guineas out to kill the hens

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

mdbucks...you asked how many we have.
We have had different quantities of Guineas. We have had from 1 to over 60 at one time. Right now we have 22. Last week we had over 50.

This is just my experiences & DH's experience with Guineas and it is in no way meant to ruffle any feathers.
I don't want anyone to get Guineas with the mindset that they will happily co-exist in a pen with their pet chickens.

If they are free-ranging with adult hens, I don't worry too much about fighting. If I have young chickens (from new chicks with their Mom to 4 month olds) the Guineas will try to kill them & have succeeded at times to do so.

Our Guineas will fly into the main chicken yard with our pullets & terrorize them. Now I have a dog in with the pullets, so if a fight breaks out, the dog will break it up. Don't take this as a solution...this dog has lived with chickens since she was 9 weeks old, and has raised 2 litters of pups while in with the chickens.
I was just stating why I don't worry about the Guineas getting in an open run with my pullets.

Guineas will attack baby chicks. No question about it. And if you have more than one Guinea, the hen can't protect them.

Also, I know nobody here likes to talk about Fighting Game chickens (we DO NOT fight, have never been to a fight, and don't condone it), but just to enlighten folks, even if you have the meanest game cock in the county and have him tethered, (which we do not do) a trio of Guineas can & will surround him & kill him.

DH's family has had Guineas on this land since at least the early 1950's. The Guineas have always acted like this.
Guineas do not interact with chickens well. If they are free-ranging, they are better. I will NEVER pen Guinea fowl with chickens. We won't even put them in the same brooder. I made that mistake once! (Against DH's advice)

I am not against Guineas!
I love them and will have them as long as I live where fowl is allowed.
I just want people to be aware that some species should not be confined together. Guineas & chickens fall into that category.

Jean

 

[erinm]

Mine do free range with the chickens but it is definately a problem still. I have had to coop the guineas in the sick pen. I may have found someone in greenfield to take them by way of Rebel If you are here Thanks and i will wait for the info! Erinm

 

[MissPrissy]

My guineas are 3 months old. They free range our property. They hang out with the goats and never seem to even notice the chickens. We have a coop for the guineas and when we first let them out they came back every evening. Then one day they decided to roost in the goat barn. The rest is history. My guineas are destin for the rotisserie eventually closer to winter. I have never notice any agressive behavior with them. I have 6, we think 5 male and 1 female. Poor girl.

 

[speckledhen]

Prissy, you aren't at the point in their age yet where they become real problems. Mine were fine with the chickens till almost five months old, close to laying age. Chalk it up to raging hormones, but that condition in a guinea is a bear to deal with. Hope you never have the problem I did!

 

[robin416]

Listen to Jean. She knows, Cynthia knows, I know and Guy Gon Guinea on the old BYC knows. Those are just the folks I can think of with recent trouble.

There will come that age point where they will suddenly turn and go after the chickens. Right now my group of 4 month olds are fighting amongst themselves. I'm hoping my new chicken coop will be complete before they start on the chickens because quite honestly I don't know where I'm going to put them.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
They will be on a rotisserie or in the freezer by that age. That's the only reason we raised them.

The ones I had previously never were aggressive either. This behavior is all new to me.

 

[chicks rule]

I have seven guineas of various ages in with my chickens they have no problems other than the occasional pecking, they free range together, eat together and roost together, no problem. I have three 5 week old guineas and two chicks in a brooder together now in the coop and six three week old guineas in a brooder in the house, everyone is getting along wonderfully. Hope things work out for you, as they are great fun to have around.

 

[wren]

Hey Jean I really liked your post. It's very clear, and it's nice to hear from someone who has had chickens and guineas together. It gave me hope for my bunch. I love watching my guineas do their "GUINEA THANG". They have their own set of behaviors.

I have guineas and chickens together free range with a ton of shelter and food and water sources available - no problems yet. But they are young 3 months.

 

[Aun <HIS><]

What do you all think of bringing just one guinea keet in with the chickens? Or two at that most? My flock free-ranges. Would just one or two join in with the flock, roost with the flock, etc, or will one terrorize the chickens also?

 

[wren]

IMO, the general consensus is that a group of at least 7 guineas get along better. Also, they should not be in the same brooder as chicks nor ever have access to any chicken less than 4lbs and they go through a stage from 5 to 11 months of age where they will kill other poultry with the exception of grown geese and turkeys. If you can get past that stage they will mellow out somewhat and won't kill your chickens. There are a few people who have different experiences.

There are some strong opinions out there-I tried to sum it up. I took a stab at answering, anybody else ? Come on it, the water's fine.