About to let Guineas start Roaming and feel concerned

[johnsonhillfarm]

I am pretty attached to my guineas, got them as babies in July of last year, there are 9 of them, several have names, 6 females and 3 males, and have a very nice coop and run for them. In October, started letting them out and they would actually walk with me in a straight line around our property and through our walking trails. I have bell trained them so when we were done I would go into run and ring bell for treats and they all would come running in except 1 or 2 and it would be a struggle to get them back into the coop. There is 1 that really hides and I got so stressed trying to get her in before dark. I only would let them out with me there and as it got colder, just kept them cooped all winter so they have not been outside the coop since November.

We just had our last freeze and as the bugs start returning I know I need to do this. I have 2 guineas that seemed to have been deemed the weak ones and hide in the coop most of the day and won't perch at night. One tries but cannot seem to fly well, so I always perch them up with the others, especially for purposes of keeping them warm at night. Those are the two I worry about when I let them out.

A huge flock of 30 guineas from across the street came over and visited them and they got pretty excited. I have one male guinea that loves me so much, Casanova, and always sits on my lap. They are all tame enough that they let me pet them, hold them, can easily put medicine on them, and clean off their feathers, so that is nice, but I AM SO SO NERVOUS about letting them out to roam full time. We do have a good amount of hawks, owls, skunks, and although I haven't seen one myself in the 2 years we have lived on this ranch, we are in Texas so surely snakes too. Will they be smart enough to come back to the coop at night, stay around our house, run from predators? UGH! I wonder if I have messed them up by keeping them cooped and tame.

They are very happy and do not seem stressed except, the weak ones get stressed when bullied, but I know they need to be free to roam. Just keep thinking the minute I do it, I will lose some of them or all of them.

I plan to attempt to just let one or two out closer to dusk the first day, but trying to get them back in without letting the others out will be a challenge.

Just need some reassurance they might make it or any advice or encouragement. I know some might think I am nuts for loving them so much, but I really do!

 

[Percheron chick]

I would be more worried about the neighbor's flock. They could easily jump ship and join them. I would band your birds in case they mingle.
You just don't know how resilient they will be until you turn them out. I had all my loses to them roosting in the rafters at night and being picked off by owls. They would always return to sleeping inside after a loss but would forget the lesson in less than a week.
Personally, the value of guineas is the tick and bug reduction that they provide. Is it worth it to you if you lose one or two over the summer if it means you aren't picking ticks off the kids and dogs every night? Keep up the bell ringing routine and I would probably add a second secure pen that you can run the 2 in on those nights where they just aren't cooperating. It's also breeding season so that will add another layer. If you suffer loses, you can let them hatch keets next year and replenish the workers.

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Man, you are lucky that they are all so friendly with you! I tried really hard to tame my guineas, and they will come to me for treat and don't mind my presence nearby, but they will totally not let me touch them or get too close, lol. Yours sound so sweet!

I was really worried when i started letting mine out too. I have lost one to predators (i'm assuming, he just didn't come back one night) but i am amazed at how good they are at getting away. Our main predators are dogs, and our neighbor has a pack of around 13 that constantly try to get them, but as soon as a guinea sees something amiss, they all shoot up into the trees! Pretty cool to watch.

Getting them back in the coop is pretty tricky...One thing I do is just not feed them during the day. They get most of their diet from free ranging, and then a bit of feed at night to get them into their coop. Usually works like a charm, especially now that we have a good routine going. There were a few nights that a couple just wouldn't go in. That was frustrating, cause I like everyone safe and locked up at night! Mine came back and roosted into the coop ONCE by themselves...i was so proud haha. I totally wouldn't count on it though! They seem to prefer the trees if given the choice.

I agree with percheron chick...the other group of guineas is a concern. I have heard plenty of people talk of loosing their birds because they joined a wild flock...

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Agree with the rest that it’s likely your birds will merge with the existing flock. That will help with predator evasion but will also mean that they will roost with the other birds.

 

[johnsonhillfarm]

Man, you are lucky that they are all so friendly with you! I tried really hard to tame my guineas, and they will come to me for treat and don't mind my presence nearby, but they will totally not let me touch them or get too close, lol. Yours sound so sweet!

I was really worried when i started letting mine out too. I have lost one to predators (i'm assuming, he just didn't come back one night) but i am amazed at how good they are at getting away. Our main predators are dogs, and our neighbor has a pack of around 13 that constantly try to get them, but as soon as a guinea sees something amiss, they all shoot up into the trees! Pretty cool to watch.

Getting them back in the coop is pretty tricky...One thing I do is just not feed them during the day. They get most of their diet from free ranging, and then a bit of feed at night to get them into their coop. Usually works like a charm, especially now that we have a good routine going. There were a few nights that a couple just wouldn't go in. That was frustrating, cause I like everyone safe and locked up at night! Mine came back and roosted into the coop ONCE by themselves...i was so proud haha. I totally wouldn't count on it though! They seem to prefer the trees if given the choice.

I agree with percheron chick...the other group of guineas is a concern. I have heard plenty of people talk of loosing their birds because they joined a wild flock...

Thank you so much! Gosh I hope they don't. This flock coops at night at the neighbors, but our coop is much nicer and more secure, but guess guineas do not care about that LOL!!! I can only hope they love me enough to stay!

 

[ColtHandorf]

Thank you so much! Gosh I hope they don't. This flock coops at night at the neighbors, but our coop is much nicer and more secure, but guess guineas do not care about that LOL!!! I can only hope they love me enough to stay!

You've heard a man's stomach is the way to his heart? So too with guineas. Keep up the bell ringing routine and lots of delicious treats for them when they come to bed. There's still a very large chance they'll join the larger group of guineas though.

 

[Isadora]

Is your only reason for letting them free range is that the guineas will enjoy it?
If your coop is large enough, you don't have to let them out.
Mine free range because I need them for ticks. My mom saw my guineas last summer and fell in love and had to have her own. She tried to free range with zero success due to predators and their refusal to go back to the coop. She has a coop just for them now. Yes, I'm sure they would be happy if they could go out in free range but she loves them and can't risk any more deaths.

 

[johnsonhillfarm]

Is your only reason for letting them free range is that the guineas will enjoy it?
If your coop is large enough, you don't have to let them out.
Mine free range because I need them for ticks. My mom saw my guineas last summer and fell in love and had to have her own. She tried to free range with zero success due to predators and their refusal to go back to the coop. She has a coop just for them now. Yes, I'm sure they would be happy if they could go out in free range but she loves them and can't risk any more deaths.

We did originally get them to-eat bugs. We don't seem to have ticks and fleas here, but we do have an ungodly amount of grasshoppers. We wanted them to take them out for us because they are destroying so much. But I also wanted them to be happy. They seem happy, but I figured they are wild so they will want to be out.

 

[R2elk]

We did originally get them to-eat bugs. We don't seem to have ticks and fleas here, but we do have an ungodly amount of grasshoppers. We wanted them to take them out for us because they are destroying so much. But I also wanted them to be happy. They seem happy, but I figured they are wild so they will want to be out.

It can be hilarious to watch guineas chase grasshoppers. Turkeys are the ones that are the most efficient predator of grasshoppers.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

We did originally get them to-eat bugs. We don't seem to have ticks and fleas here, but we do have an ungodly amount of grasshoppers. We wanted them to take them out for us because they are destroying so much. But I also wanted them to be happy. They seem happy, but I figured they are wild so they will want to be out.

Depending on numbers and space, I believe that they can do fine penned. Maybe you can herd them into your fenced garden area when you want them to clean up grasshoppers? I will say that mine were very slow to take to grasshoppers. Only over several years have they gotten better at catching them or even being interested in them. For a long time, I would catch grasshoppers and call the guineas then throw the hopper to them. Half the time the guineas turned their nose up at them… Now i finally have a few that are good grasshopper hunters. We still have a ton of grasshoppers though.