Someone wanted to get rid of some guineas because they weren't getting along with one of the show roosters. So I took 5 and I have 3 cocks and 2 hens. I want to get some more laying hens so the males will all be happy.
Everything was going well. They went through their acclimation time and they were all happy and didn't stray from home. There is one male, Buffy, who was dominant and he decided he wanted both of the hens in his harem and was chasing the other males. I came home from work this afternoon and he was missing! One of the females kept walking up and down one area calling for him. I kept the window open so I could hear what was going on. I heard a distant call and went outside and here he came up the ditch. Poor guy is soaked to the bone because it's been pouring all day. He may have gotten in the drainage ditch, too.
As he was walking up, the gang started making a racket and one of the males jumped on him and pecked his head several times and his back. Buffy was against the garage door and couldn't get away. I shooed the other male (Larry) off and put Buffy in the pen by himself until I could get a kennel set up. He just sat back in the corner.
I put a towel in the dryer to warm it up and put it and Buffy in a cat carrier. He's in the garage recovering. But when I picked him up, there are bloody peck marks on his neck. What should I do? I've read that guineas heal fairly well and rapidly but am I doing the right thing? Should I put him in the pen and lock the others out? I don't want him to be an outcast but I don't want him to get hurt either.
Suggestions?
I really wanted my first post to be a happy one but I'm a sad guinea mom. BUT to end on a positive note, I love these guys. They have given me a lot of entertainment and enjoyment. If I could get the dog to stop chasing them we'd be one big happy family (except for today's incident). I want to build a bigger house and get a bigger flock. But first I want to do right by Buffy. (He is named Buffy because he is buff speckled and we thought he was a girl. Another one, Jo, was originally Joe because we thought she was a cock,)
I wish the dog would not try to get Buffy; I'd bring him in the house for a little bit.
Everything was going well. They went through their acclimation time and they were all happy and didn't stray from home. There is one male, Buffy, who was dominant and he decided he wanted both of the hens in his harem and was chasing the other males. I came home from work this afternoon and he was missing! One of the females kept walking up and down one area calling for him. I kept the window open so I could hear what was going on. I heard a distant call and went outside and here he came up the ditch. Poor guy is soaked to the bone because it's been pouring all day. He may have gotten in the drainage ditch, too.
As he was walking up, the gang started making a racket and one of the males jumped on him and pecked his head several times and his back. Buffy was against the garage door and couldn't get away. I shooed the other male (Larry) off and put Buffy in the pen by himself until I could get a kennel set up. He just sat back in the corner.
I put a towel in the dryer to warm it up and put it and Buffy in a cat carrier. He's in the garage recovering. But when I picked him up, there are bloody peck marks on his neck. What should I do? I've read that guineas heal fairly well and rapidly but am I doing the right thing? Should I put him in the pen and lock the others out? I don't want him to be an outcast but I don't want him to get hurt either.
Suggestions?
I really wanted my first post to be a happy one but I'm a sad guinea mom. BUT to end on a positive note, I love these guys. They have given me a lot of entertainment and enjoyment. If I could get the dog to stop chasing them we'd be one big happy family (except for today's incident). I want to build a bigger house and get a bigger flock. But first I want to do right by Buffy. (He is named Buffy because he is buff speckled and we thought he was a girl. Another one, Jo, was originally Joe because we thought she was a cock,)
I wish the dog would not try to get Buffy; I'd bring him in the house for a little bit.
