Mixed flock of Guineas and Chickens (hens)

[lutz123]

So...I currently have 2 brooders full of 11 chicks and 2 keets, and an incubator with a dozen guinea eggs and really need to get my coop going!! My ideal number, knowing that it will inevitably change (grow), is to finish up with 6-8 guineas, and 4-6 chicken hens. I will likely keep any guineas from this hatch simply because there are a number of predators. I highly doubt they would all make it a year. I will likely free-range the guineas during the day, and keep the chickens their covered coop/run unless I'm outside to supervise. I've not decided whether to divide the coop into separate areas, or to coop everyone together.

I'm familiar with folks saying it worked or didn't work to house them together, but haven't really been able to follow specifics for each of those situations. Is it better that I won't be keeping roosters? Should I have a more assertive chicken breed? Does allowing more space per bird help? Separate roosting/hiding areas? More guineas, less guineas? I'm sure that people have lots of different experiences - some have probably never had a problem no matter what, while others just can't make it work. But are there any situations where it just really doesn't work at all?

Thank you!!
Ashley

 

[texascowboy1979]

Well.. Like you said, what works for one may not work for another, and what does not work for one, will work for another.

THis is my story.

My Guineas and Chickens, and ducks, and what not... can live together in harmony.. up until a certain age.. then SNAP... the war is on!!!

I keep them in separate pens, and have my extra males free range... I also have roosters free range, but its never a TAG team effort. One guinea will go after the turkey, and one guinea will taunt the peacocks. I see it as good excersie, there is pleanty of room for them to get away. IVe also noticed that the agression is mostly in spring with LOVE Is in the Air.

One thing you may want to try.. which Just clicked in my head, have obsticals in the pen, pleanty of perches for them to get away from others, and not to many HIDING places cause then one will hide and get beat up from behind.

Best of luck. If you can pull it off with both birds together.. let me know what you did.

 

[Anianna]

I heard that you can keep them together but that you must let the guineas free range or they get real mean penned up. Several people with dual flocks say that the guineas may or may not choose to stay in the coop and some prefer to roost in trees or on roofs instead of roosting in the coop with the chickens. If you live in a colder climate where the birds have to come inside for part of the year, I suspect you may have a bit more bickering. It sounds to me like the boys tend to be meaner than the girlies. I plan to get a few guinea hens next week at a swap and raise them with my new chickens. I hope they get along.

 

[PeepsCA]

There are just as many people that have happy mixed flocks of Guineas and chickens as there are those that have major issues with the 2 different species co-habitating together. If you can afford to house them separately, (hopefully side by side) but let them free range together... I think that is your best bet.

From what I've seen/read, most people that have complaints about their Guineas being mean to chickens (or other poultry) have not stated if it is year round, or just during breeding season. My guess is that it's mostly during the breeding season or right before it. I've only raised Guineas on my ranch for the past 5 yrs, but have spent hours and days observing their behavior, all thru the different seasons. On my ranch, breeding season takes the cake as far as aggression issues with Guineas goes.

Everyone has their own variables and own circumstances that help them achieve a happy co-mingled flock. All you can do is give it a try and see what works and what doesn't, keeping in mind you may have to make necessary adjustments along the way.

IMO, 2 Guineas is not enough, since they are a flock oriented bird, and the more space per bird that is provided is ALWAYS better, no matter what species of poultry you raise.