Will guinea's attack chickens?

[chloebetsychicks]

this is very interesting feedback. We have 11 chicks, about 10 weeks and 6 guineas, about 7 weeks. We were keeping them together in the coop but have moved the guineas into a pen at night with free ranging starting today. The chicks are not that much bigger but they still beat up on the guineas. We plan on moving the guinea pen to the front orchard while the chickens stay in the backyard, either in a run and coop or free range and coop at night. The posted info has reinforced my idea to separate their "territories".

 

[kcardella]

Guineas will definitely attack chickens (and other guineas), and chickens will definitely attack Guineas (and other chickens). Ours roost together at night, but we have the most problem during the Guinea's breeding season.

 

[Pandora]

Ok guess my flock is from the 60's. It's all peace love and happiness around here. We raised our guineas with the chickens then let them out to free range 24/7. They roost on top of the chicken run every night and when the chickens go out during the day there are no issues even during breeding season. We have peacocks that free range as well. No issues there either.

However, a few wild turkeys have wandered over and the guineas did NOT like that one bit. The turkeys tried to stand up to them... but it was a losing battle. Nothing physical...just the most raucous noise you ever heard... each side trying to out do the other.

 

[lizzybaxter]

I got a young male and female pair of guineas about 3 weeks ago, and put them in a cage with my RIRs, one rooster, 2 grown hens, 5 young hens. All was well until this AM. Saw male guinea chasing down young hens, fixating on one that has a little different coloring, tearing out her feathers.

Even weirder..... saw both guineas going around coop looking for small RIR feathers and eating them! Then put 2 and 2 together and realized the male was chasing the hen around to pluck out her smaller feathers and eat them too.

I haven't free ranged these guys yet because I wanted the guineas to come home at night, and I wanted to give them at least 4-6 weeks in the coop to ensure that. Maybe I should start sooner? Do you think they are frustrated and need space?

The adjoining coop gets to free range everyday. Maybe they see that and are jealous?

I love my guineas and I want to understand them better. All my prior research only left me with the conclusion that putting guineas with chickens is a crap shoot-- never really can predict what will happen.

Should I just house the guineas separately and let them free range during the day with the chickens?

Advice, anyone?

 

[PeepsCA]

What are you feeding the Guineas? And how old are they? They will eat feathers if they are lacking protein or other nutrients from their diet. They need a minimum of 16% protein once they are 3 1/2-4 months old, and it's always a good idea to give them lots of greens when confined. I'd also provide oyster shell free choice. The male may have been chasing the chicken because of it being breeding season right now, and the hormones are flaring... but knowing Guineas I kind of doubt that it was just to eat feathers (he probably just decided to eat what he pulled out due to the possible nutritional deficiency).

If it were me, I'd house them separately from your chickens, and just free range everybody together once you've kept the Guineas confined long enough to imprint on their new home. But if you have to move them to a new coop/pen,... that will be another 6 wks confinement in THAT coop/pen, so it may be a better idea to move the chickens instead. Guineas do tend to go stir crazy while confined, but you really do need them to acclimate to their new home so they don't immediately take off once you let them out free range.

 

[brogers2333]

We have a situation with ours. I have read posts here for years and have never posted but I am so upset I need some advice.
We have 2 pied guineas, a male and female which we have raised with our chicks in the same coop. They are now about 1 year old and we have 40 other chickens that get a just a nip from the male likely every day. They all share the same large coop and have had no problems there, it is during the day when they are out when the action happens.
We introduced 3 amazing adult white sultans into our flock (best lap chickens around!) about a week ago and the guineas havent liked them. Today we have sad news. This morning our favorite "Pip" had almost all the flesh torn off the back of her head and some from her back after the male attacked her. He has been attacking her in the back of the head a few days ago but I passed it off as pecking order or mating somehow. I was wrong.
What can I do? I am praying she survives, but I have loved my guineas and cannot stand to lose them as well. My family says they get the ax, but I am struggling with it.
Any help would be appreciated. If it's the axe, so be it.

 

[PeepsCA]

2 Guineas to 40 chickens is the problem. Guineas need plenty of their own kind...especially during their breeding season so they focus on each other.

Pen the Guineas up, and house and free range them separately from the chickens. Or...use the axe, your choice.

It's not the Guinea's fault tho, they are just being Guineas, especially this time of year. Only having 2 Guineas is the problem.

They are not chickens and should not be expected to act like or get along with chickens.

 

[brogers2333]

Thankyou PeepsCA! At least now we know. And I definitely don't blame the guineas, it was just an emotional day for my wife and girls. I think I will be able to re-home them.
Once we finish our fencing in a few months I will try raising guineas again because they are my favorite bird we have owned. This time with their own space. I appreciate your advice.

 

[lizzybaxter]

Thank you so much for your response. I am not sure of the age, just know they are fairly young (6-10 mos.?). I have been putting out laying pellets, as well as intermediate chick starter because of the range of ages in that coop. I also give the guineas cracked corn every day since they seem to like it. I have sprinkled everyone's food with DE also. I didn't know about the greens, but that makes sense. I guess because I've always free ranged everyone in the past, I didn't think about it. I'm not used to keeping everyone confined. I also didn't know about the oyster shell but I will get that too. Thank you again.

 

[PeepsCA]

Thankyou PeepsCA! At least now we know. And I definitely don't blame the guineas, it was just an emotional day for my wife and girls. I think I will be able to re-home them.
Once we finish our fencing in a few months I will try raising guineas again because they are my favorite bird we have owned. This time with their own space. I appreciate your advice.

Good plan. And best of luck when you finally take the plunge with your new flock of Guineas.