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In the past, people kept to raising chickens. Now, however, domesticating and caring for guinea fowl has become increasingly popular with each coming year. So much so, in fact, that people are now raising their chickens alongside their guinea fowl. While raising two different species is never easy, it can be done if you take the following steps:
Start with keets rather than adults
If you intend to bring guinea fowl into your flock, then it’s easier to do so with keets (baby guineas) rather than adults. Guineas are extremely independent, so adults might wander off from the coop forever. Keets, however, will be less likely to disappear since you’ll be raising them inside the coop. They’ll also get along better with your chickens as you’ll be raising both of them alongside each other.
Separate male guineas from the roosters
Male guineas are extremely assertive and domineering, so you’ll need to keep them away from the roosters in your flock. If you don’t, the guineas may end up harassing your roosters and depriving them of their food. Consider building a second coop to keep your guineas in for when they become too aggressive.
And separate your flock during the spring
Spring is mating season for guinea fowl, and this can cause them to become anxious and aggressive. So, unless you raised your keets alongside your chicks, in which case your guineas may be less aggressive, you should keep your guinea fowl away from your chickens in order to protect both groups during this time. Again, a second coop should make this temporary separation easier.
Give your guineas room
As we mentioned above, guineas are independent and prone to wandering away from the coop. Some owners believe the only way to control this tendency is to keep them restricted to a specific plot of land. This, however, can cause more problems than it solves. Guinea fowl need room to wander and relax or else they won’t be able to thrive. If you start with keets, your adult guineas will be more likely to return to the nest. You can also keep their feed and water inside their shelter area to further encourage them to come home.
If you’re interested in introducing guinea fowl into your flock, then take a look at some of the guineas we have for sale here at Chickens for Backyard.
