Guinea fight!

[chrispbrown27]

I have a pair of guineas that are about 7 weeks old. I am positive one is a male (based on his call in comparison to the male calls I have heard online) and the other I was fairly certain is a female. Today while I was mowing the yard I saw the two guineas bumping up against each other. As I watched a little more closely I realized they were fighting and fairly intensely. I shut down the mower and walked over to the run and they kept on fighting (they are usually very flighty and if I get near the run the typically head to the other side). I opened the door to the run and they continued to fight. I grabbed one of them and they didn't even seem to notice that, they just kept pecking and kicking at each other. So, I separated them for about 20 minutes then let them free range together and it was like nothing had ever happened. Now, when I say they were fighting I mean they were pecking each other hard and slamming their heads together with some kicking with both legs thrown in for good measure.
So, my question is what happened? They are in the same run with my ducks and chickens but the chickens and ducks weren't involved at all....they seemed like high school kids at a fight, they just stood back and watched. If they are both males, isn't 7 weeks too young for them to be fighting like that? if one is a female and the other is a male, what would have caused a fight like that?
Chris

 

[PeepsCA]

There is no male Guinea call... the females make all the same calls the males do, but the males will not make the 2-syllable female call... sounds like "buck-wheat", or "puh-track".

Normally males and females do not fight in my flocks, but males will and do spar, especially around that age when the hormones first start kicking in. So it sounds to me that you have 2 males, and what you experienced were the 2 working out their pecking order. It may get worse before it gets better. Keep an eye for blood/wounds, because that can lead to cannibalism.

If you do indeed have 2 males, you may want to add some Guinea Hens to keep them occupied, otherwise their aggression may start being directed at your other poultry. Guineas need plenty of their own kind to pick on, because not all poultry can handle the Guineas' level of persistent aggression.

 

[chrispbrown27]

Ok, I had it backwards ha ha. I know for sure that one is a female......the "buckwheat" call you described is what I was talking about, I apparently misunderstood what I read. She is CONSTANTLY making that call, while the other one is much more quiet and makes a lot more peeps and other sounds. I have never heard the buckwheat call come from the other.
Chris