Help me, fighting & missing feathers

[Pokeman]

I am new to chickens and Guineas. I have 2 Hens, 1 rooster and 6 Guineas(3male,3 female) I have had them 3 weeks now.

Most of the guinea are now missing feathers on their backs & The Rooster lost so much he is almost bleeding. I caught a male guinea and the rooster fighting twice now. The Rooster is a very impressive Aracana or something like that. this all started happening in the last week.

They will be free ranged but are not yet. I bought the guinea's as adults so they need 6 weeks of pen time or like homing pigeons they will try to get home.

what should I do?

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I am going to guess that these are full grown birds who did not live together before you bought them. They are sorting out their pecking order. To some extent, you have to let this happen. However, if they start drawing blood, they might well kill each other. Safest thing to do would be to separate the fighters, keep them separated but where they can see each other for a while (like a week or a few weeks,) then try reintroducing, either while free ranging or on the roost at night. Some people have more luck than others keeping chickens and guineas together.

Lots of info here about chickens fighting and pecking in the Managing your Flock section.

 

[Pokeman]

Quote:
they are all full grown bird BUT they all lived together at their previous home. actually the lived with 60 guineas and 50 chickens all together. the pecking didnt start untill they were here

 

[Judy]

Then I would guess they are rearranging their pecking order. They will do that even if one arrives or leaves. I'd probably separate the roo and the male guineaa for a while and see if that stops the major violence. Chicken saddles will protect the bare backs, if needed, esp. if the areas are bloody. Very easy to make out of a little polarfleece fabric: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=167

Or just let them sort it out.

There are several ways to discourage pecking. Probably what most like best is BluKote (sp?) which is available at TSC or feed stores, etc. You spray it on. There are also chicken blinders you can order and put on their beaks or in their nostrils -- don't know much about that.

I have read that if you remove one for several days, when he is put back, he is at the bottom of the pecking order.

I was hoping someone else would chime in here; my knowledge on this is hardly extensive.

Good luck.