Keets & chicken in the same coop

[BlissInBelize]

We got two guinea(keets) and 4 hens and 1 rooster a few days ago. First and second day the keets seemed to be able to hold their way but I'm noticing yesterday and today they are being picked on and chased off by the hens. Has this happened to anyone? Any advice suggestion is greatly appreciated as this is my first rodeo.

 

[R2elk]

We got two guinea(keets) and 4 hens and 1 rooster a few days ago. First and second day the keets seemed to be able to hold their way but I'm noticing yesterday and today they are being picked on and chased off by the hens. Has this happened to anyone? Any advice suggestion is greatly appreciated as this is my first rodeo.

Guineas are flock birds. I do not recommend having fewer than 10 guineas to get proper flock dynamics.

I do not recommend brooding or housing guineas with chickens. First the keets need a high protein turkey or game bird starter that has the higher levels of protein, lysine, methionine and niacin that keets need. Second imprinting with chicks removes their ability to understand that chickens aren't guineas once they are adults.

Everything can seem fine right up until the first breeding season. Guineas have ways that are uniqie to them. Other poultry can get very stressed by the chases, races and attacks from behind that go hand in hand with the feather pulling and breaking.

 

[BlissInBelize]

Guineas are flock birds. I do not recommend having fewer than 10 guineas to get proper flock dynamics.

I do not recommend brooding or housing guineas with chickens. First the keets need a high protein turkey or game bird starter that has the higher levels of protein, lysine, methionine and niacin that keets need. Second imprinting with chicks removes their ability to understand that chickens aren't guineas once they are adults.

Everything can seem fine right up until the first breeding season. Guineas have ways that are uniqie to them. Other poultry can get very stressed by the chases, races and attacks from behind that go hand in hand with the feather pulling and breaking.

Thank for that, I didn't realise regarding the mixing & flock size being an issue. From what I read previously it stated on many different pages that guineas and chickens can be kept in a coop together. The high protein part I have sorted.

 

[R2elk]

Thank for that, I didn't realise regarding the mixing & flock size being an issue. From what I read previously it stated on many different pages that guineas and chickens can be kept in a coop together. The high protein part I have sorted.

You can read places all over the Internet where people claim to be able to keep guineas and chickens in the same coop.

Most of those posts are by first time guinea keepers. Everything can seem to be going good right up until the first breeding season.

Some people manage to keep both in the same coop if they have an extra big coop and a sufficient number of guineas to satisfy their flock needs. Even those people don't tell the whole truth about the undesired actions of their guineas.

I raised guineas, chickens and turkeys together. I saw first hand how they tormented and harassed the other poultry. I now brood my keets separately, raise and house the guineas in their own coop. I can now let my guineas, turkeys and chickens free range in the same area at the same time without any issues.

You can search this forum and find threads about "Why are my guineas attacking my chickens?" that were posted by the same people that claimed their guineas and chickens got along. The attack threads usually follow the original threads about the time the first breeding season kicks in.

Read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by @PeepsCA .

 

[BlissInBelize]

You can read places all over the Internet where people claim to be able to keep guineas and chickens in the same coop.

Most of those posts are by first time guinea keepers. Everything can seem to be going good right up until the first breeding season.

Some people manage to keep both in the same coop if they have an extra big coop and a sufficient number of guineas to satisfy their flock needs. Even those people don't tell the whole truth about the undesired actions of their guineas.

I raised guineas, chickens and turkeys together. I saw first hand how they tormented and harassed the other poultry. I now brood my keets separately, raise and house the guineas in their own coop. I can now let my guineas, turkeys and chickens free range in the same area at the same time without any issues.

You can search this forum and find threads about "Why are my guineas attacking my chickens?" that were posted by the same people that claimed their guineas and chickens got along. The attack threads usually follow the original threads about the time the first breeding season kicks in.

Read the thread Raising Guinea Fowl 101 and pay particular attention to posts made by @PeepsCA .

Wow this is amazing! I cannot thank you enough for all the above info and sharing your first hand experience. I will go through the attachment. Thank you once again!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

We got two guinea(keets) and 4 hens and 1 rooster a few days ago. First and second day the keets seemed to be able to hold their way but I'm noticing yesterday and today they are being picked on and chased off by the hens. Has this happened to anyone? Any advice suggestion is greatly appreciated as this is my first rodeo.

Hi Bliss, first off, Welcome to Backyard Chickens! Are you in Belize? It’s amazing that we have member from all over the world on BYCs!

As to your post, I agree with R2elk that it’s best to brood separately as guineas will then be better behaved with your other Poultry. Also, I’m not sure how old all of your birds are, but only similar sized birds should be housed together. An adult hen could easily kill introduced keets or chicks.

 

[BlissInBelize]

Hi Bliss, first off, Welcome to Backyard Chickens! Are you in Belize? It’s amazing that we have member from all over the world on BYCs!

As to your post, I agree with R2elk that it’s best to brood separately as guineas will then be better behaved with your other Poultry. Also, I’m not sure how old all of your birds are, but only similar sized birds should be housed together. An adult hen could easily kill introduced keets or chicks.

Hi yes I am in Belize. This has been such a wonderful community and @R2elk advice has been a game changer for me. Yes I’ve come to learn that, thankfully we built a separate coop for the guineas and all is well so far