Integrating chicks with Adult Guineas

[cackler]

We have 18 hens (all over a year old or so) and 6 guineas (who are almost a year old). I put our 10 4-week old chicks outside in a wire cage for a bit yesterday so they could peck around at the grass and see all of the other girls/boys through the wire. Well, the chickens were all fairly cordial, however, the guineas all gathered around the cage and stared and ran aggressively with wings puffed up. So now I'm a bit concerned for the welfare of the little ones. Are guineas more aggressive than chickens when it comes to mixing the old with the young? I didn't really have this trouble last year with the little chickens' introduction to the older hens.

 

[VTGIRL]

I've had no issues with my Guineas mixing with my birds.. I may just be that you put them in a cage, which the guineas have never seen before, and they were unfamiliar. I'm not an old hand at raising fowl that's just my experiance.

 

[joe17]

Not many people trust their guineas with their chickens. They have been known to kill chickens especially chicks. Much more aggresive. The puffing up at the cage is a sign to tell you not to intergrate them yet!

 

[txchickie]

Guineas will beat the tar out of your chicks. Don't do it.


I love my guineas, but sometimes they are not nice!

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

Funny I took my 3 week old out today and when the guinea saw us he came over and was showing intrest. They NeVeR come to me on there on unless it is first thing in the morning. He was really not being aggressive just showing intrest. Txchickie I do believe you are right with the guineas being way more aggressive. But the one guy that came over to inspect was just checking us out, not alarm calling or anything crazy. Actually he was kinda just chirpping very low, like he was talking to them I thought it was sweet but I would never trust him with these babies alone. Crackler good luck getting everyone to get along.

 

[cackler]

txchickie - that's what it looks like would happen if I let them all run together. I put them out again tonight in the cage. There was one guinea that seemed a bit protective of the chicks. She'd walk up and tilt her head and chirp at them. And the one that puffed up last night was running towards the cage and puffing up again. She'd just stare at them when she wasn't being aggresive towards them. I'm hoping that after several weeks of getting to know each other that guinea will chill out a bit. They did seem to all be as curious as last night - but hopefully over time they'll get used to each other. It's funny because the 18 chickens don't really seem to be all too interested - but the 6 guineas all gather around the cage together at times together.