Guinea fowl bullying chickens

[Keets n chicks]

We have 6 chickens and 6 guinea hens that are 13 weeks old. They are in a 64 square foot coop and an 84 square foot run. I have not started to free range the guineas yet. Over the past couple of weeks one of the guineas is bullying the chickens. When I put the food out the guinea chases all the chickens away and stands guard as the other guineas eat. He also goes after the chickens randomly. We were thinking about separating them, I have a dog cage kennel I can put him in. How long should I separate them? Do you think this will help? Any other suggestions.

 

[R2elk]

We have 6 chickens and 6 guinea hens that are 13 weeks old. They are in a 64 square foot coop and an 84 square foot run. I have not started to free range the guineas yet. Over the past couple of weeks one of the guineas is bullying the chickens. When I put the food out the guinea chases all the chickens away and stands guard as the other guineas eat. He also goes after the chickens randomly. We were thinking about separating them, I have a dog cage kennel I can put him in. How long should I separate them? Do you think this will help? Any other suggestions.

You need to permanently separate all of the guineas from the chickens. This is only going to get worse. When breeding season happens, your guineas are going to terrorize your chickens. I brood and house my guineas separately from all other poultry. When free ranged at the same time, in the same area, they all stick to their own kind.

 

[Keets n chicks]

You need to permanently separate all of the guineas from the chickens. This is only going to get worse. When breeding season happens, your guineas are going to terrorize your chickens. I brood and house my guineas separately from all other poultry. When free ranged at the same time, in the same area, they all stick to their own kind.

Thank you. I was wondering about that. Did you divide the coop up and they see each other, or are they completely separate? This is our first time with chickens and guineas.

 

[R2elk]

Thank you. I was wondering about that. Did you divide the coop up and they see each other, or are they completely separate? This is our first time with chickens and guineas.

Some people have divided coops. Mine have their own separate coop and their own separate run/pen.

Guineas need a whole lot more "personal space" than chickens need. The people that have guineas and chickens together tend to have a lot bigger coops than people that just have chickens. Even then if you ask the right questions, you will find that they do from time to time have issues between the guineas and chickens.

 

[yakitori]

Gosh, Sorry to hear, Guineas are so unpredictable. I have an almost 1:2 guinea(3) to chicken(5) ratio and they’re currently 9 weeks old. Today the guineas found my retaining wall to be a nice launch pad and flew onto the roof. The chickens just stared in confusion like, “are we supposed to do that too?”

I brooded chicks and keets together as well, and while I hope they will get along, I’m ready to separate them if need be. They get some free ranging time throughout the day and 100sqft run when I’m not around. I haven’t had issues yet, I’m hoping the number of chickens can overwhelm the guineas, but they’re still very young and you never know...

 

[R2elk]

Gosh, Sorry to hear, Guineas are so unpredictable. I have an almost 1:2 guinea(3) to chicken(5) ratio and they’re currently 9 weeks old. Today the guineas found my retaining wall to be a nice launch pad and flew onto the roof. The chickens just stared in confusion like, “are we supposed to do that too?”

I brooded chicks and keets together as well, and while I hope they will get along, I’m ready to separate them if need be. They get some free ranging time throughout the day and 100sqft run when I’m not around. I haven’t had issues yet, I’m hoping the number of chickens can overwhelm the guineas, but they’re still very young and you never know...

In my experience, brooding keets with chicks causes imprinting to occur. Imprinting removes the guineas ability to understand that chickens aren't guineas. No other poultry have the same instinct and behaviors that guineas have. No other poultry can understand guinea fowl behavior. When breeding season starts and the guinea start the races and chases followed by the attacks from behind along with the feather pulling and feather breaking, it causes great stress to the other poultry.

I brood and house my guineas by themselves. My adult guineas know that chickens aren't strange looking guineas and leave the chickens alone.

 

[yakitori]

In my experience, brooding keets with chicks causes imprinting to occur. Imprinting removes the guineas ability to understand that chickens aren't guineas. No other poultry have the same instinct and behaviors that guineas have. No other poultry can understand guinea fowl behavior. When breeding season starts and the guinea start the races and chases followed by the attacks from behind along with the feather pulling and feather breaking, it causes great stress to the other poultry.

I brood and house my guineas by themselves. My adult guineas know that chickens aren't strange looking guineas and leave the chickens alone.

I hear you, I plan on separating them once this happens. It’s my first time, so it’s definitely a fascinating experiment for me. If push comes to shove, I have a bunch of friends who are are more than happy to accept a few free laying hens into their flocks

 

[Keets n chicks]

Thanks for all of the great information. I really wish that there was more complete information online about all of the behaviors. The information I found when entertaining the idea was basically raise the keets with the chicks if you want them to go into the coop at night. We initially wanted the Guinea to take care of a tick problem. Got the chicks too since that is what we read about. Now we love the chicks and are at the end of the rope with the Guineas. (Well one Guinea in particular)

 

[yakitori]

Thanks for all of the great information. I really wish that there was more complete information online about all of the behaviors. The information I found when entertaining the idea was basically raise the keets with the chicks if you want them to go into the coop at night. We initially wanted the Guinea to take care of a tick problem. Got the chicks too since that is what we read about. Now we love the chicks and are at the end of the rope with the Guineas. (Well one Guinea in particular)

Well if you ever want to throw in the towel on the Guineas...Chickens eat ticks too!

I watched two of my keets go at it in a noisy battle today. It was fascinating!

 

[Keets n chicks]

That's good to know!