Guineas Pecking Flock Members at Night

[Let There Be Light]

Helloo, I have a mixed flock of chickens and guineas that roost in the same coop. Well my guineas (Peabrain, Thing 1, and Thing 2) can't see anything at night and will peck anything that isn't themselves, including the chickens. This has made most of the chickens sleep on top or in the nesting boxes, I don't want to house them separate, but is there another way to fix this?

 

[R2elk]

Helloo, I have a mixed flock of chickens and guineas that roost in the same coop. Well my guineas (Peabrain, Thing 1, and Thing 2) can't see anything at night and will peck anything that isn't themselves, including the chickens. This has made most of the chickens sleep on top or in the nesting boxes, I don't want to house them separate, but is there another way to fix this?

There are two methods that will work in addition to separate housing. Method 1 is to rehome them where they can be with other guineas. The pecking and attacking the chickens is going to get worse when breeding season starts.

Method number 2 is to process them. Guineas are delicious.

 

[Let There Be Light]

There are two methods that will work in addition to separate housing. Method 1 is to rehome them where they can be with other guineas. The pecking and attacking the chickens is going to get worse when breeding season starts.

Method number 2 is to process them. Guineas are delicious.

Haha!
We keep guineas for numerous reasons other than pets, so we won't rehome or eat them.
They don't pull feathers out or anything, they just panic. Thing 1 pecked me once when it was dark even though he's quite tame and not aggressive.
Separate housing is the only solution I can think of, but wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Haha!
We keep guineas for numerous reasons other than pets, so we won't rehome or eat them.
They don't pull feathers out or anything, they just panic. Thing 1 pecked me once when it was dark even though he's quite tame and not aggressive.
Separate housing is the only solution I can think of, but wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas.

I’ve had some roosting issues with my chickens and bachelor rooster flock. One thing I’ve done is hand curtains or another divider so that the roosting space is divvied up. See for example: https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/17177372

 

[Sydney65]

I only have guineas-Rosie has always made it clear that she is the matriarch. She knows who she does/doesn't want roosting next to her, would side step over other birds to reach the offender daring to be on her roost or otherwise irritating her in order to peck.Just one at a time, if you didnt learn the first time, she'll bring another. She particularly has little patience for birds who disrupt the calm of the coop by panicking & fluttering about or being loud. She's cont this behavior with her own keets. You can be all kinds of loud & stupid outside, but not inside the coop. (Ps-it will get no better with time, you're setting your chickens up for mental & physical trauma).

 

[Let There Be Light]

So I tried the cardboard divider and my guineas prefer to roost with the chickens, lol. I had to move the guineas from the chickens, even though I let the guineas have their favorite roosts. So while I was doing that I noticed some of the chickens pecking each other, including Boo and Doodle. The weird thing about Boo and Doodle pecking each other is that Boo and Doodle were raised together and are best friends. (Boo doesn't really like any of the other hens.) I really think my birds are just dumb, ha ha.

 

[Sydney65]

So I tried the cardboard divider and my guineas prefer to roost with the chickens, lol. I had to move the guineas from the chickens, even though I let the guineas have their favorite roosts. So while I was doing that I noticed some of the chickens pecking each other, including Boo and Doodle. The weird thing about Boo and Doodle pecking each other is that Boo and Doodle were raised together and are best friends. (Boo doesn't really like any of the other hens.) I really think my birds are just dumb, ha ha.

It's a learned behavior, monkey see monkey do. So if they've been pecked it's as if so THATS what this pointy thing on my face is for! As I said, I don't have chickens, just passing on what has been said before. Likewise, if it cont., w/guineas, you'd be told to give the aggressor a time out for a day or so. I think @R2elk can advise on this, of not, try a chicken thread.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So I tried the cardboard divider and my guineas prefer to roost with the chickens, lol. I had to move the guineas from the chickens, even though I let the guineas have their favorite roosts. So while I was doing that I noticed some of the chickens pecking each other, including Boo and Doodle. The weird thing about Boo and Doodle pecking each other is that Boo and Doodle were raised together and are best friends. (Boo doesn't really like any of the other hens.) I really think my birds are just dumb, ha ha.

My chickens are all jerks in the roosts. When I was a more idealistic chicken keeper, I would stand there and try to make them behave at bedtime. Now I just ignore them and let them peck each other… I have unused roost space, but they all want the same roost. I only intervene now if I’m having problems at integration, then I’ll add a temporary divider or stand there and keep the aggressor in check until dark. The guineas are the same, pretty obnoxious to each other until it gets dark and they settle down.

 

[Sydney65]

My chickens are all jerks in the roosts. When I was a more idealistic chicken keeper, I would stand there and try to make them behave at bedtime. Now I just ignore them and let them peck each other… I have unused roost space, but they all want the same roost. I only intervene now if I’m having problems at integration, then I’ll add a temporary divider or stand there and keep the aggressor in check until dark. The guineas are the same, pretty obnoxious to each other until it gets dark and they settle down.

forgot you had chickens, too

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

forgot you had chickens, too

And ducks! But only four now…