Guinea talk.

[Turkey parents]

Turkeys get "broody" and that plays into some of that I usually just separate them until they learn how to behave again. I don't know if Guineas are the same way or not.

 

[pattyhen]

I think giving them more space by taking out the big feeder will help them. Once they get to go outside in a run they will stop the fighting. I hope that helps them. Good luck with them. I don't think I see any aggression because I only have the two and I'm pretty sure I have a male and female. Spider sounds like a rusty gate and Mary Jane does the buck wheat sound. Spider continues to want to sit in your lap all the time. I took a book out to read and here he come. Not only does he want to sit on your lap he wants his back petted.

 

[GlennLee]

We have been aggression free for a week. I removed the large feeder and they are in a bigger area. I'll let them out to roam in the coop and enclosed run in two more weeks - the weather is finally getting warmer. I've been hearing that buck wheat sound for about a week now! I thought it was a bit soon, but that's definitely what it is. As for them being broody, I think Guinea Fowl do get aggressive at the time, but mine are only 6 weeks, so I thought that was a bit early. Maybe not if I'm already hearing the buck wheat. Hope all is well with you and yours. I've included a couple of 6 week shots - a close up and one of the larger area in the shed. Have a happy Friday.

 

[pattyhen]

They are so cute and still have their tiger stripes. I miss those so much on Spider and Mary Jane now they have a blueish color on their heads and the waddles are red with a touch of purple where they connect.

I'm glad their getting along better that must be upsetting to see them with peck marks and blood. I know their going to enjoy going out to the coop with more space. Our temps have been in the 90s all week. We did have rain a couple of days ago and they were walking around crying in the yard. I guess they don't know yet they can go back in the coop to get out of the rain. I brought them in and they sit in their chair with a barh towel draped over their backs. They sit there until they dried off. Spider has gotten a sound that resembles a machine gun going off. He does it when Mary Jane starts buck wheating. You'll probably be hearing that sound very soon. When I pet his back he quits thank goodness.

Thanks for sharing their pics they are growing fast. How is Henry doing? I hope he hasn't visited the neighborhood recently.

 

[GlennLee]

I know! I love those tiger stripes. It's about the only thing that can help me identify individuals since their stripes all vary a bit. I'm sure you do miss them on Spiderman and Mary Jane. How funny that they were walking around crying in the yard because of the rain and that they are just like little kids getting dried off with a towel. I can tell they have really bonded with you. The sounds they make back and forth are quite loud and although I only have two females doing the buckwheat sound and a couple of males, plus Henry, sounding back, I keep thinking what they are going to be like when they are all making a racket.

Are Mary Jane and Spiderman sassy with you at times? I notice they all get a bit of attitude when they think I'm not feeding them quick enough - it's like c'mon, mom... get going with the food! I wondered if you noticed the same.

So far, so good with the pecking. I still wonder if I caused the last round by overcrowding with the large feeder. I haven't noticed anything major since it's been removed and they are in a bigger area. One more week and I'll be releasing them from the crates into the shed and run. Then I'll just have to monitor Henry's behavior to make sure he doesn't get aggressive with the little ones - who will eventually be bigger than he is! Henry hasn't been let out to free range since the last time. I wanted him to get grounded to home, do a bit more training and have him get used to the keets. So far, everyone seems really well adjusted. I think the keets are happy to be "outside".

Happy Father's Day to your husband. From the sound of things, he has that role with children and animals! How wonderful for you.

We have the crushed stone foundation down and the shed is due to be delivered in about 4 weeks. We're going to have a party in it before the guinea fowl go in. I know I'll have to work on retraining them to roost to a new building - even though is it only a stone's throw away, so I may wait to put them in it this fall when they will start to be sheltered for longer periods of time. We are having some electricity run to the building as well so we can use heat light bulbs if needed - don't want frostbite on the feet and I've heard that can be a problem

Thanks for the cabbage idea. I couldn't get it to hang, but I left some on the ground for them to peck and they seemed to enjoy that. I also bought some parakeet balls to scatter around the cage and every once in a while, they peck at them. I figure it's good to prevent boredom. Maybe Mary Jane and Spiderman would enjoy some of those too. Anything that's good for stimulation will help to keep them from going after each other!

Have a beautiful Sunday and keep cool. We're starting to hit 90 degrees now too and very little rain - having to water our gardens and new plantings to keep things alive.

 

[pattyhen]

Mary Jane can get very sassy. If she doesn't want you to rub her waddles she will bite you, if you pick her up and she doesn't want to be held she will bite also. Spider is more laid back and enjoys the back rubs and the lap times. He really loves my husband and if he's not outside he'll sit on my lap but he prefers my husband. I'm his second choice.

Thats great your getting the new coop. I'm sure they will enjoy that. The guineas are in the coop now at night and they don't go in their cage anymore. They get along pretty well with the chickens but I have noticed them running at the ducks. They don't touch them they just like to see them run away from them.

It's very strange but Mary Jane and Spider are not food motivated. I put treats out for the chickens and ducks and the guineas will not eat it. The run up to the huddle and taste it but that's it they won't eat it. They love their gamebird food and boiled eggs and that's it. The only thing that motivates them is human companionship. If I go out in the yard and I yell keeters or they see me first they run to me. It's not that I'm feeding them they just want to hang out around me. The chickens and the ducks are just the opposite. They see me and they want treats.

I'm glad George is still with you. He's going to have lots of friends in a little while. I hope he gets along well with them all. Our of the two of mine the male is the most friendly.

Have a great day.

 

[pattyhen]

I posted these pics on guineas 101 I'll post here in case you didn't see them. They are 12 weeks old now.

 

[charid]

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Turkey parent - what a pretty bird.  They were easy to find by searching under your user name - thank you for sharing Mars with us. 

I had another round of aggression, but not sure what happened - two birds look like they were in a heavy weight fight.  I'm wondering if they went after each other?  Both of the right sides of their faces are VERY puffy and cut up.  One's eye is swollen partially shut.  I put a bigger feeder in the crates last night and I'm wondering if it crowded them too much.  I pulled it out this morning after seeing the injuries and took out one of the roosts too, just to give them a bit more room.  The weather will be warm enough on Wednesday to move them into the coop - still in crates, but I'll be adding another one - 24 square feet for 15 birds at weeks 7 & 8 - then they'll be let out to explore the coop and enclosed run for 4 more weeks - taking them up to 12 weeks when I start to free range them. 

Any words of wisdom on the aggression?  I have already isolated one bird and thought that was the problem.  Am I missing something or is this normal?

I believe the aggression is from cramped quarters. For their injuries I highly recommend corona multipurpose ointment. It has lanolin in it and is soothing and thick enough to plug up the wounds without needing to be wrapped.

 

[GlennLee]

Patti thanks for posting the pics here as I may have missed them posted elsewhere. I appreciate seeing their size so I know what to expect from mine in about a month. They are still growing and changing. Beautiful birds.

I set the keets free in the coop / covered run this morning.

They seem to be doing well with Henry. I actually let out Damien yesterday just to monitor Henry's reaction. No major aggression issues at this point, but will keep an eye out on everyone. I do see some red spots here and there on some faces - thinking there's some pecking going on, but again, not sure if that's normal behavior or not. I am guessing they may peck each other out of curiosity or as a correction once in a while, but the aggressive wounds I saw before would be reason for concern.

Thanks chardid for sharing your thoughts and another idea for an ointment.

Got to get back to work - everyone enjoy the day! Happy Tuesday!

 

[GlennLee]

We have been aggression free for a week. I removed the large feeder and they are in a bigger area. I'll let them out to roam in the coop and enclosed run in two more weeks - the weather is finally getting warmer. I've been hearing that buck wheat sound for about a week now! I thought it was a bit soon, but that's definitely what it is. As for them being broody, I think Guinea Fowl do get aggressive at the time, but mine are only 6 weeks, so I thought that was a bit early. Maybe not if I'm already hearing the buck wheat. Hope all is well with you and yours. I've included a couple of 6 week shots - a close up and one of the larger area in the shed. Have a happy Friday.

Just thought I'd better explain this picture. There are actually 3 crates joined together - 24 square feet. I don't have them all in one.