Guinea Pop Hole - Size / Location / Usability

[MrsBuzz]

Hello- We are raising our first flock of 13 guinea fowl and have raised them from keets alongside 14 chicks. (Same coop but separate pen). Our guineas are now 6 weeks old and we are trying to figure out the best way to release them and insure that they will return to the coop at night. I have two points of concern:

1. Is our pop hole the appropriate size and in a suitable location? Pop hole is approximately 10″ x 12″ and located approximately 66" above ground. (My husband mounted a landing board and small perch on the exterior for them to fly up to and land on before entering).

2. We have 12 acres (woodland/corn/grassland) how can I encourage the guineas to stay close to home and eat the bugs out of my vegetable garden / perennial beds vs flying straight for the woods?

So far, we have let out just one guinea at a time, and they run straight for the woods. They have never made their way up to the coop pop hole, though they have wandered back to the coop where we have been able to catch them and return them to their pen. Is this hole just too small and too high?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I know next to nothing about Guineas, but that hole does look rather hard to aim for

 

[R2elk]

Hello- We are raising our first flock of 13 guinea fowl and have raised them from keets alongside 14 chicks. (Same coop but separate pen). Our guineas are now 6 weeks old and we are trying to figure out the best way to release them and insure that they will return to the coop at night. I have two points of concern:

1. Is our pop hole the appropriate size and in a suitable location? Pop hole is approximately 10″ x 12″ and located approximately 66" above ground. (My husband mounted a landing board and small perch on the exterior for them to fly up to and land on before entering).

2. We have 12 acres (woodland/corn/grassland) how can I encourage the guineas to stay close to home and eat the bugs out of my vegetable garden / perennial beds vs flying straight for the woods?

So far, we have let out just one guinea at a time, and they run straight for the woods. They have never made their way up to the coop pop hole, though they have wandered back to the coop where we have been able to catch them and return them to their pen. Is this hole just too small and too high?View attachment 2230049View attachment 2230050View attachment 2230051View attachment 2230052

I would put it at ground level.

 

[MrsBuzz]

Does your door auto close or do you have them trained to return and you close them in at night?

 

[R2elk]

Does your door auto close or do you have them trained to return and you close them in at night?

Mine is manual operation. I herd the guineas into the coop every evening.