Integrating two guinea flocks

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

We have one group of 1.5 yr old guineas, 7 female and 1 male. The cock has a harem of four hens; the other three hens hang on at the fringes of the group. I’d like a flock of about 20 with more males. I was unable to persuade guineas to hatch and brood their own eggs last summer, so we hatched eggs for them and brooded in our garage. We built a new, larger (8x16 ft) guinea coop and moved 11 keets out at about six weeks. There are at least five girls in this juvenile group, so let’s say sex ratio is about even. New coop is adjacent to older guinea coop and the adults have been visiting, seeing them through wire, for six weeks. I then made a temporary fence and let the juveniles outside, separated from adults by mesh for more integration time (see pics). Next step was to lock up adults and let juveniles out. Then, I let 1 or 2 of the “fringe” adult hens out with the 11 juveniles. Unfortunately, fringe adult guinea hens do not accept juveniles but try to attack them, even chasing them into the new coop, which adult guineas are unfamiliar with. These 3 mo old juveniles are quite afraid of even one adult hen.

So, I have two goals: 1) integrate two separate groups of guineas. 2) lock all in new coop with electric mesh run until old guineas accept the new coop to roost. I was hoping that they were more integrated than they are, and I could let all out together to continue integrating while free ranging. However, I’m afraid adults will attack juveniles and then they’ll fly to the woods and never return to the coop to roost. Without the adults attacking, the juveniles are doing great at returning to the coop at dusk to roost.

So, more integration fun is needed. Current plan, unless anyone has any other great ideas, is to add the new electric fence (25x25 ft run) now to the new Guinea coop, so juveniles can get outside time and hopefully adults will learn to accept juveniles through this fence. Anyone else have thoughts or better plans than I have???

 

[R2elk]

We have one group of 1.5 yr old guineas, 7 female and 1 male. The cock has a harem of four hens; the other three hens hang on at the fringes of the group. I’d like a flock of about 20 with more males. I was unable to persuade guineas to hatch and brood their own eggs last summer, so we hatched eggs for them and brooded in our garage. We built a new, larger (8x16 ft) guinea coop and moved 11 keets out at about six weeks. There are at least five girls in this juvenile group, so let’s say sex ratio is about even. New coop is adjacent to older guinea coop and the adults have been visiting, seeing them through wire, for six weeks. I then made a temporary fence and let the juveniles outside, separated from adults by mesh for more integration time (see pics). Next step was to lock up adults and let juveniles out. Then, I let 1 or 2 of the “fringe” adult hens out with the 11 juveniles. Unfortunately, fringe adult guinea hens do not accept juveniles but try to attack them, even chasing them into the new coop, which adult guineas are unfamiliar with. These 3 mo old juveniles are quite afraid of even one adult hen.

So, I have two goals: 1) integrate two separate groups of guineas. 2) lock all in new coop with electric mesh run until old guineas accept the new coop to roost. I was hoping that they were more integrated than they are, and I could let all out together to continue integrating while free ranging. However, I’m afraid adults will attack juveniles and then they’ll fly to the woods and never return to the coop to roost. Without the adults attacking, the juveniles are doing great at returning to the coop at dusk to roost.

So, more integration fun is needed. Current plan, unless anyone has any other great ideas, is to add the new electric fence (25x25 ft run) now to the new Guinea coop, so juveniles can get outside time and hopefully adults will learn to accept juveniles through this fence. Anyone else have thoughts or better plans than I have???

As you have found out, the "fringe" aka low pecking order members of the adult group are more likely to attack those they consider lower level than they are. Your top of the pecking order guineas will be more likely to ignore the younger flock than the lower ranking members.

You can try letting the top members out at the same time as the youngsters. Don't try to force them to get close together. Be happy if the adults keep to themselves and for the youngsters to do the same.

I really wouldn't try very hard to integrate the two flocks until the youngsters are at least 6 months old and close enough in size to be able to somewhat protect themselves.