Nine Week Old Guinea Severely Picking On One

[mkeawsh]

I originally posted this just on the guinea fowl forum but saw the club and thought I would post it here.

I have to do something before they slowly kill him/her. ---


I have a dozen 9 week old Guineas, one is handicapped but that is not the one the other 10 are picking on. And they are severely picking on him/her. I'm considering putting a cage inside the flight cage just to let him/her have some relief from them. He/she shoves him/her self in a corner and does not move for fear of being abused - which does happen.

Why are they doing this and what should I do? I have a big enough cage to place in there to accommodate food and water for him/her. So, he/she won't be separated from them just won't let them get to him/her.

 

[chickenmadness7]

I actually think I would separate him completely from the flock not just for his safety but also for his psyche. It sounds as though he's rightfully terrified. Poor little guy.

 

[mkeawsh]

I have. He is in a nice size cage where they are. The little one is so much more calm by it's self - eating, drinking. I put electrolytes and probiotics in the water to give it a boost. I have taught them to come when I blow a specific whistle to come for a treat and I make sure the a sufficient amount ends up in the little ones cage.

What do you think about when I get to release them to free range? It could stay away from the rest but will they chase it away? Still have many weeks to decide but would like to have made some decision early on, especially if I am going to have to keep it separated when I call them in at night. I was thinking about letting only that one out some days and keeping the rest in. What do you think?

 

[malinois]

Can you determine if it is male or female yet? I have a flock of 6-8 guineas that constantly harassed one hen. I am not sure all the reasons, but a year into it, one other female went missing-assume sitting on a nest somewhere,and that hen that was picked on has became queen.
Strange birds these are.....

 

[mkeawsh]

Can you determine if it is male or female yet? I have a flock of 6-8 guineas that constantly harassed one hen. I am not sure all the reasons, but a year into it, one other female went missing-assume sitting on a nest somewhere,and that hen that was picked on has became queen.
Strange birds these are.....

I think it's a female and it seems that the one that picks on her the most is male. I don't get it.

 

[gguineasfamily]

Does she look different? They should improve but maybe you should start punishing the one that picks on her most. Put the mean one in the cage while the others free range and see if your poor little guinea gets along with the others any better when the mean one is locked up.