can guineas live outside?

[Dust Bunny]

i would like to get some guineas (so i know when the teenager is sneaking out) but my coop is geting full, is it true guineas can do fine living in trees? and do they really make that much noise? i dont mind but my hubby already crys about the 2 roos

 

[Morri]

They like to roost in trees but i wouldnt suggest this as they are than pretty much served on a platter than the predators and the weather, so if you could squish them in the coop like sardines that would be better. Um they can be quite noisy but it depends on the business of you property and whther they are kept in the dark int the morning. Its hard to tell becasue everone has different experiences with noise level. SO if you get some or not Good luck!! I will just add they will be a good alarm for your teenager lol as they can make a noise even when a house light is turned on at night if they can see it lol

 

[CDennis]

Mine roost in the coop at night. As for noise, they are very loud, much louder than a rooster and the noise is constant, not just two or three times a day for 3 minutes like a roo. When mine are alerting and the sun rising or setting, or a leaf in the pasture, or a hair out of place on the horses the males sound like I am standing w/ out ear protection on a firing range and the females, scream what sounds like 'buckwheat'. I think its a great plan, just make sure you are prepared for the noise, I am downsizing my flock because of the noise. They are driving me nuts. Plus, you want to make sure you have plenty of land, or you will have very angry neighbors.

 

[robin416]

If your husband complains about two roos he'll go ballistic over Guineas.

And as noted, you won't have Guineas for long if they are not cooped at night. Besides they are night blind and wouldn't have a clue what is moving around right in front of them.

 

[houndit]

I try to train ours to go in a coop every night. I wanted to control them. A lot of people told me they can not catch their guineas anymore. They do occasionally run away and sleep in a tree. They have always been fine. I was told that they can not make it through the Winter in trees. I do not know if that is true or not.

 

[lovinlife]

mine free range 24/7. I never coop them up. They beat up my chickens, so I don't want them in the chicken coop. they sleep in a tree above the chicken run and do just fine. I'm in central Texas. We had a very cold winter, for us. We have had quite a few nights of temps in the 20's, very cold for us. The chickens are on a roost under a tarp, no enclosed coop at all. The guineas are in a tree on their own. The all do just fine.

 

[Dust Bunny]

thanks for the info its all very good i may need to add another perch to my coop as i cant stand loseing birds, makes me

as for the noise i dont care, my neighbors are old and deaf, but my hubby might witch about it

but at the end of the day i can deal with him, he's a big softy and secretly likes the birds

 

[Cacklin" Hens]

My guineas are outside 24/7. I have had guineas for 3 years and I haven't lost the first one to a predator. They are naturally wild birds, therefore they are really supposed to be outside on their own. That way they can get bugs and grass and other things that they would get in their natural habitat instead of being locked in a coop all the time. They are very active and they would prefer to be outside where they can range free. I feel that it is unfair to leave guineas cooped up. That's just my personal opinion.

 

[Quadog]

Can they get away from a dog chasing them? That's what I've lost most freeranging chickens to.

 

[Cacklin" Hens]

Quote:
A dog will never catch a healthy guinea. I have a Jack Russel terrier that is one of the fastest dogs i have ever seen. i can let her out of the fence when the guineas are standing at the gate hollering and she won't catch the first one. She tried i don't know how many times and she hasn't got one yet. Also my beagle can't catch one but she's a little fat!

Guineas can run super fast and are the best flyers of any domesticated bird(even though they are not domesticated lol). Trust me, you won't find a dog that can catch a guinea