Guinea fowl mating question

[LindsayDarling]

Hey yall. I had 6 guineas raised by a broody hen. They are very much integrated in my chicken flock and the hens even kay eggs in the coop! There are 2 hens and 4 males. Recently 2 of the males became extremely aggressive to my roo and hens chasing them and bullying them til they wld hide and shake in the coop. So unfortunately I had my husband cull them. It was not an easy choice but I was sick of refereeing them. I noticed that one of my guinea hens has been very depressed. Im sure we killed her mate There is another male , will they link up eventually? I'm reading mixed things about them mating for life. There are 4 left 2 males and 2 females. The other couple is already linked. Thanks!

 

[R2elk]

Hey yall. I had 6 guineas raised by a broody hen. They are very much integrated in my chicken flock and the hens even lay eggs in the coop! There are 2 hens and 4 males. Recently 2 of the males became extremely aggressive to my roo and hens chasing them and bullying them til they wld hide and shake in the coop. So unfortunately I had my husband cull them. It was not an easy choice but I was sick of refereeing them. I noticed that one of my guinea hens has been very depressed. Im sure we killed her mate There is another male , will they link up eventually? I'm reading mixed things about them mating for life. There are 4 left 2 males and 2 females. The other couple is already linked. Thanks!

What you experienced is normal for guineas imprinted by chickens.

It is likely that the hen that lost her mate will mate with one or both of the other males. She may not form the same bond that she had with her mate.

Guineas are flock birds and do best when kept with a large group of guineas. They have entirely different instincts than any other poultry. Chickens do not understand these behaviors and can become extremely stressed from the guineas. They don't understand or speak "guinea". They do not know how to submit in a manner the guineas understand which causes the guineas to continue their attacks.

It is best if you do not brood or raise keets with chicks. It is also best if you do not house your guineas with your chickens.

 

[LindsayDarling]

What you experienced is normal for guineas imprinted by chickens.

It is likely that the hen that lost her mate will mate with one or both of the other males. She may not form the same bond that she had with her mate.

Guineas are flock birds and do best when kept with a large group of guineas. They have entirely different instincts than any other poultry. Chickens do not understand these behaviors and can become extremely stressed from the guineas. They don't understand or speak "guinea". They do not know how to submit in a manner the guineas understand which causes the guineas to continue their attacks.

It is best if you do not brood or raise keets with chicks. It is also best if you do not house your guineas with your chickens.

Wow! Ok! So much conflicting advice out there. I was told to have a broody raise them so they would be friendlier and non roaming. Which is mostly true. They love their chicken mama and still follow her around sometimes. They are back to roosting in trees now that it's warmer out. Do you think it's too late to make them their own coop for winter? That's when they sleep in the coop w chickens. Their little guinea sub flock is alot quieter since the other 2 are gone. I feel so bad! They're all free range on 5 acres. But the guineas like to be around the chickens. Only the 2 were bullying.

 

[R2elk]

Wow! Ok! So much conflicting advice out there. I was told to have a broody raise them so they would be friendlier and non roaming. Which is mostly true. They love their chicken mama and still follow her around sometimes. They are back to roosting in trees now that it's warmer out. Do you think it's too late to make them their own coop for winter? That's when they sleep in the coop w chickens. Their little guinea sub flock is alot quieter since the other 2 are gone. I feel so bad! They're all free range on 5 acres. But the guineas like to be around the chickens. Only the 2 were bullying.

It's not too late to separate them but you really need a lot more guineas so they can have proper flock dynamics.

There really is a lot of very bad information about guineas. The most common one is how great the chicken raised guineas are doing with the chickens. Then when they have their first breeding season the questions are "Why are my guineas attacking my chickens?"

I have raised keets with chicks and by themselves. I will never raise keets with chicks again.

The ones I raised separately could be free ranged in the same area at the same time as the other poultry without any incidences. The other poultry kept to their group as the guineas stayed with the guineas. There were no attacks other than guineas attacking each other. Guineas know how to submit to other guineas so the attacks don't continue.

 

[LindsayDarling]

It's not too late to separate them but you really need a lot more guineas so they can have proper flock dynamics.

There really is a lot of very bad information about guineas. The most common one is how great the chicken raised guineas are doing with the chickens. Then when they have their first breeding season the questions are "Why are my guineas attacking my chickens?"

I have raised keets with chicks and by themselves. I will never raise keets with chicks again.

The ones I raised separately could be free ranged in the same area at the same time as the other poultry without any incidences. The other poultry kept to their group as the guineas stayed with the guineas. There were no attacks other than guineas attacking each other. Guineas know how to submit to other guineas so the attacks don't continue.

Ok thank you so much for this great advice! How many more guineas do you suggest- Bare minimum? If I get more keets I shld just keep them by themselves with a light in their own area? I will have to work on their own coop for them too

 

[R2elk]

I never recommend having fewer than 10 guineas. If you hatch your guinea eggs, you may be well on your way to having a flock of your own. It doesn't hurt the genetics to bring in guineas that aren't related to yours.

 

[LindsayDarling]

I never recommend having fewer than 10 guineas. If yoou hatch your guinea eggs, you may be well on your way to having a flock of your own. It doesn't hurt the genetics to bring in guineas that aren't related to yours.

Ok! If you'll allow me to pick your brain a bit more What kind of housing/ coop set ups do you recommend for them?

 

[R2elk]

Ok! If you'll allow me to pick your brain a bit more What kind of housing/ coop set ups do you recommend for them?

This is My Guinea Coop.

I recommend one that is tall enough for people to walk around in. One that allows for at least 4 sq, ft, of space for each adult guinea with hiding places for the lower pecking order members.

Additional space for feed and water and even enough for possible food storage.

Make it big enough to house more guineas than you think you are going to have.

 

[LindsayDarling]

This is My Guinea Coop.

I recommend one that is tall enough for people to walk around in. One that allows for at least 4 sq, ft, of space for each adult guinea with hiding places for the lower pecking order members.

Additional space for feed and water and even enough for possible food storage.

Make it big enough to house more guineas than you think you are going to have.

That is a stunning coop! Bravo

 

[LindsayDarling]

@r2elkWill this poor guinea hen get over the death of her mate? I am heartbroken seeing her so sad.