Can you free feed guineas?

[hysop]

I was trying to see if guineas can be free fed like chickens to where they won’t overeat. Or do I need to just feed them a set ration daily?

They usually free range but I got them a new large tractor coop (12 ft by ft & at least 6 ft high) so I need to train them that that's their new home plus I want to collect their eggs to hatch.

 

[R2elk]

I was trying to see if guineas can be free fed like chickens to where they won’t overeat. Or do I need to just feed them a set ration daily?

They usually free range but I got them a new large tractor coop (12 ft by ft & at least 6 ft high) so I need to train them that that's their new home plus I want to collect their eggs to hatch.

All of my poultry have access to feed, water and oyster shell at all times. This includes the guineas.

 

[hysop]

All of my poultry have access to feed, water and oyster shell at all times. This includes the guineas.

I will start free feeding them tomorrow!

How does free feeding work when wanting them to come back to the coop? Or do they come by themselves as long as they have established that’s their safe sleeping spot? Or should I throw them treats every evening?

Asking for when I set them free to free range in the summer. In the past they slowly migrated from a safe coop to the trees. I’m trying to avoid that this time around.

 

[R2elk]

I will start free feeding them tomorrow!

How does free feeding work when wanting them to come back to the coop? Or do they come by themselves as long as they have established that’s their safe sleeping spot? Or should I throw them treats every evening?

Asking for when I set them free to free range in the summer. In the past they slowly migrated from a safe coop to the trees. I’m trying to avoid that this time around.

I train my guineas to go in the coop at night by herding them in. Others use treats. The feeder and waterer are in the coop and nowhere else.

 

[Sydney65]

I was trying to see if guineas can be free fed like chickens to where they won’t overeat. Or do I need to just feed them a set ration daily?

They usually free range but I got them a new large tractor coop (12 ft by ft & at least 6 ft high) so I need to train them that that's their new home plus I want to collect their eggs to hatch.

I have a tractor w/run attached. I mounted self feeders in the run, works great. I kept them in this for a few weeks so they learned this was home, then gradually let them out 1 at a time. They want to be together so the ones outside stayed close. I keep millet in a coffee can so shake it while calling - They learn that means treat & come running. Gradually I got to just calling, and now they just put themselves in & are waiting for me to lock up. All I have to do is ask "is everyone in," and listen for the response ( there are only 3 out there at the moment). This isn't a one off, every yr new birds have to be trained. Sometimes they follow the status quo of the adults,sometimes they are rebels.

 

[R2elk]

This isn't a one off, every yr new birds have to be trained. Sometimes they follow the status quo of the adults,sometimes they are rebels.

It does help that the older birds set the example for the younger ones.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

When I needed to train my guineas to a new coop, I put up some temporary fencing around the pop door that o wanted them to use. Guineas were confined to the coop for a bit so they felt at home, then allowed out the pop door into fenced area an hour or two before dark. At dusk they either chose to enter pop door or were gently herded in. After a few weeks of this they associated dusk with heading through that pop door. Now I add keets from within the flock, so mom does the hard work of training keets to use the pop door!