Rehomeing the Guinea in the morning

[sawilliams]

I have 3 Guinea that we got in Nov and they have been living in my chicken coop, and tomorrow they will be picked up and taken to a new home. Up until today I sorta liked the ugly birds. But i don't know what else to do, after what we saw today they either move or die.

I guess it's been a little while coming I knew Guinea could be mean to chickens. I did expect some issues and have watched the Guinea chase the hen pulling tale feathers and such. But they never bother the rooster. Or at least I never saw it. Lately my rooster has had black spots on his comb that would often show up suddenly, fade over time then come back again (like the whole back of his comb suddenly black). I thought for a few weeks it was parasite related. But this morning I saw my rooster and almost his whole face comb ears everything was black or bloody, after being 100% clear the day before. At first I thought about posting to injuries but I recalled my dog just barking at some hawks, and then I noticed one of the Guinea had an eye injury. So I chalked it up to a hawk attack.... until hubby came home and the 2 of us just happened to be standing outside when the rooster and I believe the male Guinea started fighting. I have never seen my rooster act that way. I have never seen my husband act that way. I thought he was going to kill the guinea right then and there, I suspect he would have if he could have caught it. But my birds free range all day right now, so it's not a space issue. I would love to keep them but I can't build a second coop right now is not in the time or the money. I hate that these ones can't live peacefully with the chickens. But I have to do something for the safety of all the flock. I'm just glad I was able to find a home quickly.

 

[Pugsabi]

That must have been terrifying! I'm sorry they couldn't get along.

 

[sawilliams]

So they left. My rooster comb and face still looks pretty beaten up but all the chickens seemed to be in a better mood this morning. Of course the Guinea were upset about being stuck in a box. But they are going to a home with only 2 free ranging guineas and no chickens so hopefully it will be better for all.

 

[red horse ranch]

It's always hard to rehome our guineas. Even when they cause problems. I let 5 of them go last month. They didn't cause problems. I just need to downsize. It's still hard. But it sounds like yours are going to a good place and it's good that you were able to find a home so quick. Hope your rooster heals quickly!

 

[Brayjj]

So Are some guineas kind to chickens? I came on here looking for answers and saw your post. We have 4 guineas (2 makes 2 females) that we raised up with chicks last year. They were best of friends till they turned on them. My rooster is completely bald in the butt now and lost most of his tail feathers because of them. But the silly rooster is still mating with the females and the males get so angry at him. They are picking on all the chickens now because of this battle. We weren’t sure of what to do. We are hoping to separate them soon but don’t have a separate area.

We hatched out 5 and they are hanging with the chicks. Do guineas turn when they are raised with chicks? Is it best to raise them separately?? My poor rooster has now turned mean because of these guineas too.

 

[R2elk]

So Are some guineas kind to chickens? I came on here looking for answers and saw your post. We have 4 guineas (2 makes 2 females) that we raised up with chicks last year. They were best of friends till they turned on them. My rooster is completely bald in the butt now and lost most of his tail feathers because of them. But the silly rooster is still mating with the females and the males get so angry at him. They are picking on all the chickens now because of this battle. We weren’t sure of what to do. We are hoping to separate them soon but don’t have a separate area.

We hatched out 5 and they are hanging with the chicks. Do guineas turn when they are raised with chicks? Is it best to raise them separately?? My poor rooster has now turned mean because of these guineas too.

Guineas don't turn mean from being raised with chicks. Guineas turn mean when they reach their first breeding season. Because they were raised with chicks they got imprinted by them and now they see the chickens as guineas also. Because they cannot differentiate between chickens and guineas, they treat the chickens the same way they treat other guineas. Other guineas understand these manners and know how to react to them. Chickens do not understand guinea behaviors and can get very stressed out from how the guineas treat them.

I do not raise keets with chicks and I do not house guineas and chickens together. My guineas do not think the chickens or my turkeys are guineas and do not interact with them when they are all free ranging in the same area. The other side effect is the my chickens do not think the guineas are chickens and leave the guineas alone also.

 

[Brayjj]

Guineas don't turn mean from being raised with chicks. Guineas turn mean when they reach their first breeding season. Because they were raised with chicks they got imprinted by them and now they see the chickens as guineas also. Because they cannot differentiate between chickens and guineas, they treat the chickens the same way they treat other guineas. Other guineas understand these manners and know how to react to them. Chickens do not understand guinea behaviors and can get very stressed out from how the guineas treat them.

I do not raise keets with chicks and I do not house guineas and chickens together. My guineas do not think the chickens or my turkeys are guineas and do not interact with them when they are all free ranging in the same area. The other side effect is the my chickens do not think the guineas are chickens and leave the guineas alone also.

Thanks. So is it best to not raise them with chicks then? I’m wondering if I should just sell the current 5 I have roaming with my chicks (mama hen went about 4 weeks and turned against them she was “done” being broody... we have 16 eggs in the incubator that will hatch out hopefully. Would it be best to try to raise those seperate? I don’t want them to turn against the chickens too... I know one is already a girl because she’s making the same sounds my other females do.

Thanks!

 

[R2elk]

Thanks. So is it best to not raise them with chicks then? I’m wondering if I should just sell the current 5 I have roaming with my chicks (mama hen went about 4 weeks and turned against them she was “done” being broody... we have 16 eggs in the incubator that will hatch out hopefully. Would it be best to try to raise those separate? I don’t want them to turn against the chickens too... I know one is already a girl because she’s making the same sounds my other females do.

Thanks!

You can try separating them as soon as possible and hope for the best or you could sell them and start the next hatch out without chicks. Some of my original guineas were brooded with chicks but were (before they were adults) and have been separated for a long time and do fine with the chickens now.

Good luck.

 

[GlennLee]

I have guineas and 3 groups of chickens that roost together at night, but they were not brooded together. The chickens stay together (pretty much keeping to the 3 groups) during the day and the guineas go off by themselves.

I think my chickens range farther because of the guineas, but they don't travel with them. My dominant hens are pretty feisty Rhode Island Reds and they rule the roost. If you have chickens that are of a more docile breed (like my Blue Isbars), you might have the guineas showing more aggression toward them (actually the other chickens are usually keeping them in their place).

I also keep a higher female to male ratio in my flock of guineas which I think helps keep some of the guinea aggression at bay. Don't get me wrong, they're not all lovey dovey, but I do monitor the aggression and deal with it as it arises. Sometimes that means rehoming groups.

I have found that if I pull off a strong alpha male, add another male he gets along with and three females they are connected to or tolerate, it creates a nice starter group for someone else. I have done this twice now and the group transitions well, plus it eases the aggression in the existing home flock.

 

[red horse ranch]

I agree that an aggressive male should be rehomed. I've done it quite a few times and it does settle the flock down a lot.