Guinea keets!

Yeah, I agree. Plus with you blocking the window at night it’ll trap more warmth in there. I like to make sure there’s a decent pile of bedding in the spot they like to sleep, just in case they need to hunker down a bit.
 
I have hatched keets with chicken hens but once they are hatched I move them to a brooder. The imprinting that happens from letting the chicken hens raise them is what causes the problems once the guineas are adults.

As adults the chicken imprinted guineas cannot understand that chickens are not guineas.

Guineas have entirely different instincts than any other poultry. Chickens do not understand the races and chases and the attacks from behind with the feather pulling and feather breaking.

Chickens also do not understand how to submit in a manner that guineas understand which keeps the attacks going.

My guineas that were not chicken imprinted left my chickens alone and did not attack them.
Interesting that you’ve found that even with the only chicken being the momma.

How’s it’s been for me is that the guinea cocks will chase and feather pull the roosters during the breeding season regardless of if chicken hen raised, guinea hen raised or incubator/hand raised. I’ve tried all 3.

I currently have one meanie guinea cock that won’t even accept another guinea cock OR more than the 4 girls he prefers in his flock even though they were all raised together.
So the excommunicated cock and 3 girls are in with my chicken hens and they are doing great; this boy isn’t as gorgeous as the meanie but he’s MUCH nicer, pretty much leaves all the chickens hens alone.
 
Interesting that you’ve found that even with the only chicken being the momma.

How’s it’s been for me is that the guinea cocks will chase and feather pull the roosters during the breeding season regardless of if chicken hen raised, guinea hen raised or incubator/hand raised. I’ve tried all 3.

I currently have one meanie guinea cock that won’t even accept another guinea cock OR more than the 4 girls he prefers in his flock even though they were all raised together.
So the excommunicated cock and 3 girls are in with my chicken hens and they are doing great; this boy isn’t as gorgeous as the meanie but he’s MUCH nicer, pretty much leaves all the chickens hens alone.
If you have chicken imprinted guineas in your flock, they will teach other guineas their bad habits.

I brooded, raised and housed my guineas only with other guineas. They knew that the other poultry were not guineas and did not interact with the other poultry when free ranging in the same areas.

When I had chicken imprinted guineas they did not undetstand that chickens were not guineas and treated them the same as they treated each other.

The chickens don't understand how to submit in guinea and the attacks would not end.
 
If you have chicken imprinted guineas in your flock, they will teach other guineas their bad habits.

I brooded, raised and housed my guineas only with other guineas. They knew that the other poultry were not guineas and did not interact with the other poultry when free ranging in the same areas.

When I had chicken imprinted guineas they did not undetstand that chickens were not guineas and treated them the same as they treated each other.

The chickens don't understand how to submit in guinea and the attacks would not end.
At what age did you start letting your guinea segregated flock start to free range in the same area as chickens?

Or what period of time do you consider the imprinting window?

Have you noticed if there a size to the guinea flock that makes a difference in how they interact with the chickens?
I raised a flock of guineas last summer with my chickens and from that larger group I rehomed a male and 3 females who now roost and free range with a large flock chickens- both roosters and hens. The guineas know their own flockmates and stick together as a foursome but freely mingle with the chickens without issue.
 
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Guineas are a flock bird. You need at least 10 for them to have proper flock dynamics. Even more is better.

My keets are brooded with keets only. While they are keets is when they are most vulnetable to imprinting.

I would introduce my young guineas to the adult guinea flock around 3 months of age.

As adults the guineas would let themselves out of their pen and free range in the same area as the other poultry. Neither of the groups would interact with the other groups. Each group kept to their own kind.
 
Guineas are a flock bird. You need at least 10 for them to have proper flock dynamics. Even more is better.

My keets are brooded with keets only. While they are keets is when they are most vulnetable to imprinting.

I would introduce my young guineas to the adult guinea flock around 3 months of age.

As adults the guineas would let themselves out of their pen and free range in the same area as the other poultry. Neither of the groups would interact with the other groups. Each group kept to their own kind.
Gotcha, thanks!
 

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