Running with the chickens

[Mary8]

My 2 guineas run with the chickens day and night. One male one female
They are 18 weeks old and my little 8 chicken coop is rather crowded at night.
I have a good sized run attached and added a 3 nesting box into the run.
My original thought was to let they stay in the coop until they are big enough to be on their own but they panic if left out.
When will she start to lay eggs?
Will she lay in the nesting boxes?
Will they ever become independent of the chickens?

 

[R2elk]

My 2 guineas run with the chickens day and night. One male one female
They are 18 weeks old and my little 8 chicken coop is rather crowded at night.
I have a good sized run attached and added a 3 nesting box into the run.
My original thought was to let they stay in the coop until they are big enough to be on their own but they panic if left out.
When will she start to lay eggs?
Will she lay in the nesting boxes?
Will they ever become independent of the chickens?

The hen should begin laying eggs this winter or next spring since you are in Texas.
Whether or not the guinea hen will lay in the nesting boxes will not be known until after she begins laying. Some guineas have been known to use nesting boxes but the majority choose a hidden spot outside where they become predator bait once they go broody.

Since you raised them with the chickens and you did not get enough guineas for them to be their own flock (I recommend having a minimum of 10 guineas), it is unlikely that yours will become independent of the chickens.

What may happen because your guineas don't know the difference between them and chickens is that when breeding season starts your guineas may turn into chicken terrorists. Guineas have completely different mannerisms than any other poultry and when they use those habits on other poultry, the other poultry don't understand why they are doing it and become very stressed.

Good luck.

 

[Mary8]

N

The hen should begin laying eggs this winter or next spring since you are in Texas.
Whether or not the guinea hen will lay in the nesting boxes will not be known until after she begins laying. Some guineas have been known to use nesting boxes but the majority choose a hidden spot outside where they become predator bait once they go broody.

Since you raised them with the chickens and you did not get enough guineas for them to be their own flock (I recommend having a minimum of 10 guineas), it is unlikely that yours will become independent of the chickens.

What may happen because your guineas don't know the difference between them and chickens is that when breeding season starts your guineas may turn into chicken terrorists. Guineas have completely different mannerisms than any other poultry and when they use those habits on other poultry, the other poultry don't understand why they are doing it and become very stressed.

Good luck.

Now you scared me.
I have a very large yard and I let them free-range. When I give treats I learned to give to one group first then to the rest in a different location.
I also keep several water dishes scattered around and a couple of feeding stations
What else would you recommend?