How to introduce new guineas to group

[johnsonhillfarm]

I have 1 year old guinea fowl, 3 males, and 1 female. I had 9, but have lost 5 So I have 12 week old babies that have their own coop and run, but in another month, they will outgrow this coop and be big enough to join the other 4 in the larger coop/run. Right now the 4 adults are not free roaming (due to too many predators a the moment) My hope is to grow the group bigger so they can be better about defending themselves. But the adults are very very happy. Once in a while the alpha (Rufio) will pull out the feathers of one of the males, but other than that they are all happy. I have read some ways to introduce: do it at night at bedtime or divide the run so they can see each other without touching, but honestly, that will be very hard to do. I also have one baby that was born with a twisted leg. He and another guinea are buddies and sit on floor while others perch, so I am a bit worried about him getting picked on. I really need them all to be together though so any thoughts and ideas on how to do this would be appreciated. I know there is bound to be fighting as they fight for rank, but I don't want any deaths. I have lost 1 adult male from Rufio chasing him into the fence and his neck breaking.

 

[R2elk]

Do not try the introducing at night. That may work with chickens but I do not recommend it for guineas.

You have to do the see but no touch method. I built a 3 sided cage with a closed top that I screw onto a wall of my coop with the floor completing the enclosure.

I keep the keets in it with food and water until the attacks at the wire stop. This can be as short as a couple of days or much longer. Once the attacks stop, I start letting the keets out, usually at the rate of one a day.

I recommend that you cull the keet with the bad leg.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I have 1 year old guinea fowl, 3 males, and 1 female. I had 9, but have lost 5 So I have 12 week old babies that have their own coop and run, but in another month, they will outgrow this coop and be big enough to join the other 4 in the larger coop/run. Right now the 4 adults are not free roaming (due to too many predators a the moment) My hope is to grow the group bigger so they can be better about defending themselves. But the adults are very very happy. Once in a while the alpha (Rufio) will pull out the feathers of one of the males, but other than that they are all happy. I have read some ways to introduce: do it at night at bedtime or divide the run so they can see each other without touching, but honestly, that will be very hard to do. I also have one baby that was born with a twisted leg. He and another guinea are buddies and sit on floor while others perch, so I am a bit worried about him getting picked on. I really need them all to be together though so any thoughts and ideas on how to do this would be appreciated. I know there is bound to be fighting as they fight for rank, but I don't want any deaths. I have lost 1 adult male from Rufio chasing him into the fence and his neck breaking.

I would use the look don’t touch method, where the two groups of birds can see each other but are separated by wire. After a minimum of two weeks, see if your older birds are acting aggressive towards the new ones through the wire - like are they trying to peck the wire? If no longer aggressive, you can try introducing but it will be safer if you can let them all out. If introducing in your coop/run, make sure there are hiding spots where the young birds can get away if attacked.

 

[DatCampG]

Hello again. Since your September 10 post, how are all of your guienas doing?