Behavioral issues, bullying

[Willowspirit]

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.

I agree with this exactly. And I think I understand the problem with having her in the flock of guineas. Just my opinion is the more guineas the better if you have room. A big flock of guineas ranging around is such a source of fun and amusement.

 

[minaayindra]

I agree with this exactly. And I think I understand the problem with having her in the flock of guineas. Just my opinion is the more guineas the better if you have room. A big flock of guineas ranging around is such a source of fun and amusement.

I just ordered a far larger coop for the chickens and, maybe, with some slow introduction everyone will survive the experience. I am currently trying to find adult guineas for sale. I did manage to find some in PA but they only want to sell keets (as in 1-day old) where they would never survive the winter that is already starting here. I also need to keep the 5-month-olds from hurting anything small coming in. NO one seems to sex them but that is probably because they don't sell adults. I am hoping to have a flock of 10 with everyone lined up M-F to prevent any further issues. Whew!

 

[R2elk]

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?

Sorry, I don't use Facebook for anything. I do know others do post for sale ads but they don't post prices. The reason is to avoid the ads being taken down since buried deep in their by-laws, there is a section preventing the sale of live animals.

 

[minaayindra]

I don't use Facebook either but I keep an account open so I can go on there for the few businesses who post absolutely no info unless it goes through FB... I usually tend to run from them if that is the case but sometimes you just can't get around it. I avoid Craig's List because I've seen what happens to some of the animals being taken from there, and sometimes the sellers aren't very scrupulous either. So, I'm back to the feed store, whom I've heard nothing back from, or continuing to find a seller near enough for me to pick them up as adults. I keep thinking the keets would probably be at a great disadvantage considering the adolescent males already there. Plus, I don't think they would survive the winters we have up here as babies.

 

[minaayindra]

I do think I have some Amish farms as options (it's where these original ones came from) but the birds would already be wild. Plus, I'm not so sure if they would have adults now but I can always ask.

 

[R2elk]

One gentleman in Ohio is looking to rehome some extra young fowl he has, at least 3, so I'm trying to figure out how to do it. He lives 6 hours from me and I don't think I can drive those distances any more! I continue plugging away.

There is also the issue that PA requires poultry to have been NPIP certified prior to being imported into the state.

 

[minaayindra]

Oh nuts!!!

 

[minaayindra]

I'm out of luck- there are absolutely no appropriate guineas available unless I get 30 sent to me from a hatchery. That leaves me with 2 options, to either see if Gracie will survive the winter with these 3 guys or just bite the bullet and get 30 (although where they would live, I don't know, the coop space isn't that huge and I don't know if a young neurotic female like Gracie would actually take care of them). I do have the broody hen who raised the others and she thinks guineas are grand, but she surely can't take care of 30!

 

[R2elk]

I'm out of luck- there are absolutely no appropriate guineas available unless I get 30 sent to me from a hatchery. That leaves me with 2 options, to either see if Gracie will survive the winter with these 3 guys or just bite the bullet and get 30 (although where they would live, I don't know, the coop space isn't that huge and I don't know if a young neurotic female like Gracie would actually take care of them). I do have the broody hen who raised the others and she thinks guineas are grand, but she surely can't take care of 30!

Some hatcheries have a lower minimum than 30. It isn't much but it is lower.

What I do, when the minimum is more than I want, is to see if anyone wants to split an order or advertise the extras for sale as soon as they arrive. So far, I have not had a problem selling the extras.

Good luck.

 

[minaayindra]

Thanks for the ideas! I will start shopping all hatcheries and see what I can find-