Chicken killed by guineas?

[Iheartchickens7]

Today I went out to the coop and found my EE dead. She was 8 months old and raised with a group of 6 guineas and considered part of their flock. I am wondering if anyone knows if guineas can kill a chicken without any major signs of trauma to the bird?

I have a poop board setup and she was found on the poop board. The boards are 3 feet off the floor of a 9x10 coop. She was flat on her belly. Legs outstretched behind her and her head curled under her neck. Her neck feathers are very fluffed out, her eyes closed. Her wings were down a bit and she was surrounded by a fairly significant amount of her own feathers. I examined what I could of her and I see no obvious injuries. She was showing absolutely no signs of illness yesterday.She was found in the area that her and the guineas roost every night.

I am planning on splitting off my guineas from my chickens because they are becoming increasingly aggressive. They never bothered this hen because she was "one of them" but who knows. This was my first death inside the coop so I am upset. I wasn't expecting to go in and see her like that. She was one of my favorites. I know could have just died and maybe the guineas have absolutely nothing to do with it, but I was just curious if anyone had anything similar happen to them that could help me find some answers.
Thanks

 

[sourland]

Guineas have a gang mentality and can kill chickens, but it does not sound as if that was the case with your pullet. If they had killed her, there would be physical damage - pecking, feather pulling, etc.

 

[JLeigh]

I think separating guineas from chickens in a coop/pen is the best idea. Why take the chance with aggression? Sorry about your hen. I just lost my favorite to a hawk a few days ago. It seems to always happen to the favorite....

 

[Iheartchickens7]

Thank you,
I have been searching for a reasonably priced new coop but in winter it is hard to come by. The process is definitely going to be expedited now though. My coop is big and I figured I would need the guineas for body heat until spring. I no longer want to take the chance.

I did a really good inspection of her and the only thing I was really able to see was that she had many broken feathers and she was definitely plucked a bit. That could have happened after she died though..

I listened to and watched all of my other birds for a while to see if anyone was acting off. Everyone looks fine... hoping it was just some freak thing and that I don't lose anyone else. I am hoping to have the guineas out and separated this week. My EE pullet was my only concern with separating the flock because I was afraid she would be so upset to be without her guinea siblings. Now I don't have to worry anymore..

 

[chicki-vicki]

I am in the process of adding a run and seperate house to the backside of my chicken run - I have been told Guiena,s are good watch dogsI I was thinking along the line of after the chickens are secured in the coop a gate could be opened to give the guinea,s full range to patroll -
Ive been told they are alert and very noisy - they would be very secure,allowing them to be agressive and noisy hoping the noise would be another security system - well see this plan I dont have all worked out just yet - wondering do hey roost all night, and wouldnt rous to trouble
seems I need to find out more about guiena's - any knowledge out there for me?

 

[PeepsCA]

Guineas are blind in the dark... so they aren't real reliable as a night-time watch crew. They do make noise when bothered or spooked at night/in the dark, but not like they do during the daytime when they fire of their alarm call. If they get really noisy at night then something is most likely after them, or has already reached in thru or broke thru the wire and actually grabbed somebody...

 

[Iheartchickens7]

I am in the process of separating my guineas from my chickens. The coop is being built now and hopefully within the next week or two they will be in their new home which will be right along side of the chicken coop.
Chicki-Vicki, my guineas do sound the alarm if there is a hawk in the area or if anyone comes into the yard, or if a leaf falls from a tree .. or the wind blows. I can decipher which alarms are serious and which are minor at this point. I can tell when there is a hawk in the area and everyone is running for their life. The chickens listen and respond to the guineas warnings as well. They will run inside or for cover when the alarm goes off. They are much more alert and in tune with their surroundings than my chickens are. It is not foolproof however as I did lose a chicken in Dec. to a predator and no one picked up on it. Last evening my husband and I were moving something in the yard at about 10:30 and they heard us and began making noise, but like PeepsCA states it was not their super crazy alarm call, just chatter from being disturbed. I do hear them from time to time late at night if something rouses them or if the motion light goes off that is next to the coop.