Housing free-range guineas for winter.

First of all I have to say that the dumbest thing I ever did was raise guinea chicks in my house this summer. I usually raise them at the barn. So I have guineas trying to get in the back door, messing up the decks, eating my flowers, digging up the lawn, peering in the windows following me as best they can when they see or hear me move through my house....well you get what I mean...they are a pain.

My problem is that I really don't know what to do with them this winter. Now they roost in trees, but I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep at night if they are out in freezing & wet weather. Are they OK out in the elements? Or is it time to build a coop?
I don't think putting them at the barn now would work - they think I'm their mother and would undoubtedly stalk me back to the house, not to mention that I've had severe predator problems at the barn. [which is why I moved all my fowl to the backyard this year].
Any ideas would be very much appreciated.

It might be difficult to coop train them at this point, so you may end up building a coop for nothing.

It's never too late to coop train them. And you're right - if you leave them outside, only bad things can happen to them......including predators.

Get a coop built for them asap - and lure them inside with a treat. Now this will be the hard part for you - but be strong, Mama!! lol!
You will need to keep them locked up inside for at least 8 weeks.....10 weeks is even better! - but continue going inside with them, making sure they have food, water, and especially treats. Spend as much time as you can with them. You want them to continue to know you as their main food source.

After this time, you can leave them out. Some suggest leaving a few out at a time so the free-ranging ones can hear the rest of the flock back inside the coop. But I've never found this necessary.

After this time period, they should know this is their "house" and this is the place they need to come back to roost at night. Just a thought - they do love to sleep high on perches at night, so make sure your coop has adequate places inside for them to fly up on.

Good luck with your guineas!!