Guineas Are Bullies

[tlkjaw]

After having guineas for about 6 weeks (including the loss of 17 out of our 22 guineas) we thought we could get turkeys. From all the searching i've done I have found that turkeys and guineas get along. However when we bought our two turkeys we saw that they're beaks had been clipped. The turkeys look to be around the same age as the guineas (the owners were not sure how old they were because they had many different shipments mixed together) and the older turkey is already bigger then the guineas but they are still getting picked on.

As I check on the guineas and turkeys throughout the day I have noticed that the turkeys have been getting bloody beaks. For the first day I thought maybe it was from growing. Then over the next two days there wasn't any new blood on his beak so I figured that that was what the problem had been. Today I witnessed one of my guineas grab a hold of my smaller turkeys beak and shake it. I guess my instincts were right, that guineas are bullies.

(I also noticed that one of my guineas head was a little bloody above his eyes. Since he is losing his neck feathers I assumed that it was part of the balding process. Am I wrong on that too?)

So I need to know what I should do. Just leave them and assume it will stop as the turkeys get bigger or separate them?

 

[J-Sanders]

Guineas are territorial birds and the roosters do not tolerate other males of any species very well. Are you sure it was a guinea hen that was attacking the turkey?

Jim

 

[tlkjaw]

Yes, because at the time that I wrote this they had not been outside unless I was standing within view of them. I also know because I witnessed some of the guineas grab a hold of the turkeys beak and shake up. I ran up and snatched both turkeys from the coup and the one that was attacked was bleeding on his beak.

 

[J-Sanders]

I hope you get some resolution to your problem as it looks like the turkeys are taking a beating. Can you cull the offending guinea?

Jim

 

[zazouse]

How old are these birds. babies? how big of an area do you have them in?
What are you feeding them?

 

[De Wet]

for me guineas are one the most agresive gamebirds I have one who challenge my peacock, if i were you i will seperate them the turkeys will loose this one because they are bigger and slower than guineas

 

[PeepsCA]

I keep Turkeys and Guineas together with no issues... the keys to peaceful cohabitation for my flocks are lots of coop/run space per bird, adequate roosting areas, plenty of protein in the feed and LOTS of free range time. Guineas do tend to become cannibalistic, and attracted to blood (or the color red) so if you have injuries on any of your birds I highly suggest using a medication for livestock called Blu-Kote on the wounds... it instantly stains anything it comes in contact with purple, thus hiding blood/wounds/scabs etc.

 

[jbirds2012]

we got 19 guineas, 6 leghorns and 12 turkeys thet were shipped at 1 day old. they all lived together in peace for five weeks in the brooder. when the turkeys and chicks were 5 weeks i put them in a pen together at ground level so the grown ups could start getting used to them. right around that same time we got some bo's. when they were about 2 weeks old when i put them in with the guineas and they got along fine. i took the bo's out last week and put them in a pen at ground level. i am going to put the guineas down at ground level in about 2 weeks and in another 2 weeks i am going to slowly start letting one out at a time. maybe since they grew up with chickns and turkeys they all get along. well thats what im hoping anyway. im gonna find out in 4 weeks, thats fer sure.

 

[Mykee]

Can you post some pics of what's going on? Often new birds will get picked on at first, and the problem resolved later. I agree with Peeps-separate the turkeys and use some Blue-kote. Just be careful not to get any in their eyes. Give the birds some time to get used to each other. And

!

 

[ella&clara]

Guineas are definitely aggressive--they chased off my dogs (see a link in my blog to the video). I put mine in with my adult chickens, and they are doing fine, but the chickens are adults and the guineas are about 3 months old. The guineas do chase at the chickens, but the chickens are big enough to put the guineas in their place and we haven't had any bloodshed. I'd separate the two until the turkeys are bigger than the guineas, especially if the turkeys don't have beaks to peck back with.