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[ChickenTender25]

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[R2elk]

Hey y’all! I have 10 chickens and recently purchased a guinea fowl to protect them. When I purchased the guinea I also purchased a new chick so that I could raise them together in hopes the guinea will be a little better behaved than it’s reputation says. However, my guinea is already itching to explore and flying out of the chick enclosure. Is it too soon to move him/her to the coop?

Guineas are flock birds and need more of their own kind to be with. Raising them with chickens can cause them to turn very mean to the chickens because they can be very mean to each other. Chickens do not understand guinea behaviors and can become very stressed once the guineas start the behaviors that their hormones cause. Chickens do not understand the all out chases or the attacks from behind and the feather pulling or breaking.

One guinea is not going to protect your flock of chickens from anything and is more likely to harm your flock of chickens than anything else.

All the protection ability that you read about guineas is because there is a flock of guineas, a single or even a pair of guineas are lucky if they can escape danger themselves. They are not about to protect a flock of chickens.

 

[R2elk]

I’ve done tons of research that says that guineas SHOULD be raised with chickens if you have chickens so that they don’t attack them and that it helps their temperament to be better.

You obviously haven't read the right sources. I have raised guineas with and without chickens and there is a huge difference. Guineas that are raised with chickens imprint with the chickens. This removes their ability to understand that chickens are not guineas. Everything can seem fine right up until, their hormones kick in. Once their hormones kick in they begin doing their guinea things. The chickens do not understand the races and chases and do not understand the attacks from behind along with the feather pulling and feather breaking. They also do not know how to show submission as a guinea would so cannot get the attacks to stop.

The guineas that I have raised separately from my chickens (I also house them separately) do not bother any of the rest of my poultry. They understand that the other poultry are not guineas and just keep to themselves.

I’ve also read that guineas are independent and don’t need more of their own kind.

In all the years I have been reading about guineas, I have never seen this claim made before. People who know guineas know they are a flock bird.

Guineas are a flock bird. They also tend to pair up with one hen for one cock bird. Some cocks will choose to have more than one hen but others are satisfied with a single mate. The males will even help to raise the keets. Other than breeding and nesting season the whole flock will stick close with each other.

If really want to learn about guineas, read the Raising Guinea Fowl 101 thread and pay particular attention to posts made by @PeepsCA .

 

[Helloworld]

Guineas hate chickens. They need their own. They don’t protect chickens unless you count them having their heads ripped off before chickens. I had two that I housed with chickens for a little while and once they reached 12 weeks chickens started dying. We house them alone.

 

[mkeawsh]

Guineas are social birds. They need their own kind. Probably will fly off in the intent to find other guineas.