guineas out to kill the hens

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I have not seen it end.

We have a Guinea rooster that is over 20 years old & he will still attack young chickens.

My Guinea's and some chickens have been 100% free rangers.
When the Game hens started hatching chicks, the Guinea's would chase & try to kill the chicks. We finally had to pen the Guineas in order for the hens to be able to raise their chicks and to protect the other youngsters we turned out.
After the youngest are about 3 to 4 months old, I'll probably turn the Guineas out again. Mine don't bother the grown hens very much unless the Guineas fly into a pen with the chickens. Our grown Game rooster (free range), who is THE ALPHA rooster, even gives the Guineas a wide path.

I would never try to keep them in a pen with chickens, they seem to never tire of chasing them.

Jean

 

[mdbucks]

Jean - How many guineas do you have? Seems everyone with 2-4 guineas are having problems. I have 12 and so far have had no problems. Some roughness between themselves but not with chickens. Mine are 6+months and have been with chicks since day one.

 

[Chatychick]

I have 22 guinneas and dont have a problem...I started out with 32 bout lost some due to other things. Mine get along witht he other chickens as they were all raised together and even the 2 turkeys I have hang with the guinneas. I do believe with more of them there is less room for problems. Mine come when called just like the chickens and go to roost with the younger chickens I have. Good luck maybe you need more than less of them.

 

[mdbucks]

chaty-how old are yours?

 

[Chatychick]

My guinneas are around 5 1/2 mths old and they chickens are 6 mths old that I got this summer well late spring and as long as the guinnea run which I let all of mine free range there isnt any trouble and with the older guinneas that I have they all pretty much get along. There might be a squabble but then its over . From what I have been reading most have a few as I have 22, and they usually stay out all day. But I did keep them all locked up together when they were smaller .

 

[speckledhen]

There is most likely truth to this numbers thing. At the time, I had ten pullets plus Hawkeye and four guineas. Now, I have many more chickens and would probably get more guineas the next time and have them hatched under a broody. Don't know if it would work out better, but I miss the goofy things and it would be worth a try.

 

[Chatychick]

I hear ya there I love my guinneas also and they come running when I call them. I got mine when they were a day old and started holding them so they wouldnt be so wild. They roam freely and when they do come home they are ready to eat and go to bed...Nope No squabbling here, also I would miss their lovely voice too if there wasnt any here...some hate the sound but I love it..

 

[robin416]

Cynthia, guess who hatched and raised my two groups of keets. Yep, my chickens did. Guess where the oldest group of keets are now. Yep, locked where they can't get at my chickens. The next group is almost old enough now that they too will have to be seperated from the chickens.

 

[speckledhen]

Guess it's just luck if they get along with chickens their whole lives, huh? Still, I miss them so much, especially when I see pics of them again.

 

[robin416]

I can almost guarantee you that if you can get past that first phase of their growing up that you can successfully have them.

When comparing my original group with the way they behave before being one year old until now you'd never believe I had such a horrible situation on my hands.

This older, teenage group wants to be in with the chickens something awful. But within a few minutes of being with them they slip right back in to the behavior that got them banned from the coop.