Behavioral issues, bullying

[R2elk]

And thus I return to the guineas... if I buy 6 more to give them their preferred flock of 10, I'm assuming I have to have 5 males and 5 females. Since I already have 3 males and 1 female I would need to get an additional 2 males and 4 females. I did not encounter a seller who sexed the guineas so I'm not sure- how do I guarantee I get the ratio I need? Also, these guinea guys are now 5 months old. What age guineas am I looking for to keep aggression between everyone at a minimum? I'm really happy if Gracie will survive this experience without losing her mind so I want to get them as soon as I can- but the RIGHT ones. Also, we live in the mountains and it is going to be below freezing for good starting next week. This institutes the other issue of no one being able to get outside their coops <sigh>.

The only way to get sexed guineas is by buying adults locally. It is preferable to have an equal number of males to females but is not a requirement. Nearly the same age guineas would probably work best. Since yours is a male dominant flock, it should be fairly simple to integrate a mostly female group.

Back to your other issue, the sooner that you get your chicken out of there, the better off your guineas will be. From your description, your chicken is the alpha and she appears to hate all other females. Your male guineas are responding to her behavior instead of having normal guinea behavior which is why they are abnormally picking on your guinea hen. I would tell you what I would do with that hen but I am sure you don't want to hear that kind of a suggestion. If you don't have anywhere else to put her, at least try rehoming her.

 

[minaayindra]

The only way to get sexed guineas is by buying adults locally. It is preferable to have an equal number of males to females but is not a requirement. Nearly the same age guineas would probably work best. Since yours is a male dominant flock, it should be fairly simple to integrate a mostly female group.

Back to your other issue, the sooner that you get your chicken out of there, the better off your guineas will be. From your description, your chicken is the alpha and she appears to hate all other females. Your male guineas are responding to her behavior instead of having normal guinea behavior which is why they are abnormally picking on your guinea hen. I would tell you what I would do with that hen but I am sure you don't want to hear that kind of a suggestion. If you don't have anywhere else to put her, at least try rehoming her.

You're right, I could never consider killing her, no matter how hateful she is! lol There is no one who will take her around here so I guess I will just need to try her with the rooster first and then bring others in- I guess. This is so frustrating!

I also can't find any breeder listed in PA, even though I know there are some. I just don't know where to go- Guinea International contains lists mostly from other countries.

 

[minaayindra]

For real though it sounds like it might help. You can give her (the chicken) a mirror in isolation too. If she isn't use to mirrors the other chicken mirroring her aggression may actually help chill her. A bird that doesnt cower. What kind of chicken is she? Is she use to you? Is she a social or friendly breed? While she is in isolation you can keep her company too. Even if you just sit close to the enclosure and read to her. It gets them use to you so perhaps you might be found as a comfort in new situations that may scare her into being aggressive. Just a thought.

I wonder if I could place her in a kennel by herself and just let everyone else in the coop get used to her before she ever comes out. Then that begs the question of putting her in with the rooster and giant hens or putting her in with the hens more her size that she continued to attack before.

 

[Lilalienangel]

I have to comment that I really appreciate your attitude towards their emotional wellbeing. This is one of those darned if you do darned if you don't things. I totally agree with Elk. You have to get the chicken out of there. If you do mind her ending up being someone's dinner then you could try to isolate her with a mirror for a while like maybe a month. Start getting her use to you more as something other than just a food source. As she get use to you as a human handle her more. After awhile month maybe try to introduce her your flock again. Make sure she is good and sleepy for introductions. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe that is good for chickens..

 

[ValerieJ]

I do not have, nor know anything about, guineas, but generally speaking, I agree with @R2elk. I have had a slightly mixed flock of chickens for nearly 4 years, and have put up with an aggressive hen nearly that whole time. I lost her to an eagle attack this summer and chicken life has been so peaceful ever since. In the future, no matter what birds I have, I will always remove the aggressor instead of continually trying to protect the underling. I could be that removing her for a week or two from all the birds will make it possible to reintroduce her to the chickens, her own kind. They will have their pecking order reestablished. If it doesn't work, rehome her. Well, that's my two cents worth.

 

[R2elk]

You're right, I could never consider killing her, no matter how hateful she is! lol There is no one who will take her around here so I guess I will just need to try her with the rooster first and then bring others in- I guess. This is so frustrating!

I also can't find any breeder listed in PA, even though I know there are some. I just don't know where to go- Guinea International contains lists mostly from other countries.

Try checking on your local craigslist or Facebook or even put a wanted ad on them. If you have a locally owned feed store nearby (not a chain store), check with them. Locally feed stores have a tendency to know their customers and can put you in touch with local guinea owners. My local feed store would often put his customers in contact with me. Many years I never advertised any guineas for sale because all of them were bought by my feed store contacts.

I wonder if I could place her in a kennel by herself and just let everyone else in the coop get used to her before she ever comes out. Then that begs the question of putting her in with the rooster and giant hens or putting her in with the hens more her size that she continued to attack before.

Given your options, I would kennel her and put it in with the large fowl. After a week I would turn her loose with them and leave the area so that you don't have to watch what happens. If you put her in with your small hens, she will just continue to be a bully to them.

 

[minaayindra]

I have to comment that I really appreciate your attitude towards their emotional wellbeing. This is one of those darned if you do darned if you don't things. I totally agree with Elk. You have to get the chicken out of there. If you do mind her ending up being someone's dinner then you could try to isolate her with a mirror for a while like maybe a month. Start getting her use to you more as something other than just a food source. As she get use to you as a human handle her more. After awhile month maybe try to introduce her your flock again. Make sure she is good and sleepy for introductions. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe that is good for chickens..

I can't imagine her being killed- you have to give her credit for being such a terrorist when she has a tiny body!

 

[Lilalienangel]

I can't imagine her being killed- you have to give her credit for being such a terrorist when she has a tiny body!

She has got to be a banty.. Lolol

 

[minaayindra]

Try checking on your local craigslist or Facebook or even put a wanted ad on them. If you have a locally owned feed store nearby (not a chain store), check with them. Locally feed stores have a tendency to know their customers and can put you in touch with local guinea owners. My local feed store would often put his customers in contact with me. Many years I never advertised any guineas for sale because all of them were bought by my feed store contacts.

Given your options, I would kennel her and put it in with the large fowl. After a week I would turn her loose with them and leave the area so that you don't have to watch what happens. If you put her in with your small hens, she will just continue to be a bully to them.

Thanks for the suggestions! I will definitely look into the feed store angle since I know there is one not too far from here (of course that is all relative since everything is far from here!). Do you know where you would check on Facebook?

 

[minaayindra]

She has got to be a banty.. Lolol