ducks and 12 chickens that all get along with each other. My husband bought 2 keets two days ago. They are two days old and are in a brooder. After reading some of the posts I am now afraid that my chickens and ducks are going to be terroized by these guineas and I don't want this to happen. Any advice or suggestions I would appreciate. Thanks

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I hope that since you have only two guineas and since they'll be smaller and younger than the rest of your birds that you'll have good luck with them getting along. Perhaps the older birds will put them in their place from early on and maybe they'll get along famously. I definitely think it's worth a try. You have quite a while before they'd be trying to antagonize your other birds.

I hope everything works out. I'd love to hear how you make out.

varidgerunner said:

I had guineas once. HAD. The two happiest days of a guinea owner's life are the day you brought them home, and the day you got rid of them.

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Ok..that comment had me laughing out loud when I read it in the restaurant! Right now I'm thinking you're on the money on that one.

Got home last night after the bull sale and all four guineas were loose in the coop!! Apparently I didn't lock the gate properly so definitely my bad.
Nothing was dead, but some of the girls looked pretty disheveled. And it looks like the guineas kept the hens away from the feeder because not much was eaten.

I can't wait 'til they're gone.
And I do hate thinking that. I really wished things could have been different. My pair of guineas did work at home but the rooster was fierce and would attack if you got with in 10 car lengths of him. Maybe he kept them at bay.

Our guineas get along reasonably well with our chickens. The cocks are more aggressive, but it is breeding season. We have about 20 chickens & 4 guineas. 11 keets hatched last week (tempted anyone?), & 18 more in the incubator. Looking to have a permanent flock of about 12. I bought 7 keets last fall & they were raised with our chickens.

usmc88222 said:

Have 15 guineas and 10 chickens and the guineas case the chickens around the yard and even 4 or more pin them down. Any ideas???

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i have 4 gineas 2 male 2 female, and i have 10 chickens
the one male and my rooster go at it every once and a while but not that much so maybe getting rid of the problem ones would solve your problems

Guineas are in my opinion quite delicious... the large agressive males go great in the crock pot...

Ok. my female guinea started to lay eggs about six days ago. She hasn't missed a day since. So I let her out in general population to confirm her female status, which she did.

So I held tryouts for the male guineas to see which one was the least aggressive. Male guinea #2 seems to be the favorite of the female...and he appears to be the most decent minded of the bunch. They've been together for two days in general population. I've seen him lunge to scare the odd bird but the majority of the hens seem to be comfortable as the guineas walk around so I take that as a sign they aren't scaring the hens when I'm not there. I'll admit I'm surprised everyone's as chill as they are.

So unless they really perturb me, I'm going to give the pair a chance and see how it goes. I'll be selling the other guineas.

I'm getting soft in my old age.

Update: I did decide to keep Mr.#2 guinea and the female.

I sold #1 and #3 male guineas for a decent amount. They were surprisingly well behaved at the sale and I hope they went to a good home.


The female guinea did not lay an egg the day of the sale...probably because of all the commotion. She has laid every day since. She's been very quiet and very well behaved.
The male has been vocal while out free ranging. But they haven't bothered the chickens at all.
I have seen him take lunge of two at the chickens as they enter the coop...but it appears he seems to be clearing a path for the female.
He hasn't pulled feathers and hasn't been over aggressive with the chickens.
It seems to have made a great improvement selling the two more aggressive males. At the end they were fighting with #2 male through the bars (which was quite amusing to watch)
So far I have not regretted keeping the pair. I cage them every night in the coop (they go in themselves) and I let them out once she's laid her egg.

I should also note that the eggs laid while all four guineas were together the eggs were not fertile. The eggs laid since I paired the #2 male with her up have been fertile and have been developing in the incubator. I gave them to two broody hens today. I'm hoping being raised by a chicken will help the keets get along better with chickens...lol.

I love my Guineas, and they love me and my chickens!

They live in the same coop all year, except during breeding season..


I do have one guinea that is serving a life sentence. It is a hen, that causes me grief when allowed to be with others.