Introducing chickens and guineas. Anything I should know?

[ShelleyAV]

Well, I'm new to Chickens and Guinea's and I have just learned how badly Guinea's can treat Chickens.
I have had all the chicks and guineas together since they were able to be outside this past summer and I had added some 2 year old Isa Browns.
Now the older hard working Isa's are in heavy molt and I came home to a dead chicken the other day.....couldn't figure out a reason for it and thought maybe old age.
So it seems I have some very mean Guineas as I found them picking on another old girl yesterday. They chased and pecked her relentlessly until I could get her out of the pen.
Maybe it is because I have 2 boy Guineas and 3 girls, or the heavy molt. I haven't found them to be this vicious although I've noticed they'd chase off the odd rooster before but nothing like I'd witnessed yesterday.
As of now it looks like I'll be rearranging my bird housing asap.

 

[PeepsCA]

Sorry for your loss, that's sad.

How big is your coop and pen set up? Guineas need more room than chickens do, especially when they reach adult size/age. 4 sq feet of floor space per bird in the coop is recommended (more is always better if possible tho), and they also need plenty of roosting space, up high. They don't do well in tight quarters, especially during breeding season when hormones are raging. Are the Guineas getting out to free range each day? Are they getting plenty of protein in their diet?. Breeding season is coming to an end, so the males should tone it down, but things like over crowding, insufficient free ranging time and not enough protein in their diet can and do typically lead to aggression problems like you are experiencing.

Hope you get it worked out, or something like separate coop/runs set up so there are no more losses.

 

[ShelleyAV]

I appreciate the feedback. My coop is small 8'x9' and 9' to 6' sloping ceiling they have roosts of varying heights all around the perimeter 5' to 7' high, one 9' long roost and four 8' long roosts and a lower ladder roost that we soon learned would not be enough

The coop is open at all times and the run is about 25' x 40', I have never shut the birds in the coop. The guineas can actually fly out but they don't stay out. Quite often all 5 are sitting on the coop roof and they fly in and out of the horse paddock.
I have 9 Isa Brown's, 6 Cuckoo Maran's, 2 Americauna crosses and 5 other assorted. I do have to dispatch 3 Roo's, probably lack of space and too many hormones causing the problem

I will up the protein and see if that helps some.
Thanks
Shelley

 

[Glen Hill]

Hi Mara,
We live in Natick and were looking to get some guinea hens. Can you please tell me where you got your guineas?

Thank you!