Guinea Fowl Learning Thread!

[R2elk]

thank you. if I get 10 guineas, how many males should there be? do they fight like roosters?

Ideally 4 or 5 males for a flock of 10 would be a good number. Guineas like all animals have their pecking order fights. Guineas also have their breeding season fights but their fights are rarely like those roosters have.

Breeding season disputes typically consist of high speed races with one or more males chasing another male. If they catch up to the chased male the attack normally consists of grabbing hold of a back or wing feather and either pulling the feather out or breaking it off. The instances of full frontal attacks are rare but can end with both participants having peck marks all over their heads. It is extremely rare for guinea males to do the frontal attack with their claws.

Other than breeding season the males get along very well. They also get along well in breeding season once the dominance order gets established with the occasional chase from time to time. In a flock with excess males that do not have mates, those males tend to form a bachelor flock and tend to get along very well with the other members of their flock.

 

[chickengr]

Ideally 4 or 5 males for a flock of 10 would be a good number. Guineas like all animals have their pecking order fights. Guineas also have their breeding season fights but their fights are rarely like those roosters have.

Breeding season disputes typically consist of high speed races with one or more males chasing another male. If they catch up to the chased male the attack normally consists of grabbing hold of a back or wing feather and either pulling the feather out or breaking it off. The instances of full frontal attacks are rare but can end with both participants having peck marks all over their heads. It is extremely rare for guinea males to do the frontal attack with their claws.

Other than breeding season the males get along very well. They also get along well in breeding season once the dominance order gets established with the occasional chase from time to time. In a flock with excess males that do not have mates, those males tend to form a bachelor flock and tend to get along very well with the other members of their flock.

thank you. that sounds great. I will not need to worry what to do with the excess males. I hope to move to the bigger place next spring so that I can get all the animals I want (guineas, indian runner and muscovy ducks, geese, pea fowl, goats, pigs...). at the moment I have chickens only.