Guineas in time out

[Blessedchickens]

I have fourteen Australorps that are suddenly being terroized by my stealth guineas. They free range during the day and all pile into a very large coop at night (used to be tack stall) and have pretty much got along until now. I love my three guineas, but I put two of them in a very large dog crate today because I am tired of them running up to my hens and attacking them. I am not talking about them just pecking them. The hens flatten out to show the guineas they are boss and they jump on them and continue to peck them and grab their combs. I think I may have two males and they are frustrated. But they are not trying to mate or anything. The third guinea was suffering from an impacted crop, yeast I think because yogurt has cleared it. You can tell it still does not feel very well. I don't know what to do. I tolerated their behavior of running up and pecking a few of my bantams (who they grew up with as keets) but this is silly. One guinea grabbed a tuft of feathers out of one hens neck and ran around with it in his beak like a prize!!! Grrrrrrrrr!!

I am not sure what to do other than buy an Australorp Roo and let him take care of it! It is pretty random. They behave themselves, walk around the hens like it's no big deal then start chasing one. No one is facing them, pecking them or anything. Now I have seen a hen fluff her neck feathers but it has only been after she has been chased and it is making nervous sounds and walking AWAY from the guinea. I am suspicious is the heat in Texas is making them all crazy!!!

I don't get it.

Any ideas?!?!

 

[bigdawg]

get them a few girl friends.

 

[appychick]

I got 6 keets in April,released them on ranch very tame in June,July they became terrors to each other & the free range chickens. I decided I have 5 males & 1 female so ordered more guineas hoping for some more females for the males to share. And if that doesn't work,guess I will have to find out what male guinea meat tastes like.......

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I have 6 grown guineas (2 males, 4 females ). One top Pearl male is THE meanest critter and is so mean to the chickens. My rooster cower in the corner when the guineas are in the coop, so I don't think a rooster will help. Even my most aggresive boy turned into a coward.

I think you have three options: a) Find some females for them b) Build them their own coop ..or c) Get rid of them.

My guineas are super mean to all my chickens, so I finally decided to lock them and all my roosters in the same pen so that my hens could get some privacy.

As soon as my two pens of juvenile chicks are moved out the guineas are going into one of them, and that will be their coop and they will not be with the chickens any longer. The guineas and the chickens will be happier.

Just another warning, my guineas have killed several pullets that grew up with them. Be on your guard.

~ Aspen

 

[Blessedchickens]

Okay so what you are telling me is that they are bratty and watch out.

This is going to sound crazy but for a long time I have suspected them of pushing (pecking, chest butting whatever) a beautiful partridge silkie into the ground level horse trough, a.k.a. "duck pond" just for fun. Found him floating one day at lunch time when I came home from work. The silkie had no injuries, but you know they are not super bright. He could have just stood up and not drown but still I could SO see one of my guineas doing it for the fun of it.

I think there is a pretty could chance I have two male guineas and one female.

Now after about twenty four hours of being locked in a dog crate, I have to say that they are either not misbehaving around me or they are behaving better for the last few days. I will not tolerate animals that are just flat out mean so we may have to find out what guinea tastes like too. I will try getting more girls and see how that works first. We have a local guy who has them.

Funy note - I know one is a girl as one of my bantam cochin roos was trying so hard to mate and she tolerated it. That was funny!!!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
Yes.

That 'tis funny!!

When they start laying you should hatch out some of her eggs!

There is a thread on BYC devoted to Miracle a EE x Guinea cross. Sadly, she passed away right before she started laying!!

It is possible to cross a guinea and a chicken though. I also saw once a pheasant x chicken, and a pea x chicken!!

~ Aspen

 

[Blessedchickens]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

Quote:
Yes.

That 'tis funny!!

When they start laying you should hatch out some of her eggs!

There is a thread on BYC devoted to Miracle a EE x Guinea cross. Sadly, she passed away right before she started laying!!

It is possible to cross a guinea and a chicken though. I also saw once a pheasant x chicken, and a pea x chicken!!

~ Aspen

Who knows what I could end up with! I have ducks, guineas, Australorps, silkies and thsoe crazy bantam chochin roos. They are so determined!!!!
It could be interesting, if they ever figure out how to get off her neck! Ha!!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
Yes.

That 'tis funny!!

When they start laying you should hatch out some of her eggs!

There is a thread on BYC devoted to Miracle a EE x Guinea cross. Sadly, she passed away right before she started laying!!

It is possible to cross a guinea and a chicken though. I also saw once a pheasant x chicken, and a pea x chicken!!

~ Aspen

Who knows what I could end up with! I have ducks, guineas, Australorps, silkies and thsoe crazy bantam chochin roos. They are so determined!!!!
It could be interesting, if they ever figure out how to get off her neck! Ha!!

I also have a small flock of Black Australorps!

I have 8. Did have 11 but had a few "things" happen.

You should get Seramas!

They're the sweetest little chickens on earth!

I have 7 at the moment, and they're all so sweet.

~ Aspen

 

[Blessedchickens]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

Quote:

Who knows what I could end up with! I have ducks, guineas, Australorps, silkies and thsoe crazy bantam chochin roos. They are so determined!!!!
It could be interesting, if they ever figure out how to get off her neck! Ha!!

I also have a small flock of Black Australorps!

I have 8. Did have 11 but had a few "things" happen.

You should get Seramas!

They're the sweetest little chickens on earth!

I have 7 at the moment, and they're all so sweet.

~ Aspen​

Awwhh! Good to know. I love my sweet Australorps though. They have not even slowed down laying in this aboslutely ridiculous heat in Texas. Supposed to be 105 again today! I am so proud of my girls.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I also have a small flock of Black Australorps!

I have 8. Did have 11 but had a few "things" happen.

You should get Seramas!

They're the sweetest little chickens on earth!

I have 7 at the moment, and they're all so sweet.

~ Aspen

Awwhh! Good to know. I love my sweet Australorps though. They have not even slowed down laying in this aboslutely ridiculous heat in Texas. Supposed to be 105 again today! I am so proud of my girls.

Mine are only around 3 1/2 months old. I found an ad on CL, a lady had a large flock of BA's and was selling hatching eggs for $6.00 a dozen. So I bought two dozen hatching eggs, and hatched out 11/24. The 8 remaining chicks have such a good temperment, most of the time!

If they want food from you they will star attacking your feet!!

Do you have any pictures of yours, and the eggs they lay?

~ Aspen