Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[Tacampbell1973]

If you start with keets, they will be fine together. When it comes time to introduce, they need to be penned in an area until the chickens have adjusted to them.
Keets are very tiny until they are several months old, so if the hens are a dominant breed, they could harm them.
Usually by 4-6 months or so, they defend themselves just fine tho!

My guineas that I hatched were with my chickens from about a month on....right now the guineas are about 5 months and are scared of the chickens, esp the roosters. the chickens chase them off food bowls which is the opposite of what i read would happen...l had to put them in separate coops to keep the peace...

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: With spring, the boys will change. Be sure to socialize them with the chickens often, so they don't become aggressive to them. I had the same problem until breeding season came! My first guinea cocks had it in for my oldest roo, and would gang up on him. It all started in the spring once the guinea hens were laying. Red, my roo was trying to mate the hens, and the guinea boys weren't having it! Red was pretty beat up in a single weekend, we had went out of town. Oh my.. He had most of his tail feathers picked, and was a mess. DD called me crying because she didn't understand what was happening! Most of those guinea boys made a very good dinner

So I added new cocks from the eggs and another breeder. So far, the new boys are social with all my birds. Most of them are over a year old now.

 

[Tacampbell1973]

...

With spring, the boys will change. Be sure to socialize them with the chickens often, so they don't become aggressive to them. I had the same problem until breeding season came! My first guinea cocks had it in for my oldest roo, and would gang up on him. It all started in the spring once the guinea hens were laying. Red, my roo was trying to mate the hens, and the guinea boys weren't having it! Red was pretty beat up in a single weekend, we had went out of town. Oh my.. He had most of his tail feathers picked, and was a mess. DD called me crying because she didn't understand what was happening! Most of those guinea boys made a very good dinner So I added new cocks from the eggs and another breeder. So far, the new boys are social with all my birds. Most of them are over a year old now.
[
/quote
might be too late...they are already mating. Got my first eggs. The guineas and chickens have two different coops but open up to a common run, still the roos scare the bejeepers out of the guineas and they are only bantam cochin.to be fair though they do look like big hairy muppets.]

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

WOW eggs already!!! Mine usually don't lay until late april. I am really excited for this year, I have lavenders now too. I still want to add some royal purple but am sure not buying 30! So am going to wait til I find hatching eggs, and go from there.

 

[nelmsy]

Please can people post pictures of guinea fowl ?

 

[Tikkijane]

 

[Tikkijane]

 

[Tikkijane]

 

[Coop de Cuse]

 

[Tacampbell1973]