ON THE RUN AGAIN ...

[Moon888]

Thursday 13 Nov 2025
A STRANGE STORY OF MY CO-EXISTING BIRDS

At the moment, we have a large peacock run, with 4 hens, two guineas, and three peas in the "Pea House" (partly closed and partly open with wire mesh to keep preditors out).

Previously I have had three guineas who were either been taken by a carpet snake (python) or large goanna (lizard). We had ducks in the run too, and most of them were taken, until we worked out how to fail proof the pea house, as well as getting all the birds to roost inside at night. Anyway, it was not a good idea to have so many birds in one run, so I let the ducks go to good homes.

Many months ago, Rajah injured the male Lavender Guinea, who was protecting his female against Rajah's attentions.

The Lavender male and female guineas took off in the morning when I let them out ... and one month later, male Lavender returned, bedraggled, skinny and still limping badly. It took a few months before he fully recovered.

Lavender guinea submitted to Rajah imediately, and followed him around everywhere he went in the garden (this was so strange?)

Later I bought a Pearl "female" who turned out to be a male ...

Rajah started chasing Pearl male around and around and around the house non-stop (panting all the while, as it is hot in Australia). Such strage behaviour and I didn't quite know why this was happening?

Both male guineas were following Rajah around (more so Lavender guinea).

Lately though, I noticed that both the guineas were ganging up on Rajah. One would sit on Rajah's trail, and the other would be at Rajah's head ...

This behaviour of the guineas became very threatening, where Rajah had to run away from them, with them in hot persuit. I would try to intervene. Pearl guinea kept running after Rajah, with me chasing after them. Pearl guinea was actually hanging off Rajah's neck whilst he was running ... I managed to separate them eventually.

Next day the guineas were back chasing Rajah, with me telling them off and throwing sticks at them.

Rajah soon cottoned on, that I was on his side this time.

The chase started up again, and you will see in the video how determined Rajah is to catch Pearl guinea (Lavender guinea backed off).

Has anyone had a similar thing happen, or is this mostly a "Chickens" Forum : ) ?

Unfortunately I was unable to download the "chase" ... video!

 

[DemeterAD9]

Some birds just can’t play nice with others, even worse some will target one specific individual and bully them constantly. This isn’t too bad of an issue if they are free roaming and can get away from each other. Being locked in a run is when it becomes a problem. You can wait and see if they can work it out but you may have to rehome the bully guinea if he can’t behave.

I’ve had my own issues but it was normal cockerel behavior, chasing girls and whatnot. I bashed my shin pretty good trying to chase off a few boys who were going after my Cornish cross pullet, who was far too fat and cumbersome to get away effectively. Those boys didn’t stay long after that, I needed that pullet for a breeding project and I hated seeing her get attacked all the time.

I have turkeys, chickens and ducks together but they free range most the time. My pair of young male turkeys started picking fights with my rooster and cockerels. The roo is a proper chicken and instead of fighting back he learned to keep his distance, one of the cockerels fought back and the turkeys learned to stay away from him. No major injuries, just a few lost feathers and a small wound on the turkey’s dangly snood. I ended up butchering the cockerel, I don’t need a bunch of boys and I spent way too much money on my turkeys to have them get beat up by a spare cockerel. Unfortunately I may have to rehome or butcher the turkeys now as they’ve taken to harassing the dogs when they go out for a potty break. It doesn’t help that one dog is a complete whimp and won’t snap back at them. I’m giving them some time to settle down as they are just youngsters and hopefully grow out of it. Funny thing is, the turkeys are afraid of the cat but will chase him around a bit if I start chasing him. The cat doesn’t care and thinks it’s a game.