Guinea keets/chicks together

[mcase]

Can I raise a couple of guinea keets in with my new chicks?

 

[mcase]

Anyone?

 

[GuineaFowling]

As long as they are the similar in age then yes. Older chicks might peck at the younger keets and vice versa.

 

[June2013]

I raised 15 Perl Gray keets with 7 chicks, 4 Bardrocks and 3 Buff Orpintons, in the same brooder. My plan was to keep all in the barn in the same coop. The square footage was adequate, just shy of 5sf per bird.. At about 12-14 weeks the chickens were being terrorized by a few Guineas. I quickly constructed their own coop and entry way as well as a secured run. Now at the a little over 1 year, my Chickens are still scolded by a few of the Guineas, even when they are free ranging in my open yard of 2 1/2 half acres plus added wooded areas. Most everything I read said, including the post above, that it works if they all start off at the same age. But I must add, the bully Guineas do the same to members of there own flock. It is difficult to identify who the bullies are since they look so similar. So my situation with my chickens may largely be do to the nature of a few rowdy Guineas. I would try to raise them together but be ready if it becomes an issue to have space for another the coop and run. It may also be an issue, since my two breed of chickens are considered rather docile. Good luck. I have certainly enjoyed both type of birds.

 

[mcase]

Th

...

I raised 15 Perl Gray keets with 7 chicks, 4 Bardrocks and 3 Buff Orpintons, in the same brooder.  My plan was to keep all in the barn in the same coop.  The square footage was adequate, just shy of 5sf per bird..  At about 12-14 weeks the chickens were being terrorized by a few Guineas. I quickly constructed their own coop and entry way as well as a secured run.  Now at the a little over 1 year, my Chickens are still scolded by a few of the Guineas, even when they are free ranging in my open yard of 2 1/2 half acres plus added wooded areas.  Most everything I read said, including the post above, that it works if they all start off at the same age.  But I must add, the bully Guineas do the same to members of there own flock.  It is difficult to identify who the bullies are since they look so similar.  So my situation with my chickens may largely be do to the nature of a few rowdy Guineas.  I would try to raise them together but be ready if it becomes an issue to have space for another the coop and run.  It may also be an issue, since my two breed of chickens are considered rather docile. Good luck.  I have certainly enjoyed both type of birds.
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That's what I was afraid of. Thanks.

 

[chickenmadness7]

The biggest problem I would see is that guinea keets grow way faster than chicken chicks do. Right now I have keets that are a few weeks older than my chicks and there's no way I can put them together because of the size difference.

 

[PatriotWay]

My keets are 4 wks. old and my chickens are 14weeks old. I plan on combining them once the keets are old enough (6-8 wks) to go outside in the coop. Is that okay? I don't have a way to divide the coop.

 

[GuineaFowling]

Thats fine. Older chicks will better defend them selves if you do have rowdy guineas. I have a male adult coral guinea and he also is rowdy and will chase the hens. The males are the mean ones. Guineas tend to get riled up about nothing and they will chase each other and scream.

 

[PatriotWay]

What about the food? Right now the guineas are eating game bird starter, but once in the coop I'm sure they will eat the same as the chickens which for now are on chicken grower but in a couple of months will switch to chicken layer. Is that all okay?

 

[GuineaFowling]

I kept my guineas and chickens together and fed them the same thing. It was chicken layer feed but I rehomed the chickens recently and switched the guineas to All Flock. It has higher protein. Of course you can feed the guineas grower as well. It has enough protein I am assuming. Oh also, make sure you have a big enough coop for all of them as they will get rowdy if there isn't enough space.
Good luck with them.