Guineas flying over fence for 2 nights in a row.

[deekay04]

Hi everyone! I have 2 guineas, both around 9 weeks old. They have been really good about going into the coop at night with the chickens, except last and this night, they've decided to jump/fly the 4 foot electric netting, then roost on an area outside of the coop. Catching crazy guineas is not fun. Im just surprised they started doing this as young as they are. I still cannot tell the genders. This is my first time with guineas. My question is, to clip or not to clip their wings. They are going to be enclosed in the 4ft electric fence for a while, like months, and be cooped at night. That is, if they still don't jump/fly it. Any thoughts?

 

[MandyH]

Guineas are SUPERB flyers from a very young age. They like to fly up and roost as high as they can. Sometimes clipping wings works and sometimes it doesn't. You will just have to ry and see if it works for you IF they are going to be penned. They don't need their wings clipped if they are gonna free range or they will be something's supper.

 

[deekay04]

Well they aren't free range yet, but if they jump the fence they will be. We will be free ranging all of the chickens too once full grown. Most are 9 weeks old too, so we've got some time. I just feel bad leaving them outside because they're a pain to catch. At least chickens sit still when its dark out. They do for a second then run around like crazies. I just want to do what's best.

 

[PeepsCA]

Usually Guineas with clipped wings will still flap their stubby wings like crazy and scale a fence no problem, sometimes just to spite us I think, lol

If you can keep them safe with clipped wings and consistently herd them back in every time they do scale the fence you might be able to train them to stay inside... but you have to be consitent. Guineas are roamers/rangers by nature, and since they've already started a bad habit, you may never be able to break it, even with clipped wings

 

[leonphelps]

Mine have been trained by persistence. I have a 6 foot fence and some netting above it and it works for me. Once in a while, one will get out then I open the gate and chase him/her back in.

Tomorrow will be another test since I am going away for the day.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Keep them locked up in their coop for a couple or weeks, then try letting them free range again.

~ Aspen