Surprise addition to my flock?!?

[redheadchick]

Hello everyone!

I pull up in my driveway today and find my girls very distressed. A guinea has apparently decided to join the flock, without the permission of the girls. I have no idea where the guinea came from because no one around me has them. I observed their interaction for some time and most of the girls were very unsure what to do. The guinea hung out towards the back of the flock and didn't stray far from the girls. He (She) seemed distressed as well.

Of course a terrible storm started to arise from the bellows of the earth. As the rain began my girls were to afraid to go into their coop with the guinea nearby. I tried to chase the guinea away but he ran circles around the girls and wouldn't leave. My dogs came out and chased him onto the roof of the house, but he eventually flew back to the girls. As I tried to chase him away my rooster came and tried to attack me.

As the rain began to pour onto me and the girls, everyone flocked into the coop, including the guinea. After much hard work and ending up soaking wet, I got the guinea out and the girls and roo in.

The guinea is still hanging out beside the coop. Any ideas how to handle this? Should I be concerned he could give my girls any diseases, mites etc?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you!!

 

[Judy]

I've never had a guinea -- but I wonder if the chickens won't accept it in time. They would fuss about a new chicken as well, at first. Certainly, chickens and guineas do live together.

I'm afraid if the guinea had any lice/mites or a disease, the exposure has already happened. Here's hoping there wasn't one.

 

[moomoodiddy]

ive heard they make good chicken guards...good luck!!!

 

[NYboy]

love the stone walkways

 

[buttercup hill]

Your rooster evidently wants the stranger to stay. I've heard many instances from my neighbor about what wonderful flock guardians guineas are. The most recent:

She was sitting on her back porch bench relaxing when her guinea sounded an alarm. All her chickens took cover except for 6 young chicks and her favorite new baby silkie who had all huddled in a bunch in front of the coop. A hawk began swooping on them and the guinea rushed to them, extended his wings way out and herded them all to safety under nearby forsythia bush.

She's in her seventies and said she knew there was no way she could get to them in time. Said the whole scene reminded her of a guardian angel.

I think that's pretty remarkable.

 

[7 Biddies]

Your rooster evidently wants the stranger to stay. I've heard many instances from my neighbor about what wonderful flock guardians guineas are. The most recent:

She was sitting on her back porch bench relaxing when her guinea sounded an alarm. All her chickens took cover except for 6 young chicks and her favorite new baby silkie who had all huddled in a bunch in front of the coop. A hawk began swooping on them and the guinea rushed to them, extended his wings way out and herded them all to safety under nearby forsythia bush.

She's in her seventies and said she knew there was no way she could get to them in time. Said the whole scene reminded her of a guardian angel.

I think that's pretty remarkable.

Sounds like being adopted by the guinea is a *good* thing! Lucky you!

 

[redheadchick]

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for your responses. The Guinea is still with my flock today, he has made himself right at home. The girls and Roo have completely accepted him as their own, which is sweet. The funny thing is, one of my girls has really taken to him and started calling like he does. I took a video, it's pretty funny she picked up his call so quickly. He currently is roosting on top of the chicken coop for the night, so I guess he has found a new home with us. Thanks everyone!