Dmontgomery
Songster
We have a mixed flock of 39 chickens. Last week a young Guinea hen showed up at our property. She has decided to stay, for some reason. She hangs out with some bantam Cochins who are about her size. Everybody was getting along fine, but my wife decided the Guinea (Ginny) was lonely. So today she went and bought 2 adult Guinea hens to keep her and the other 39 birds company. Ginny has slept in the coop with her adopted sisters since she got here and has free ranged with them since day one. Never any problems with her sleeping in the trees or wandering off.
Now I get home and find out, from this forum, I have to keep the 2 new hens locked in the coop for 2 months before they realize they live here. Like I said my other chickens free range all day, sunup to sundown. They go in and out of the coop to lay eggs and do chicken stuff all day long. I have no way of isolating the Guineas in and still allowing free access for the chickens. I do not have another coop/run nor an isolation area to keep these new ones in.
I'm not concerned that the new ones may choose to sleep in the trees, but I'd be a little upset if I let everybody free range tomorrow morning and the new Guineas left town permanently. Are the new ones going to run off or just act a little wilder than my chickens?
I hope this rant was understandable.
Now I get home and find out, from this forum, I have to keep the 2 new hens locked in the coop for 2 months before they realize they live here. Like I said my other chickens free range all day, sunup to sundown. They go in and out of the coop to lay eggs and do chicken stuff all day long. I have no way of isolating the Guineas in and still allowing free access for the chickens. I do not have another coop/run nor an isolation area to keep these new ones in.
I'm not concerned that the new ones may choose to sleep in the trees, but I'd be a little upset if I let everybody free range tomorrow morning and the new Guineas left town permanently. Are the new ones going to run off or just act a little wilder than my chickens?
I hope this rant was understandable.