Bringing new guineas

[Unicornlife3316]

So I FINALLY found some adult female Guineas (1 yr ish) to even out my flock of 4 males and 1 female.

How do I integrate them? I don’t really have a separate place that I could put them for a “look no touch” option.

I could move the chickens to the existing guinea coop with the current guineas and let the new guineas have the chicken pen for a few weeks - they’d be able to see the chickens and guineas, plus I could keep them locked up for several weeks so they acclimate.

Just put a new roost in there so the chickens can sleep on one side and the guineas can sleep on the other and less likely to have arguments that way?

Any advice or suggestions appreciated.

I have 2 dog runs as coops, both are 10x10 and are in a livestock loafing shed, they get lots of breeze and are shaded all day. Not big enough for long term confinement but should be fine for 5 birds for a few weeks, right?

 

[sylviethecochin]

I suspect you might as well dump the other guineas in, if your other option is to dump the chickens in. Both options are going to mess up the pecking order, and at least by adding the guineas, you're not adding a size difference to the mix. Nor will you have to integrate twice. (Once for the chickens, once for the guineas.)

Disclaimer: I don't actually know much about guineas. My main experience with them is from walking past the small farm back behind my parents' house.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

I suspect you might as well dump the other guineas in, if your other option is to dump the chickens in. Both options are going to mess up the pecking order, and at least by adding the guineas, you're not adding a size difference to the mix. Nor will you have to integrate twice. (Once for the chickens, once for the guineas.)

Disclaimer: I don't actually know much about guineas. My main experience with them is from walking past the small farm back behind my parents' house.

Sorry, I meant put the chickens in with my current guinea flock, they all know each other, free range together, sometimes one of the guineas will even go roost with the chickens at night. Then I’d have the open pen for the new Guineas - since they have to stay locked up for several weeks to acclimate to their new home.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

@R2elk

Any advice?

 

[R2elk]

So I FINALLY found some adult female Guineas (1 yr ish) to even out my flock of 4 males and 1 female.

How do I integrate them? I don’t really have a separate place that I could put them for a “look no touch” option.

I could move the chickens to the existing guinea coop with the current guineas and let the new guineas have the chicken pen for a few weeks - they’d be able to see the chickens and guineas, plus I could keep them locked up for several weeks so they acclimate.

Just put a new roost in there so the chickens can sleep on one side and the guineas can sleep on the other and less likely to have arguments that way?

Any advice or suggestions appreciated.

I have 2 dog runs as coops, both are 10x10 and are in a livestock loafing shed, they get lots of breeze and are shaded all day. Not big enough for long term confinement but should be fine for 5 birds for a few weeks, right?

Proper handling of new flock members is to quarantine them for at least a month to make sure you are not bringing any diseases with them.

When bringing in new adult guineas, it really is best to adhere to the 6 week confinement method to make sure they learn that this is now their home.

Fortunately for you, it is much easier to introduce new guinea hens to a flock that is mostly male as they really want the opportunity to have enough mates for everyone.

Even if you have to put a temporary divider in the coop, it will work out better if the new guineas are housed in a see, no touch situation with your current guineas.

Because you already have a flock of guineas that is predominantly male, you will probably be able to get by with a one to two week separation as the new guineas become acquainted with the old guineas. When the fighting stops going on through the fence, I would release one new guinea so that it can be with your flock. If that goes well, I would keep releasing one each day until they are all one flock.

Good luck.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

@R2elk

I’m not sure how I could set up a temporary divider, but I can put them in the chicken side, they can see, hear and smell the other but not touch, the old guineas.

This is a time I wish I had a third empty pen for these things ::ugh::

I have no way to quarantine completely... but the current guinea flock roams all day, so the only time they’d be close to them is at night and in the morning before I let everyone out.

I may try to figure something out, I have tomorrow before I go pick them up on Saturday. If I get to the seller and anyone looks ill, I won’t bring them home because I definitely don’t want illness as my flock has always been so healthy.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

@R2elk

Here’s my set up, from the front before I let everyone out this morning, then the second picture is inside (before I raked this morning) I’m thinking with some fence panels I may be able to give them a separate side - then during the day, while everyone is out, they could have the whole pen. That could work for a few weeks? Right?

 

[R2elk]

@R2elk

Here’s my set up, from the front before I let everyone out this morning, then the second picture is inside (before I raked this morning) I’m thinking with some fence panels I may be able to give them a separate side - then during the day, while everyone is out, they could have the whole pen. That could work for a few weeks? Right?

It could work. I am sure that you will make something work for you.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Thanks for your help

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Brought my girls home yesterday! Was able to snag two lavenders! YAY!
They’re settling in nicely (they obviously made a massive mess because it was a 2.5 hour drive home!), one has already laid an egg today, but they’re so ready to come out.

Gus Gus (the male in the second picture) was SO excited to hear females, he stayed with me while I unloaded them and tried to get in the pen

They wanted out so bad this morning when I let the other flock out, I am sticking to it and leaving them locked in for at least 2 weeks, then I’ll let one out with the flock and keep fingers crossed she’ll come back to her other flock mates with them at night.