Guinea Turkey Problem !

[guineagirl1000]

I have a guinea rooster named kumquat, hand raised, loves the house. I have had him since last summer, this spring though I got a turkey chick. He grew up and there was no problem till about a week ago. When It first started, with kumquat biting turkey a bit, which was weird but no big deal. But then about 3 days later I looked out my window, and kumquat was savagely biting and attacking turkey. I pulled him off and he had badly damaged my turkeys eye. For a while I thought I was going to have a one eyed turkey.Its gotten better for the main part, only one little blind spot. I think it will fully recover, but it was to close for my taste. Every time they are anywhere near each other kumquat tries to peck out turkeys eye. I tried to pen kumquat, but he could not stand being put in a pen, and screamed. Making my neighbors mad, I live in RA zoning, with a 1 acre backyard, so the houses are close. So I tried penning turkey, but all he does is pace on the fence all day, when he is not trying to escape. He is just so unhappy..... and I am stumped. Getting rid of either is not an option at all.
I could really use some tips right now!

 

[R2elk]

I have a guinea rooster named kumquat, hand raised, loves the house. I have had him since last summer, this spring though I got a turkey chick. He grew up and there was no problem till about a week ago. When It first started, with kumquat biting turkey a bit, which was weird but no big deal. But then about 3 days later I looked out my window, and kumquat was savagely biting and attacking turkey. I pulled him off and he had badly damaged my turkeys eye. For a while I thought I was going to have a one eyed turkey.Its gotten better for the main part, only one little blind spot. I think it will fully recover, but it was to close for my taste. Every time they are anywhere near each other kumquat tries to peck out turkeys eye. I tried to pen kumquat, but he could not stand being put in a pen, and screamed. Making my neighbors mad, I live in RA zoning, with a 1 acre backyard, so the houses are close. So I tried penning turkey, but all he does is pace on the fence all day, when he is not trying to escape. He is just so unhappy..... and I am stumped. Getting rid of either is not an option at all.
I could really use some tips right now!

Turkeys and guineas are both flock birds that need to be with others of their own kind. The best thing for all involved is to find both of them new homes where they can be with others of their own kind. If you want small numbers of birds, get chickens.

 

[guineagirl1000]

Turkeys and guineas are both flock birds that need to be with others of their own kind. The best thing for all involved is to find both of them new homes where they can be with others of their own kind. If you want small numbers of birds, get chickens.

Kumquat has 9 guinea friends, turkey has 2 hens want to get him 2 more come spring. How many guineas would kumquat need to be with. How many turkeys would turkey need to be with, would you think?
Thanks for advice.

 

[imnukensc]

I'm surprised you can keep your guineas confined to 1 acre!

 

[guineagirl1000]

I'm surprised you can keep your guineas confined to 1 acre!

I clipped the rooster's wings, and feed them plenty. The hens don't go anywhere, and we have no tick problems. 3 of them have there own rooster, and they go around the neighborhood. But he can be a little smarter then kumquat after all he is 10 and kumquats only like 1 and a half. He stays in the yard a lot too though.

 

[sourland]

In my experience with guineas, once one of them develops an obsessive behavior it is almost impossible to break. Generally others in the flock begin mimicking the behavior. Be careful that the entire flock does not attack the turkey. Aggressive behavior will become worse in the spring when they start breeding.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have a guinea rooster named kumquat, hand raised, loves the house. I have had him since last summer, this spring though I got a turkey chick. He grew up and there was no problem till about a week ago. When It first started, with kumquat biting turkey a bit, which was weird but no big deal. But then about 3 days later I looked out my window, and kumquat was savagely biting and attacking turkey. I pulled him off and he had badly damaged my turkeys eye. For a while I thought I was going to have a one eyed turkey.Its gotten better for the main part, only one little blind spot. I think it will fully recover, but it was to close for my taste. Every time they are anywhere near each other kumquat tries to peck out turkeys eye. I tried to pen kumquat, but he could not stand being put in a pen, and screamed. Making my neighbors mad, I live in RA zoning, with a 1 acre backyard, so the houses are close. So I tried penning turkey, but all he does is pace on the fence all day, when he is not trying to escape. He is just so unhappy..... and I am stumped. Getting rid of either is not an option at all.
I could really use some tips right now!

Keep the turkey in a pen, he will get used to it after a while. Are you saying each was raised as a lone bird? That can mess them up as they often bond to whatever species they are raised with.

 

[guineagirl1000]

Keep the turkey in a pen, he will get used to it after a while. Are you saying each was raised as a lone bird? That can mess them up as they often bond to whatever species they are raised with.

Kumquat was was raised with his sister Pineapple, but she did not make it. At the time we had a guinea hen, who had a batch of 10 to 14 keets, and was very territorial. So I kept him in a bird run until they got used to each other. I spent at least a hour a day with him, and he followed me around everywhere. When mom's keets got older she allowed him to join the flock. He loves hanging out with his hens, and hanging out with me.

Turkey I rescued him with 3 other poults, they all had severe health issues. The 3 did not make it, but turkey did with intense care. He grew up around me, chickens, and guineas. He has always ignored wild turkeys in the neighbor hood that have tried to say hi.

Thanks for your advice! I will keep turkey in his pen, did not want to have to get rid of kumquat or turkey if i could avoid it, as they are imprinted onto me and would not adjust well

 

[guineagirl1000]

In my experience with guineas, once one of them develops an obsessive behavior it is almost impossible to break. Generally others in the flock begin mimicking the behavior. Be careful that the entire flock does not attack the turkey. Aggressive behavior will become worse in the spring when they start breeding.

Thank you for this advice, this is very good to know. I think I will continue to separate turkey from guineas.

 

[guineagirl1000]

Thank you all for your great advice! It was very helpful, and for now my guinea turkey problem is solved.