Guineas and Chickens?

[Lamia1791]

We have just moved to Oak Hills and discovered our first Rattlesnake. We are looking to get Guineas to let them roam the yard, and at least alert us if there is one around. Also hoping they will eat some of these beetles!

I want the guineas to be free to roam in the day, and I've read that if you have chickens with them, they are more likely to come back home at night into the coop. But how do I have chickens, do I just let them free range too? Won't they be more prone to predator attack? I was hoping to just have a coop and let the guineas run free all day, returning to the coop at night. Our property currently has no fencing.
Thanks for any advice or input!!!

 

[R2elk]

We have just moved to Oak Hills and discovered our first Rattlesnake. We are looking to get Guineas to let them roam the yard, and at least alert us if there is one around. Also hoping they will eat some of these beetles!

I want the guineas to be free to roam in the day, and I've read that if you have chickens with them, they are more likely to come back home at night into the coop. But how do I have chickens, do I just let them free range too? Won't they be more prone to predator attack? I was hoping to just have a coop and let the guineas run free all day, returning to the coop at night. Our property currently has no fencing.
Thanks for any advice or input!!!

Unless there is another reason that you want chickens, the guineas will do fine and cause less problems without the chickens.

I raise, keep and coop my guineas separately from chickens. I recommend that you get a minimum of 10 guineas as they are a flock bird and will do a much better job at what you want from them if there is a large group of them.

I have no problems getting my guineas into their coop in the evening. Some people teach their guineas using treats. I just use a long stick to herd them into their coop. It does take time to train them but once they know the drill, it does not take long to get them into their coop.