when can I let the guineas in with the chickens?

[bravo331]

My chickens and guineas have been in the coop for a week, separated by wire. They can see each other and do not appear to be at all aggressive. When can I remove the wire so they can mingle?

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

How old are they? Are they roughly the same size as each other?

 

[hobbychick]

I don't know if this helps but I always keep my guineas with my chickens. If I bring a new one home I just throw it right in with the chickens and the rest of the Guineas. I have never had a problem with them fighting and I have been doing it for 3 years. I also always keep them together as chicks.

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

I usually raise keets with chicks, some people say not to for some reason unbeknownst to me (if anyone knows why go ahead and give me a holler,) I've never had any problems, they'll even go right into the coop with the chickens at night. If I happen to get adults, I just toss them in together and let them figure it out for themselves, usually doesn't take very long.

 

[hobbychick]

I have heard you shouldn't raise them together but I don't know why eather. My guinies free range with my chickens and they always go into the building at night to roost and they will still go in during the day to lay their eggs in the nesting box. I think they think they are chickens

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

When we had guineas, they guineas terrorized the hens to the point they stopped laying. We sold the guineas, the hens relaxed, and started laying again.

 

[bravo331]

They are about 6 weeks old; have been kept separated until about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Now they are in the same coop but separated by wire.

A1 Steak Sauce what did you feed them? Did the Guineas eat the chick starter?

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

Yeah, I just fed them what I fed the chicks, unmedicated starter.

 

[tcmstalcup]

I always have raised mine together and they all get chicken food. Everybody is fine. If they've been looking at each other for a week they will be ok. There will be some scuffles-gotta get the pecking order lined out but it'll work itself out.

 

[Akane]

The reasons not to raise them together is the same reason other people do raise them together. The guineas are more likely to become a part of the chicken flock. That means they could be more accepting of the chickens or it could mean they could get aggressive (particularly guinea cocks against chicken roos) trying to include the chickens on the bottom of their pecking order. I had to lock up my male guinea because he started beating up my roos badly this spring and looked like he was going to break their necks. Not raising them together means they are more likely to make seperate flocks and avoid each other which could lead to them completely ignoring the chickens or seeing them as a threat to their territory. It's entirely unpredictable what a flock of guineas will do with a flock of chickens so raising them together or apart has the same risks and benefits. It's just a matter of personal choice and whether you happen to have chicks and keets at the same time.