IMPORTANT QUESTION...PLEASE HELP

[Rescuedrvr4u]

I already have 2 guineas, but they are both males so I wanted to get some females. Got 5 birds total on Sat. 3 from 1 source, all females, and 2 from another. 1 female, and since the male was all white decided to get him. Have them all separate from my flock. They have a little run plus a dry, warm place to go at night. Sat. night they all went in at dark and Sun. morning came out. Early in the day, the female that came w/ the male got in the corner of their little run and is just hovered down. The male is hovering over her. I couldn't even see her head, and I thought she was dead. When I touched her, she brought her head up, but puts it right back down. Sun. night they both went into their box, on their own, but Mon. morning when I opened the door for them to come out, same thing. They both came out on their own, she went to the same corner of the run, and he is hovering over her. Any ideas what is going on. My 2 original males have never done this so I don't know what to think. They WILL NOT (the new male and female) move from this corner until dark when they go into the box.

 

[KrisH]

Our Guineas DO NOT like change. We left a box in their house one afternoon, then forgot about it. that night we had to pick each one up and put them in the house. then went in and found out they were terrified of the little black box (was going to be a new nesting box).

They may just be terrified of the changes.

How do they do out on their own without the original two?

I hope they come around soon.

RobertH

 

[Rescuedrvr4u]

They are not anywhere near the original 2, or even the chickens. Again tonight, on their own, they did go into their box. I opened the top of the box and looked in and they all seem ok, but I just feel like they will do the same thing tomorrow. We'll see. Just wish I knew why they were doing this.

 

[KrisH]

I'm surprised they come out. I would have thought they would stay in if they were happy in the house.

RobertH

 

[PeepsCA]

Sounds like they are scared and defensive, in a new place they do not know, with birds they do not know. It's possible the pair were low birds from their original flock and just have that "must hide, avoid confrontation" mentality about them.

Have you seen them eating and drinking at all? Are the other 3 birds picking on them at all? Are they showing any signs of illness? If they are eating/drinking fine, are healthy and all is mellow between the 5, then these 2 just need some time to adjust to their new home, build up their confidence and relax. It doesn't always happen over night.

Feeding treats often and talking to them a lot so they get used to your voice being a good thing may help bring them out of their shell a little quicker...

 

[guineachicken]

What kind of treats do guinea's eat? I haven't found anything mine like????

 

[PeepsCA]

Scratch is considered a treat, plus things like millet, wild birds seed mixes, black oil sunflower seeds, fruits and veggies (mine especially LOVE leafy spinach or chard greens), meal worms and crickets from a pet store (or freeze dried meal worms), cooked plain rice, plain oatmeal, plain pastas, healthy, sugar free dry cereals etc. My adult birds like Sweet Feed/Wet Cob, that's their main craving and they will practically jump thru hoops to get some, lol.

Some Guineas are very picky/finicky eaters, and if they have not been fed a variety of feeds and treats growing up they may never be interested in treats of any kind.

 

[guineachicken]

I have three chickens in the same coop as my guinea's... The chickens lay their eggs with the guinea's in stead of in their own nesting box... The problem is... they break a chicken egg every now and then ... I try to remove the eggs and put fresh clean bedding down... I want to incubate the eggs... they are all nasty with egg & ick on them... How can I clean them off without hurting the "egg"???

Also.... how do i start a new lead on this??? Been looking for a while & can't figure it out.. HELP!!!!!

 

[zazouse]

I have seen people keep their guineas in cages off the ground, could it be they are just not use to the ground did you see where they were kept?
Congratulations on your flock you will love em at least i do.

 

[PeepsCA]

Have you tried putting some marked eggs (grocery store eggs) in the nesting boxes to encourage the Hens to lay there? Sometimes that helps to get my Guinea Hens laying in spots I choose, not spots they choose. Might help your chickens lay their eggs where the Guineas won't break them as often.

Washing eggs can force bacteria, poop and broken egg yuck in thru the pores of the egg, which can cause blood rings and embryo death at any stage during incubation, plus contaminant your incubator and entire batch of eggs. I try to set only clean eggs, but I have washed eggs before, this post in another thread explains how I do it.

There's a blue button to click on up above the forum thread list that says "Start a New Thread" .



ETA... There's also a grey button to click at the bottom of the last post in every thread that says the same thing.