When Guineas Attack.. For Those of You Wanting Guineas

[mdbucks]

OH no they not only attacked the chickens they were attacking your DH, glad they all survived

 

[speckledhen]

LOL, yep, they loved him. He, surprisingly, loved them right back! He gets attached to all my birds. He's quite the "chickenwhisperer" as well as the "guineawhisperer".

 

[ozark hen]

wow, speckled hen, I just found this thread. Awesome pictures. Amazing ones of your dh and the guineas. He must be a true "guinea whisperer"

my guineas were raised in a separate pen from the chickens but each morning ran ahead of me when I went to open the coop. They seem to greet the chickens each morning. Recently, posted in another thread, we weren't home in time to lock each up separately and came home to find all safe and all the poultry inside the coop together and doing very well. Now I know that I am very lucky to have such compatible birds. I hope it stays that way. If it came to a choice between guineas and chickens...the guineas would go even though they have been wonderful and my dogs have no ticks. I cannot touch my guineas but they run to me looking for treats and follow me around the yard.

 

[wren]

OMG!

Speckledhen, what a great picture of your hubby and the guineas. Mine are not that tame. They come within 4 feet of me for treats and no closer. I decided that I wanted the guineas to be somewhat wild. The chickens will jump up on me though. I can hardly take a step without first pushing a chicken out of the way. I tamed the guineas to a point and made a decision not to push them beyond that level of tameness. Sometimes I think I went too far, b/c when I catch one they just go limp in my arms. But I can herd them around without them freaking out. The see the chickens roosting on me but they are not jealous. The guineas think that the chickens are crazy and vice-versa. It works well. The only time the chickens may chase the guineas away and peck at them is when the guineas get too close to me or leftover treats.

It is not luck that they aren't fighting. I want full credit for it. I work hard to provide living conditions that allow both groups to live in peace. For example I give the chickens their treats first so they aren't following me then call the guineas to a different spot so they don't have to compete. I've spent a lot of time watching for problems and put a lot of effort into building a hardscape that keeps them apart without locking either group up. I actively make any areas the guineas use even more attractive in any way I can to keep them out of the chicken's space. If blood is ever drawn, I will cage the chickens. They are less suited to living free.

I really am enjoying getting to the bottom of this guinea attacking thing. Maybe jealousy is a factor. Maybe any red color on a chicken makes guineas crazy. (Like poor Hawkeye's pretty comb.) They don't attack my roosters or my reddish buckeyes, but I wear a red coat when I chore and I am the alpha roo. They better not try to take me on! Hee hee.

I am happy that this discussion is friendly. When we talk about our own personal truth, there's bound to be dissagreements.

 

[speckledhen]

Really, there should be no actual disagreement, just different experiences. By nature, guineas are different and if you do not have the problems between them and your chickens, you are very fortunate. I may try again some day because I do miss my four.

 

[wren]

You know a large group of guineas would look very pretty roaming around the woods by your house.

 

[speckledhen]

I agree! Maybe some day a friend, who shall remain nameless, will send me some guinea eggs for a broody and we'll be back to having goonie-birds around here again.

 

[robin416]

That unnamed person just needs to hear the word.

 

[speckledhen]

 

[luvastandardbred]

I have a question I just signed up for BYC and have hens: 1 white leghorn, 2 red sexlink, 3 auracana, 5 buff orp's and 1 rose comb; roosters: 2 rose comb (was supposed to be 1 rose comb rooster and 2 hens -- sexing isn't an exact science). I also have 14 guineas and 10 rouen ducks. Everyone gets along fine, except for a bit of squabbling occasionally among the guineas. Most of the hens are over a year old -- the rest of the poultry was born in April/May/June.

Now for my problem. I have a collie/golden (1 year old) that doesn't like my guineas for some reason. He doesn't bother the ducks or chickens but on Sat. he cornered a guinea and plucked most of her feathers off her back :-/ I think she was in shock -- I picked her up with a towel and brought her in the house with shavings, food and water. Within 24 hours the areas that were bleeding had quit and I took her back outside. Of course, the other guineas gave her the cold shoulder because she was so funny looking. Anyway, how soon before she grows these feathers back? I'm in MN where it gets WAY below zero in the winter.

I'm also tempted to rehome the dog :sigh: Maybe he'll grow out of it, but he waits until my back is turned (even with a shock collar on -- he's no dummy!) then attacks. I don't think he's ever killed one, although a few have disappeared over the past 2 months. They free range and there are hawks, tho. (p.s...I have a fenced yard with a dog door into the basement. Since Sat. a.m. I've left him in the backyard but let the other two dogs come out with me, which hardly seems fair except he's the only one who attacks the guineas :-/)

I also heard that guineas were tough birds. Why didn't he/she fight back when my dog was plucking her feathers? :-/

Thanks!

Sue