Questions on coop sizes, bedding, and DE-- both peas and guineas!

[SilverPenny]

Would it be better to house the peacocks and guineas separately then? I wouldn't free range the peas anyhow.

 

[Birdrain92]

Would it be better to house the peacocks and guineas separately then? I wouldn't free range the peas anyhow.

That's probably what I would do to prevent problems but when they're free range they interact with lots of birds so I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to but of course they might not get a long.

 

[zazouse]

Would it be better to house the peacocks and guineas separately then? I wouldn't free range the peas anyhow.

Keep them separate IMO because when males get board or during breeding season they will engage who ever is a available , if they can not engage them into their guinea game they will go to pecking and they can and do do damage plus disrupt the harmony in the pen ..

All my birds free range and every once in a while a guinea will harass a male and once the male starts fighting back other guinea sometimes join in and mess with the poor peacock till he flys off up in the loft of the barn or high in the tree till the guinea thugs forget about him.

This guinea was messing with the peacock while he was trying to claim his mating territory they were pecking him under his wing and i know it hurts, then another got involved

 

[KsKingBee]

I had a beautiful Spaulding IBBS split White that was free ranging and the **** guineas harassed him relentlessly and eventually ran him off. When they started doing it to another cock they caught lead poisoning, both of them. Another one tried it and I broke his neck, by that time I decided I didn't want to eat any more guinea.

 

[KsKingBee]

Thanks for the replies! Your answers have led to these questions... how often are you cleaning poop with dirt floors? How often do you replace the pine shavings?

I just shovel out the piles under the roost and rake the dirt when it builds up, but those dirt floors are in a three sided shed/coop. Inside the brooder house with the cement floors I have to change out the pine shavings after big rains or when they accumulate more poo than shavings. A lot of the shavings get ate and disappear. The birds also track in a lot of mud so the life of the shavings is not very long. Sand on the dirt is the very best IMO.

 

[SilverPenny]

Oh my! I never would have thought of half the scenarios you all are describing. Noted: definitely separate the them.

 

[SilverPenny]

Do you guys supplement their diets with mealworms or other such things?

 

[Birdrain92]

Do you guys supplement their diets with mealworms or other such things?

Mealworms, some people will give them or the bird will get dog or cat food, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, pumpkin, etc.

 

[KsKingBee]

Lets see if I can paste a pdf here;

https://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_d...inline=1&ext=1446615842&hash=AStDT7GkraEaAoXl

 

[SilverPenny]

I can't see the pdf :\