Cooping Guineas

[chickenmadness7]

What time do you call your guineas to roost in the coop at night? Mine are 5 weeks and I just moved them to the coop outside in a run. They're really loving it, and spent their first night outdoors in the coop last night. I'm so proud of them because they come running for the bell I ring to the coop. Just like we practiced indoors all of these weeks.

 

[Firekin1]

I Don't, they come in on their own at dusk...lol

 

[June2013]

I have had my Pearl Gray guineas for a little over a year. I bring mine in trained for a snack of white millet. Per recommendations of increased predator risk closer to dawn and dusk, I bring mine in as the sunlight coming thru the trees leaves is near complete. However I occasionally alter times to earlier in the evening just incase I need to put them in because I may want to leave my farmette earlier in the evening. Therefore they don't establish a constant pattern. My recommendation would be the risk of predators and the chance of enjoying roosting in trees if it gets to dark. My biggest fear is the start of roosting in trees. If they start the tree roosting, would they ever want to use the coop again? Many people never get their guineas inside a coop. That you have them trained to do so is a great accomplishment.

 

[Percheron chick]

Mine put themselves to bed at the same time my chickens do.

Mine started to roost up in the rafters of the barn in the spring. I think the hens liked it because they are noisy from dusk until dark. I did some remodeling and added a roost 6' up. Guineas moved back into the coop at night. The moral of that story is give them a roost that is higher than your hens can fly up to and they will probably stay in the coop.

 

[chickenmadness7]

So, last night we didn't get home until well after 8 p.m. The coop was dark and I could not get my guineas to go inside. I ended up having to pick each one up and put them in. I'm starting to rethink the while coop thing for 5 he guineas and maybe instead cconvert a dog kennel to a guinea coop with perches and cover tops and sides with tarp.

 

[June2013]

Chicken Madness, My set up includes a 10'x10' dog kennel/run attached to the side of the barn were the guineas feed and have roosts inside. The outside run has fencing on the ground and fencing on top. It too has roosts. The enclosed run serves several purposes. Largely in with the warmer nights the guineas have a safe place to rest at night. Secondly if I have to be out of town, I can leave the kennel run locked and the guineas can come and go between the hen house/coop and the run. i have a lovely friend who comes by to throw some millet into the kennel and check on the water. Actually for just being gone for a few days, I believe the birds are care free. I worry more about human destruction. I have the same setup for my chickens with a separate dog run and barn entrance.
My brief experience with both types of birds is that the can't see at night very well. Not knowing exactly how your set up is designed, if the area you want them to enter is completely dark you may try 1-2 very bright flash lights if you don't have lighting in their coop. I have at times had to turn the overhead light on in the barn to retrieve something after dark. One or two of the guineas will come off their roosts to feed or drink. Despite soft red lighting in the barn the are unable or won't return to the roosts. Most times if I turn the bright light off for 30 seconds or so them back on they will usually re-roost. I may have to repeat the sequence a couple of times. I might suggest if you have no electricity to your set up, you might try solar lighting that you can control as desired. Your thought of adding a dog run has worked well for me. I have Red Tail Hawks. owls, foxes, raccoons and several more predators. After a year, everything has held up with this setup. However when I use the term free range, my birds have access to the open yard, 2-3 acres, and extremely thick woods. I have been told be my neighbors, some a short mile away, that my guineas show up there. but do return to the barn for their evening treat. During the day, all the birds will come and go from their respected coops. Best of Luck.

 

[chickenmadness7]

Thank you, June2013! We do have solar lighting outside around the run, but not inside the coop. Not even sure if there is such a light that could be powered by solar but work inside the coop. Do you know of such a thing?

I wish we had a larger coop, shed, or barn. We don't but it's something to consider for the future. I'm going to set up a larger pen or two and see how that works out and put roosts up there too. Thank you!

 

[Sophia0467]

I am having trouble getting my guineas to get in their coop at night. Instead of roosting, sometimes they seem to just bed down for the night in tall grass and I have to convince them otherwise. Would love to know exactly how you trained yours with the bell.

 

[June2013]

I started with 15 guineas a little over 1 year ago. I have 12 now not counting the 16 that were hatched thru the past 24 hours. I started early about 1 week old calling out "yak,yak,yak" in a deep toned voice. My chickens were raised in the same brooder so I would also sat "chick, click, chick" in a high pitched voice. Each time I did this I would feed them white millet. I've continued this each time I'm ready for them to come to the barn. I ended up having to separate the chickens and guineas so each knows, fairly well were to congregate. Now one thing I've found is guineas prefer not to scratch for small treats, millet or occasionally chicken scratch. To add, with such a pecking order, i finally took a 4" pvc pipe, cut 1/3 out of the width of it and screwed it into the wall. i spread the millet down the line so the lower pecking order gets a chance for some millet. At times the guineas and chickens are waiting for me at the barn knowing it is about time for me to hand out their evening treats.

Since it is summer and the outdoor food is likely more interesting than what they may be having to give up to come in for the night, I would combine the bell with some white millet. The stragglers will eventually associate the food treat with the bell. If your space is limited, I would just clear a space on the floor with your feet where you will place the millet. To help the lower rank I would do two places. The first farther from the entrance, the second closer to the door opening. The higher rank will push a head to the first place you put down the millet, then as you put it down in the second spot the lower rank has a similar chance. As I spread the millet down the pvc, I always start at the same end. If a lower rank starts in the trough with the higher rank, that guinea usually gets a quick scolding and moves down. For my bunch, it is usually a half cup to about a third. I start my yak,yak,yak, as I'm walking to the barn.

I have my inside barn setup with the food, water and roosts. I have a 10x10 dog kennel tightly secured to the outside of the barn.I did have to cut a hole in the chain link and add some pole framing for the pop hole. The kennel I got off Craig's List for about $100. I used some roll out 2"x4' garden fencing for the top and similar for the bottom, incase something wanted to borough under. There are roosts in the kennel/run which the guineas use for hot nights.

As for solar lights, I saw a large assortment on amazon. I was looking for a barn exhaust fan, my barn has a standup loft, to try to cool it off a bit. I found the company that made some of the fans I saw on amazon. I called got the info I needed told them the expense was too much for this month, then I bought it at amazon and saved over $150. If amazon has a solar powered light like you want, find the company and see if you can add either an on/off with or a timer, or talk to someone at Lowe's I use a timer for a white bulb light in the winter to give my chickens 14hours of light for better egg production.

I hope this helps. I think the treats in moderation will help bring better interest to "bedtime". I've understand it is only supposed to be White millet. Good Luck, June2013

 

[chickenmadness7]

Mealworms are my guineas' favorites. From day one, I rang a cow bell every time I was about to feed mealworms. I still ring that bell each and every time. The hope is that by the time they are old enough to free range and are out of the run, they will come home when they hear the bell.