Things Are Going Amazingly Well So Far

[ChickInDelight]

My 4 chickens pretty much stay away from the ducks. As week-old babies, I found some of the mallards were picking on the chicks, so I separated them. The chicks seemed not to mind.

Now, as 14 week olds, if the chickens dare to try to feed with the ducks, my Pekin, Captain Hook, generally snake necks the chickens away.

They all have free-range of the world during the day, but I notice the chickens stay more inside the (poorly) fenced yard and under the tall weeds. The ducks like to hang with people.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
The only way they can interbreed is if a Rooster mates with a Guinea Hen. Guinea males aren't ""equipped"" to mate with Chicken Hens. As long as there are males and females of each Guineas and Chickens I suspect there wont be any inter species fraternization. If you do get a cross it will be sterile and somewhat Identity confused... LOL.

 

[jcatblum]

My husbands interested to see what the result of them crossing would look like. I personally am not interested! I think it would be a genetic disaster! I do let everyone free range but they don't go near each other. Think housing them together would just be too close for comfort for me.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Why a Genetic disaster. There have been a number of crosses over the years but the odds are hundreds of thousands to one. And the ones that do live are quite interesting. I have seen pictures of guinea Crosses between Peacocks, and chickens. They grow the same or similar size as the dad and carry the characteristics of both. This kind of cross is just like a cross between a Donkey and a Horse. They are sterile. Therefore they can lay eggs but the eggs will not be viable.
Here are some pix:

http://feathersite.com/Poultry/Guineas/BRKGuinHybrid.html

Remember these are a collection of pictures from all over the US. It also explains the "odds" and how truely rare it is to have a viable cross breed.

 

[jcatblum]

The peacock/ guinea doesn't look bad. I had never seen the site with all those pics. The only ones I have seen were VERY ugly! Perchie you may have convinced me to let a few guineas hang out with my rir I am sure if I grew them out @ the same time they would get along very well.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Guineas and ducks kind of ignore each other, at least mine do. That is, unless it's breakfast time, then it's every bird for himself!