Do we need more?

[cjjsfarms]

We accidentally (thanks to the worker at the feed store getting confused) ended up with one guinea chick. Among our babies we have a couple turkeys, a couple ducks, and the rest chicks. I don’t know much about guineas we’ve never had them before. Do we need to go back and get more or will the one be ok with the other poultry?

 

[Manhen]

Does chicken math apply to guineas? It doesn't seem like size affects animal bonding. I would say if you see "bonding" maybe not. But that goes against my instinct. More has to be better with a flock of birds it must be....

 

[365username]

I don’t think you need to get anymore it won’t be lonely or anything because of your ducks, chickens and turkeys. I say it’s best to put it with the turkeys when it’s older but keep it will the chickens for a year.

 

[R2elk]

We accidentally (thanks to the worker at the feed store getting confused) ended up with one guinea chick. Among our babies we have a couple turkeys, a couple ducks, and the rest chicks. I don’t know much about guineas we’ve never had them before. Do we need to go back and get more or will the one be ok with the other poultry?

Please read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by @PeepsCA .

Guinea fowl are flock birds and do best in large groups. I never recommend getting fewer than 10. Because of the problems caused by imprinting I do not recommend brooding guinea keets with chicks or poults. Because of their need to stay dry and their different nutrition requirements I do not recommend brooding them with waterfowl.

Guineas have different mannerisms than any other types of poultry. These mannerisms that really begin to be expressed at breeding time when their hormones are raging can cause lots of stress to other poultry that do not understand the chasing, attacks from behind and feather pulling or breaking that is a part of the guinea's instinctive behavior.

 

[pasdechat73]

We accidentally (thanks to the worker at the feed store getting confused) ended up with one guinea chick. Among our babies we have a couple turkeys, a couple ducks, and the rest chicks. I don’t know much about guineas we’ve never had them before. Do we need to go back and get more or will the one be ok with the other poultry?

Ironically, I just posted about our "han solo" (my one and only guinea fowl) the other day. He mysteriously ended up in the yard at our other house on October 21 of 2018. He does fine with the chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other wildlife we have around here. He loves to parade around the front door, boss the hens around, and be on top of anything...including the wood burning stove in the house. Yes, my babies come in the house...I wouldn't have it any other way <3

He started being mean to my Senior and Junior roos last week, but his behaviour has since tempered. He can definitely be a headcase but does well with the others. In fact, when we first moved out here, he got spooked and winded up 2 miles down the road. My husband couldn't get him back in that night and we thought that was the end...we'd never see him again. The next morning when I went to let everyone out, there he was, pacing back and forth around the front door. I don't think he really knows anything different or how'd he'd even react to another guinea fowl? The only thing he doesn't like is snow which we are suppose to get tonight. I'm just waiting for him to pitch a fit

 

[Manhen]

How big do these birds get??

 

[R2elk]

How big do these birds get??

About bantam chicken sized unless they are the jumbos. They may look bigger. A full size guinea will process out to be about 2 1/2 lbs.

 

[pasdechat73]

About bantam chicken sized unless they are the jumbos. They may look bigger. A full size guinea will process out to be about 2 1/2 lbs.

here's a pic I just took a minute ago. this is him and big booty bella, one of my brahma's.

 

[Manhen]

About bantam chicken sized unless they are the jumbos. They may look bigger. A full size guinea will process out to be about 2 1/2 lbs.

And they are still a combative member of a flock? Gimme a dozen of those racoon detectors.

 

[R2elk]

And they are still a combative member of a flock? Gimme a dozen of those racoon detectors.

Guineas are worthless and very vulnerable as detectors of anything at night. During the daytime their fearlessness can cause them to be victims of all kinds of predators. There are the stories of a flock of guineas escorting predators out of their domain. There are more stories of the guineas falling victim to those same predators especially once the predator gets a taste and learns just how delicious they are.