Re: guinea questions...

From: Ray Drouillard (cosmicpam2_at_comcast.net)
Date: 10/29/04 

Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 13:31:48 -0400

"Jim" <jimb@perfectmag.com> wrote in message
news:41819db7$1_1@newsfeed.slurp.net...
>
> "Unicorn" <SomeOne@Somewhere.net> wrote in message
> news:xzOfd.810$K7.438@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> >
> > "Kepytan" <kepytan@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:F5vfd.10096$ta5.9816@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> > > Right now they are in the chicken coop and everyone is staying
apart.
> Ive
> > > found info that says that male guineas will kill roosters so,
having
> just
> > > saved Harold from his brothers, I want to make sure something wont
> happen
> > to
> > > him now.
>
>
> We have three guineas that live with the chickens (about 50). They
roost
> right in the middle of the chickens and have seen no aggression from
either
> side.

Our guineas lived with the cull roosters until a few days ago (when the
cull roosters paid a short visit to a local Amish family - chickens go
in, meat comes out). We let them wander around by themselves for a
while. Soon, they found the main chicken/goat area, and hung around
there. We chased them into the pen, and they have stayed there so far.

They had to pick a fight with the top chickens -- four roosters and the
oldest hen. Once all were informed that the guineas are meaner and
badder, all has been well. They'll chase a chicken for a few feet on
occasion, and they routinely get challenged by a rooster, but there are
no injuries, and everyone is eating and drinking.

I think the secret is to have plenty of room. The main loafing area in
the shelter is 10' by 19', and the pen is roughly oval shaped, and uses
bout 300' of fence.

Ray Drouillard