Guineas Getting Their Own Pen!

[Rose66]

Right now we have our 15 10 week old guineas in the same coop/run with our chickens but we are about half way through building a tractor/coop for just the guineas. It is a 14x14 tractor made from a trampoline frame. It's about 7' tall in the center and it's not going to be the best looking thing but it will do the job. We plan on putting a dutch door on the tractor so that we can leave the top half open and the guineas can free range during the day when they get a little older. I realize we are taking a chance on the guineas deciding to roost in the trees rather than coming back to roost in the tractor but we're willing to accept that chance in order for the guineas to free range. If they get to the point where they no longer use the tractor, then we'll use the tractor for some of our chickens. We are currently training the guineas to come to a ringing bell for treats. I'm thinking I will start letting them free range in about 2 more months. Does that sound old enough?

 

[jcatblum]

I would start letting one out @ a time now. Each day just let one out, they will stay right outside the coop since thy don't want to be alone. Gradually let them out in pairs & build up until they are all out. Guineas stick together in flocks, so they won't take off without there flock. As you build up to letting them all out they get used to returning back to the coop. If you let them all out at once the first time it will be a rodeo to get them back in!

 

[tomingreeneco]

When ours were 7 weeks old we but them in their coop outside. They stayed in there for 6 weeks before we let the out. They return every night to be locked up. Make sure you but a roost that will hold all of them as high as you can in the coop (we use two roosts in our coop to accommodate all the birds). Good luck!!!

 

[Rose66]

Thanks for the reminder about letting them out one at a time and gradually building up to letting them all out. Also, thanks for the tip on making sure the roost(s) are as high as possible. Right now the roosts they use in the chicken pen are 6 feet tall and the tractor we are moving them too is 7' tall in the center so hopefully, I can put a 6' high roost in there too. Thanks for all the help!