Introducing 1 New Guinea hen to a flock

[Heidi Kendrick]

Needing advice. My mother in law gave me her 1 hen guinea to add to my small flock of 3 ( one hen two males) I'm new to all this and not sure what is right to do. My husband has thrown them all together. When I went to let them out in The morning, the original 3 left like always but the new one refused so I left her in pen and let my chicks out to keep her company. Then tonight I put chicks back in house and shut all four guineas up together. There is very little pecking but new hen stays on highest perch away from others. Is the normal and okay? Or I should do something different.

 

[GitaBooks]

Welcome to backyard chickens (and guineas too

) , so glad you could join.

How old are they? Are they still keets (chicks)? If they are young, they should learn to get along pretty quickly. Remember this though, guinea are infamous for needing to be kept inside their pen/coop for weeks before they learn it is their perching spot, or else they may not come back. Your keet just needs to learn that this is her home and her flock, and then she should get more comfortable.

Good luck!

 

[drumstick diva]

You may want to post on the Guinea thread - the people there would know the most about them. I think it is like chickens, they need a period of integration where they can see the new bird but, not be able to harm her. After awhile, things calm down.

 

[Cynthia12]

Wow, glad Gita knew..I remember my grandmother having them waay back in the property. They must have just roosted outside. I never saw them in the chicken coop, that's for sure. She had a huge chicken coop. Not sure where those other birds went at night.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!