Do guineas need a coop?

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

Here is a link on info about guinea chickens. If you scroll down on the page you will see a list of catagorized info on guineas.

http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/

One time 2 guineas just showed up and began living with our free range chikens. They stuck around for about 2 years and hung out on top of our house and garage pooping all over the roof.

They would make a racket when cars they were not used to came to our house and if any cat or dog that dont belong to us or any other animal would come around. They made good watchdogs.

They just suddenly dissapeared one day and I never saw them again. I dunno if they got eaten or left. I hope to get more some time but this time I will start out with babies and keep them in a coop until they are big and used to the place.

Their eggs are good to eat. They are small and harder to crack then regular chicken eggs. Their yolk is darker and richer also.

 

[tinman9952]

great link bj, very helpful. ty

 

[chickenannie]

My guineas free range but always go into the hen house at night. In fact they are the first to go in when the sun goes down (before the chickens).

I would like them to roost outside, but I tried locking them out a couple of times, and they paced back and forth in front of the henhouse pathetically until I let them back inside. They are chicken!

the only night they spent outside was when it snowed recently and they didn't want to hurt their dainty little feet walking across the snow to the henhouse.

 

[tinman9952]

If I order 2 straight run Guinea hens, what are the chances of getting 2 males? And i see that turkey starter feed is recomended, but if i raise them with new chicks on medicated starter feed (for chickens) are thet going to do ok?

 

[chickenannie]

does anyone know how to train guineas to roost in the trees? Mine love the chicken coop so much, they are the first in at night and the last to leave in the morning. They love being outside, but I NEVER see them flying more then 3-4 feet high.

BTW, I've *tried* to PUT them in the trees, but trust me THAT does not work! I ended up with scratched forearms like crazy and had to make up excuses as to why I was so scratched up.