Guinnea question

[TRAILRIDER]

Hello All, I have a guinnea question this time. My 10 guinnea fowl are about 4 months old now. I believe there are 4 males. Recently they have been a little aggressive to the other guinneas (don't know if they pick on males or females, they move around so fast its hard to keep up.) Usually picking on one individual this day and another one on that day. No one bird is always the bully, no one bird is always the picked on. Are they just growing up and testing thier metal? Being rambunctous teenagers? I have always heard that having several males and females together was no problem with guinnea fowl.
Also, one day all the guinneas truned on one RR chicken (possibly hen) about the same age.They terrorized her, and split open her head near her comb, before I rescued her. At the time they were in thier 30 ft. by 10 ft. pen. Now I never close either chicken in with the guinneas, although they roam the yard together with no problem. Actually that RR stays clear of the guinneas now.
Little more info, the guinneas stay in thier house and pen overnight and go out in the yard at daylight. They come running when called and get treats. That way I can call them in at dusk. Two young chickens roam the yard with them. One chicken (disabled one) has never been picked on and hangs close to the guinneas sometimes. The guinneas have never been injured by each other.
What do you all think? Mary.

[JamesC]

Mary:
I guess not many people have experience with Guineas and mine is very limited. I had them when I got into poultry at a young age and had no luck with them. I found that they terrorized my chickens so that became their doom.
I have heard others complain that their Guineas have to be kept separate because they beat up on their chickens and other say they just let them roam a large area.
My guess is that your young birds are determining their pecking order and will just fine.
Sorry I can't help more.
James

[poorfarmboy]

We have free range adult guineas, about a dozen teenager guineas, and some free range chickens that all run together.
We have never had any trouble with our guineas hurting chickens. In fact, we have a hen with chicks that has been raising them free range, and they do not bother them either.
We have noticed that the guineas occasionally fight amongst themselves.. but its more like a 'pecking' order type situation. They never hurt the others badly.. but I dont think they are playing either. Our teenager guineas along with some chickens of that age, are loose during the day and come back to the pen at night, where they are fed.
I will say.. monkey see, monkey do.. if one guinea decided to start pecking on another bird, you can bet the whole pack will chime in.. Im sorry to hear that your chicken was hurt though.. poor thing.

[TRAILRIDER]

Thanks for the support. The guinneas have been behaving themselves lately. Yesterday, we had two men come to do some work on the farm, and the guinneas yelled at them off and on all day long! LOL! ;D
I just love them. When I come home from work they fly to me squawking and chattering. I give them a couple of handfuls of millet for a reward and they go in to thier pen at night time.
The RR chicken is doing just fine. All healed up, but wiser than before. She stays away from them and everyone is happy. The handicapped RR ("Ed") gets along with the guinneas, the chickens but most of all he prefers human company! Being directly underfoot is his favorite spot!
Thanks again. I won't worry about the guinneas, just give them plenty of room. Mary.

[teebos69]

i had to get rid of my guineas ,they were raised with my chickens,but after awhile they started to attack my chickens...poor things,i got rid of them and stayed only with the chickens,which are alot more quieter,and more relaxed.