Does anyone know or have any suggestions on how to incorporate our 1 month old guineas and our 9 week old chickens. They will eventually have to live in the same house and we would like to start getting them used to each other as soon as it is safe for the guineas. They are still smaller than the chickens at this point, but we need to begin to formulate a plan for integration. We have 10 guineas and 25 chickens.
Guineas and Chickens
You might want to try putting them together in smaller groups for a few days. Then begin to mix groups a few at a time. At this age there shouldn't be any real problems. Now be aware that the little males of both birds will do mock fights with each other and within their own species. Only intervene if it gets serious which likely won't happen.
Thank you leaflady. I had thought about that but didnt know how the chickens would treat the guineas since they are bigger.
I don't think it would be much of a problem when they're still so young. I have 8 wk old 'chicks' and I just brought in a 14 wk old 'rooster' and they didn't have much problem accepting each other. Better when they're young, so I would say the sooner the better.
I agree. Even better if you can rig up something so the littler ones have a place to hide if they need to for the first few days. I ended up with one chick much younger than the other two this year and they were a little mean to her at first. I put some screen up so they could see each other. Then I left a small opening so the littlest chick ( Butterball) could escape if she needed a break. Now those three hang out the most!
More recently I have gotten 4 bantam pullets that are between my hens and chicks in size. There was some chasing a pecking at first but nothing too bad. Especially since there were several of them, so no one had to take the brunt of the pecking alone. After a few days everyone seems to get along pretty well. It is natural to have a pecking order! That's where the term comes from, right?
I totally agree with Halnik. The sooner you do it, the better.