Guineas with chickens? Is that possible?

[robin416]

Quote:
I'm very sorry about your rooster!!!

Did he live?

Yes, he did. During the warmer months I'm outside almost full time. So got to him before they tore him up.

That's another thing, Guineas have a language both vocal and body. When you've had them long enough you begin to recognize both and what the language is saying. When I heard the flock I knew something was up and sure enough there was my rooster cowering trying to hide from the flock as they struck at him.

 

[lvchicken]

Quote:
I'm very sorry about your rooster!!!

Did he live?

Yes, he did. During the warmer months I'm outside almost full time. So got to him before they tore him up.

That's another thing, Guineas have a language both vocal and body. When you've had them long enough you begin to recognize both and what the language is saying. When I heard the flock I knew something was up and sure enough there was my rooster cowering trying to hide from the flock as they struck at him.

Well that's interesting. Have they attacked any of your other chickens?

 

[robin416]

Not since my numbers increased to where they are now. I have two egg layers that go down and raid the Guinea coop every day. They could care less and don't bother them at all.

If I set up a temp pen in the backyard they will come investigate the chickens in it or if I'm staying right there and let a pen out in the open they'll investigate and move on. But if I was to put a new chicken out in the yard all bets are off. Until they get accustomed to the new bird they will try to run it off or kill it.

 

[Barn Maid Ann]

When we got our new batch of 5 Guinea keets last summer, my husband built a really nice coop for them right next to the chicken coop. Once old enough, we turned them loose and they free ranged with the chickens. It wasn't long before they were roosting at night in the chicken coop with our 8 chickens, which includes one Rooster. So the Guinea coop has been empty all winter. So far everyone gets along. There is an ocassional minor skirmish when I throw some scratch feed as a treat. The guineas pick on each other and rarely even pay much attention to the chickens. Once I let them out in the AM, the Guineas go on their way. Every once in a while we find the chickens and guineas in a group, digging up my flower bed.

Ann

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Thats been my experience.

Though this time around I am keeping them separate. Because I want to raise Guineas as well as several different breeds of chickens I am dividing up spaces for each in a much larger chicken house. Each will have their own run as well as a much larger run area that I can alternate access for places to explore.

 

[lvchicken]

Quote:
Are Guinea coops any different from chicken coops? Do they have different roosting needs or anything like that?
As far as you can tell, I am completely new to Guineas, so I hope I am not driving all of you crazy with all of my questions!!

 

[robin416]

About the only differences are putting roosts as high as possible and still leave head room. And making hiding places for low birds to shelter in when flock leaders are being obnoxious. I've got five pieced of plywood leaning against the walls for hiding spots or nests, whichever they choose to use them for.

 

[lvchicken]

Do Guinea females have a chance of being over mated with like chicken hens do?

 

[SunflowerChicks]

Our guineas winter over with our chickens but come spring breeding season they have to be seperated till breeding is over then they go right back to being together! We have had guineas for about 6 yrs and never had them over breed like chicken rooster do!Our guineas get penned up once they start laying due to there great ability to hide there nests and there very bad ability to be good parents!

 

[featherz]

My guineas did fine with my chickens and would cry if they went away.. but I had 17 of em! They were all raised together from chicks. They'd all march into the coop together and roost together. Had to rehome the guineas eventually due to the noise, but someday I'll have them again, most likely in their own coops.

A short vid of when they were young: