Male guinea attacked my two year old

[Unicornlife3316]

Yalllll what is wrong with these birds.

My daughter and I were standing on the driveway with the guineas, she was standing RIGHT next to me, holding my hand and all the sudden my alpha male ran and jumped at her, he scratched her tummy a little bit but didn’t break skin. It looked like he was coming back after her for a second time so I kicked his ass away from her and ran back across the cattle guard to get her in the house and away from them.

Is this common!? What is wrong with him!?!?
She is ALWAYS with me around them, she helped me care for them when they were keets, they have LITERALLY been with her since day 1 of moving in. I’m so frustrated with these darn birds.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wouldn't trust any intact male animal, especially poultry around little kids. Unfortunately kids seem to draw in attacks due to their erratic behaviors and squealing noises. Either pen the birds up or put them in the freezer. I personally don't like guinea, so I'm not familiar with their behaviors. Get rid of that bird for sure, and any others that make you think twice.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

I wouldn't trust any intact male animal, especially poultry around little kids. Unfortunately kids seem to draw in attacks due to their erratic behaviors and squealing noises. Either pen the birds up or put them in the freezer. I personally don't like guinea, so I'm not familiar with their behaviors. Get rid of that bird for sure, and any others that make you think twice.

She wasn’t squealing, she wasn’t doing ANYTHING.

They’re not meant to be penned, they’re to be free ranged. We are always with them.

I was hoping to get opinions from other guinea owners.

 

[libarena]

My guess would be that he’s guarding a nest somewhere and she was easier to go after than you. My guineas are pretty low key and haven’t shown any aggression to anyone, even when I’m poking them off the roof. So I cant really help from experience. If he does it again, I would begin to look around for a nest and if there isn’t then keep your daughter away from him? So strange that he would do that!

 

[red horse ranch]

She wasn’t squealing, she wasn’t doing ANYTHING.

They’re not meant to be penned, they’re to be free ranged. We are always with them.

I was hoping to get opinions from other guinea owners.

I agree with you that guineas aren't meant to be penned. It defeats the purpose of having them in the 1st place if they can't free range.
But.... I have had aggressive guineas that had to be rehomed. I've haven't had a guinea attack a child or any person but during breeding season their behavior can be kind of erratic. And they will attack and fight other poultry on my place.
My first course of action is to confine the aggressive bird. (put them in jail for a few days)
If that doesn't help then I would suggest sending him to another home or the dinner table.

Under no circumstances would I allow a child to be hurt without dire consequences for the culprit. Since the guinea has been hand raised he has no fear of or respect for humans. And your daughter felt like a threat to him or his mate for some reason. But his behavior was totally unacceptable.

 

[ShannonR]

Oh boy..... if a guinea or anything else did that to my kid, they would be on the dinner table that very night. This is your CHILD at stake here, and everything else comes second. If you "rehome" the bird, you are just making an aggressive animal someone else's problem. I find that to be really irresponsible and selfish, personally. Guinea is delicious when it's smoked.....

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Let me clarify—

This was the first time anything has EVER happened. No females so no nests he was guarding. I did not allow her to be around them again PERIOD. If I went down to feed she stayed in the mule and doesn’t get anywhere near them. I would NEVER put my child in harms way, he had never acted aggressively towards any of us and I had no reason to think he would.

However.. since then he was killed by a bobcat.. my flock seems much happier without him. No more problem bird for me.. now just a cat problem.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Oh boy..... if a guinea or anything else did that to my kid, they would be on the dinner table that very night. This is your CHILD at stake here, and everything else comes second. If you "rehome" the bird, you are just making an aggressive animal someone else's problem. I find that to be really irresponsible and selfish, personally. Guinea is delicious when it's smoked.....

I would never have rehomed him, you’re right that would be incredibly irresponsible. Nowhere did I mention rehoming him. I would have killed him and let someone else have him for dinner since guinea isn’t my thing.

Like I said in my other comment, he’s no longer an issue because he was killed by a bobcat Sunday night.

 

[ShannonR]

Good on you for protecting your child! And it must be a relief to you that he is gone now. Sorry to hear about the cat problem though, that doesn't sound good.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Good on you for protecting your child! And it must be a relief to you that he is gone now. Sorry to hear about the cat problem though, that doesn't sound good.

Yea, I’m not sure why anyone would assume I wouldn’t protect my child, especially over some stupid birds.

It is a relief that he’s gone, just sucks one the the babies got killed too. The 8 left seem to be doing well without him though.