do guineas need a coop?

[sunket77]

hi everyone! I live in a very wooded area and was wondering if I got some guineas would they need a coop or can they just roost in the trees? I had some free range chickens that could fly well and like to roost in the trees at night and we never had a predator problem. Also what is a good number for a small guinea flock? I would like just a few that way not so much noise like three maybe? I have one keet I got on accident (thought it was a chick) and was thinking about getting a couple of adults and incorporating the chick with them. what do you guys think??

 

[lovinlife]

I started with 7 guineas last summer. They were in a coop until they were almost full-grown, then i let them out and they free-range 24/7. I would be happy letting them stay in the coop with the chickens, but they beat them up. I also want them to be able to free-range all day and eat bugs this spring. I don't let my chickens out until afternoon.

The guineas roost in a tree above the chicken coop. I've gradually lost them one at a time over the winter. I didn't lose a single one until the first freeze. Then, they slowly would disappear. I'd find feathers occasionally. Sometimes, I find nothing and I wonder if the guinea will show up again one day. I'm down to 2 guineas. Since I lost the last one, I haven't heard the buckwheat call, so I guess I only have males now. They really like to hang out with my chickens and I've contemplated leaving them together in the coop to see what happens. But, I don't want to leave them in the coop all day so that probably won't happen.

As for your question, they will definitely roost in the trees. One night I couldn't find my guineas in their regular tree. I searched and searched for them, and I finally found them by listening for their chirring noise they make at night. They were up about 30 feet in the top of two separate trees.

I have no experience integrating a young guinea with older ones.

 

[sunket77]

Thanks! I am thinking as long as they roost in the yard where my dog is we shouldn't have a predator problem...but then again we bring her inside when it gets to cold... This is something to think about! Thanks!

 

[houndit]

I like mine to have a coop because otherwise it is really hard to catch the adults when you want to sell some. They can do fine in without one though.

 

[thechickenchick]

Do those of you that do not have a coop for your birds always lose a few over the winter? How cold is too cold? Would they need a heated place to roost in the winter or just somewhere out of the wind? We get some pretty cold winters in MT. I have been seriously considering getting guineas but am not sure what they need for the winter. Like lovinlife my idea was to let them free range 24/7. How well does this work? Also can they be taught where to roost or do they just choose?

 

[sunket77]

good questions!

 

[lovinlife]

I live in central Texas, so I'm sure our winters are much milder than yours up north. This is my first year to have guineas, and i lost five of mine. If that's normal, so be it. I'm not sure if I'll get any more guineas. I like the idea of them free ranging 24/7 for bug control, but I don't like the way they treat my chickens. It's a love/hate thing.

I hope someone with guineas in a colder climate chimes in here to answer your questions.

 

[sunket77]

Oh I live in Central Texas also... did yours just disappear or where they victim to predators? I was just hoping to get like one or two more for bug control but I hate loosing animals like that. If they will roost in my dogs invisible fence range then I think they will be fine, I haven't seen one coon or opossum since I got her.

 

[startingover]

I live in Ky and we have some pretty cold winters here. I've had guineas for 3 years now. When you have keets keep them in a coop where you want them to come home to for 7 weeks. Get some pure white millet - most small feed stores either have it or will order it for you. Guineas love white millet. Its like candy to them. Every time you feed them millet call the same thing. I always said guinea guinea want some seed. Do it in a particular voice the same way every time. To this day if my guineas can hear me I can go outside and yell for them and they come home.

My guineas prefer the trees when the weather is decent. I haven't lost one at night yet. My house is surrounded by the horse fields and the guineas sleep in a tree outside my bedroom window. When its cold, they go in their house on their own. They share the house with the chickens. I bed the house down the straw all winter and use insulation in the cracks to eliminate drafts. I run a heat lamp below 30 degrees. I keep the small chicken door open all day and everyone comes and goes as they choose. When it snows a lot everyone stays locked up in their house. Guineas hate the snow. I haven't lost one to the cold because they have a place to go to keep warm. When they are locked up they get alfalfa hay to munch on and and a bran mash every couple days. I also put vitamins in their water since the sun doesn't shine too much here in the winter.

 

[thechickenchick]

Thank you startingover! You answered just what I needed to know!