I placed an order.......gulp.

[snowwhitejen]

Well, I place an order for 5 guinea. I have not had any before. I have chickens and ducks, but thought guinea sounded interesting. I am reading so many negative stories of mixing guinea and chickens I am wondering if I have made a mistake.

Any words of wisdom from the pro's? I have a separate coop for my chickens and ducks. The ducks coop is down by our pond.

Feeling worried....

 

[50-45-1]

I have 12 chickens and 5 guineas right now, free range. I started the year with 9 guinieas and the ones I have lost were hens that were probably sitting on clutches of eggs where I could not find them. the Fox and Coyotes can find them much better than me. I have had
Guineas for 20 years. They are kind of neet to have from my prospective as they are comical to watch, beneficial in the yard and they are terrific tick control. They are much different from chickens. none of my guineas have ever been as friendly (pet like). but they are the first to know (even before the Dogs) that something is happening in the yard. If the Guineas start there 'alarm sound' all the chickens dive for cover and the dogs go ballistic. sometimes its a low flying buzzard, sometimes its the red tail or a fox and sometimes it the UPS truck. If you have close neighbors make sure they don't object to the LOUD noises these guys are going to make. Feeding requirements are different than chickens also. I'm in Michigan where there a couple months everybody is inside full time. I purchase second cutting Alfalfa hay to supplement there need for Greens and also relieves the boredom of a long winter closed in with nothing to do but pick on each other. I give them a small section of the bale each day that I can not let them out. Make sure your coop is big enough for everyone. My guineas occupy the top most rung of the roost ladder and they don't like anyone else next to them. The only chicken they tolerate up there next to them is my big rooster. Some people hate them, some people love them. count me as one of the Lovers!

 

[Dmontgomery]

It’s been my experience that guineas and chickens can get along reasonably well as long as they have plenty of space. We have 11 guineas and 50+ chickens. They all free range during the day but are cooped up together at night. They pretty much mingle on the roosts and sleep side by side.
I’m almost positive they would not get along if they all had to stay in the coop/run together all day long. Some mornings they get in to scuffles if I don’t let them out right at sunup. Guineas “play” rough and the chickens don’t like it too much.
The only true fight they’ve ever had was the first day the guineas came to us a couple years ago. I tried to lock everyone in together so the guineas could learn this was their new home and not fly off. The male guinea and our Alpha rooster went at it pretty hard. I had to physically separate them so no one got seriously hurt, but it was nasty. Since that day, they’ve all coexisted peacefully. The Alpha rooster is still boss of the coop, but everybody else has a healthy respect for the guineas.