cooping question

[Holler Point Farm]

I have 5 guinea keats after losing one to a predator. They are 10 weeks old and I thought, big enough to let free. However, at night, while my chickens were all going back into their coop, the little guineas bedded down together next to the duck pen. Not sure why they like the duck so well, she doesn't like them at all. I let them be the first night, thinking they would be okay, but lost one to a predator (a raccoon I think). I tried it afterward a couple of times and ended up having to catch them and put them back into the coop. Should I wait a few weeks? Would it be a good idea to try to integrate them with the chickens, I have a flock about their size as well as a full grown flock. I read on another thread a few suggestion about using songs, or ringtones to draw them back to the coop. I will try these, but am not sure if it's too late. I got the guineas to be watch dogs on the property and protectors of the other fowl, but now worry that the poor little things are more helpless then the chickens.

 

[R2elk]

I have 5 guinea keats after losing one to a predator. They are 10 weeks old and I thought, big enough to let free. However, at night, while my chickens were all going back into their coop, the little guineas bedded down together next to the duck pen. Not sure why they like the duck so well, she doesn't like them at all. I let them be the first night, thinking they would be okay, but lost one to a predator (a raccoon I think). I tried it afterward a couple of times and ended up having to catch them and put them back into the coop. Should I wait a few weeks? Would it be a good idea to try to integrate them with the chickens, I have a flock about their size as well as a full grown flock. I read on another thread a few suggestion about using songs, or ringtones to draw them back to the coop. I will try these, but am not sure if it's too late. I got the guineas to be watch dogs on the property and protectors of the other fowl, but now worry that the poor little things are more helpless then the chickens.

Guinea keets have to be trained to go in a coop at night. To use the call methods, you have to reward them with "treats" when they come. You have to do this repeatedly for them to learn. I did not just let my guinea keets out on their own. When I first started letting mine out, I stayed right there with them for the first few days. I increased the amount of time they were allowed out of their coop on a daily basis. I trained them to be herded into the coop in the evening by using long sticks as extensions of my arms. I would also herd them into the coop at random times during the day to get them accustomed to being herded. Now my guineas will go into the coop on their own in the evening or they will let me herd them in by simply tapping my stick on the ground.

It takes time to train them. They must be trained to do what you want them to do.

As far as them protecting your flock, if you keep them with your chickens, once their hormones kick in (normally their first breeding season) they will more likely attack your chickens than anything else.

They are not good guards as they will begin and continue their screeching for reasons known only to them. They may continue their screeching long after they have forgotten what they were alarming about.

Guineas are a flock bird and can become overly brave when there are large numbers of them. I never recommend having fewer than 10 guineas. A small group of guineas will not do the things that a large group might do when faced with predators.

 

[lazytrucker]

I don't know if it will help you but I did a bit like R2elk did. I spent a lot of time training them to the coop. They were raised from keets in the coop with the chickens. I didn't let them out for a long time. When I finally did I went to great lengths to make sure they came in the coop every night. Even to the point of knocking them out of the trees with a long pvc pipe when they tried to stay outside. I let them stay in the trees a couple times and I think an owl got one and that convinced them I was right. Good luck!

I have 5 guinea keats after losing one to a predator. They are 10 weeks old and I thought, big enough to let free. However, at night, while my chickens were all going back into their coop, the little guineas bedded down together next to the duck pen. Not sure why they like the duck so well, she doesn't like them at all. I let them be the first night, thinking they would be okay, but lost one to a predator (a raccoon I think). I tried it afterward a couple of times and ended up having to catch them and put them back into the coop. Should I wait a few weeks? Would it be a good idea to try to integrate them with the chickens, I have a flock about their size as well as a full grown flock. I read on another thread a few suggestion about using songs, or ringtones to draw them back to the coop. I will try these, but am not sure if it's too late. I got the guineas to be watch dogs on the property and protectors of the other fowl, but now worry that the poor little things are more helpless then the chickens.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I don't know if it will help you but I did a bit like R2elk did. I spent a lot of time training them to the coop. They were raised from keets in the coop with the chickens. I didn't let them out for a long time. When I finally did I went to great lengths to make sure they came in the coop every night. Even to the point of knocking them out of the trees with a long pvc pipe when they tried to stay outside. I let them stay in the trees a couple times and I think an owl got one and that convinced them I was right. Good luck!

I’ve done similar. It took a lot of work, especially because they had to use a Chunnel to enter the coop, but they were eventually trained to go into the coop at night. I decided later that treats in their coop were not good, it encouraged more dominant birds to chase off subordinate birds, plus it wasn't the right roosting signal for them. Instead, I scatter treats near Chunnel ramp in the evening, then birds make their way inside when they feel the urge to roost. Actually, I’m out of town and fingers crossed that they continue to go in at night, when the automatic door will lock them in and let them out in the AM.