Lost and alone

[Kmac1]

I have one guinea left from the original 14, the last one I believe to be a female. She now comes to the back patio door and will spend hours looking in the glass (I suppose at her reflection) thinking she has a mate. Does this sound right???? What if anything should I do?????

 

[rIrs roost]

Either get more guineas or give her to someone with guineas. They need to be with a flock.

 

[rIrs roost]

I know I had one with my flock of chickens. He done well when he was young but later started chasing my chickens to death almost. I hated to get rid of him but when I saw how happy he was with other guineas, I knew I made the right chose.

 

[Kmac1]

This is an update to my lone survivor Guinea. I have trust Ed a couple times to catch my last surviving Guinea and put her in the pen with the 10 keets but without success. So last night I heard her raising nine kinds of heck like the owl was attacking again so I ran outside expecting to see a 5 lb owl trying to fly off with my 4 lb Guinea, not so. She was on top of the pen where I have the keets making such a commotion as if she was telling me to get my butt over there and let her in the pen with her young. I went over there and opened the gate to the pen and like she had had been doing it her whole life slowly walked in through the open gate. She was making a sound I've never heard like she was calling to them to gather round. She has not left the pen yet even though I have a very large run for them. I think it's just cool the way it all came about. Thanks Willie

 

[rIrs roost]

That's great news. Wish I could've kept mine. But I couldn't get more and he was happy to be with his new friends.

 

[Kmac1]

Update: The adult Guinea has started charging at the baby chicks while the Guineans follow her around like they were here brood. Should I seperate them or wait and see what happens. So far it's more like she just charges 3-4 steps then stops. Willie

 

[rIrs roost]

I'd just keep an eye on them. Honestly I'm not to familiar with them. I'm assuming they have a pecking order like chickens but I'm not sure. @Wishing4Wings can probably help you.

 

[Kmac1]

Latest update: it's been 3 weeks since my last post about my lone survivor Guinea. I finally determined she was actually a he. The aggression towards my bantams and all my other chickens not only continued but steadily got worse, to the point it was like he did not want the chickens to eat or drink. I didn't have time or material on hand to seperate them so I relocated the adult male to greener pastures. So now I have 5 bantams, 4 RIR pullets, 6 chickens and 10 guineas. They are all approx the same age +/-4 days and they all roost together, forage together flock together with no aggressive behavior from any of them. I have 3 white chickens with black spots and feathers on their feet and 3 black chickens that are hanging with the guineas a lot. These 16 birds were all brought home the same time and put in the pen together at the same time. My bantams and RIR's were brought home 3-4 days later kept inside under a headlamp for a few days then turned out with the flock. All these birds kinda hang toether. Has anyone experienced this type of behavior and do you think my guineas will become bullies as they become adults? They free range all day and only come to the coop to roost or for water. Thanks

 

[R2elk]

Latest update: it's been 3 weeks since my last post about my lone survivor Guinea. I finally determined she was actually a he. The aggression towards my bantams and all my other chickens not only continued but steadily got worse, to the point it was like he did not want the chickens to eat or drink. I didn't have time or material on hand to seperate them so I relocated the adult male to greener pastures. So now I have 5 bantams, 4 RIR pullets, 6 chickens and 10 guineas. They are all approx the same age +/-4 days and they all roost together, forage together flock together with no aggressive behavior from any of them. I have 3 white chickens with black spots and feathers on their feet and 3 black chickens that are hanging with the guineas a lot. These 16 birds were all brought home the same time and put in the pen together at the same time. My bantams and RIR's were brought home 3-4 days later kept inside under a headlamp for a few days then turned out with the flock. All these birds kinda hang toether. Has anyone experienced this type of behavior and do you think my guineas will become bullies as they become adults? They free range all day and only come to the coop to roost or for water. Thanks

At this age the behavior that you are seeing is very common. When the first breeding season rolls around next spring, everything will change. I housed guineas with my chickens and turkeys. I now house my guineas separately. Guineas just do not have the same mannerism that other poultry have. They also need much more room than do other poultry.

Good luck.