Guineas too tame

[Gkundern]

I was so focused on training my guineas to not run away that now I'm afraid they are too tame. I got them because the tics on our property area awful. I have 40 acres but they will not leave the yard. I will chase them out into the woods hoping they will start seeing the buffet in there and get to work only to have them run back. I have read that I should restrict their feed but nothing see says how much. Any ideas?

 

[R2elk]

I was so focused on training my guineas to not run away that now I'm afraid they are too tame. I got them because the tics on our property area awful. I have 40 acres but they will not leave the yard. I will chase them out into the woods hoping they will start seeing the buffet in there and get to work only to have them run back. I have read that I should restrict their feed but nothing see says how much. Any ideas?

Young guineas are timid and take time to adjust to new surroundings including the areas away from their coop and pen. As they age, they become braver and will expand the areas that they cover.

Don't forget that guineas are plains dwellers. It is not natural for them to want to be in the woods.

 

[My2butterflies]

Yep^^
Mine are just over a year old and starting to venture out farther then last year. Mine do go in the woods, but not nearly as much as they hang out in the tall grass, yard, and corn fields.
At least for now they are keeping the ticks and bugs around your home down

 

[Gkundern]

Yep^^
Mine are just over a year old and starting to venture out farther then last year. Mine do go in the woods, but not nearly as much as they hang out in the tall grass, yard, and corn fields.
At least for now they are keeping the ticks and bugs around your home down

My 40 is all woods

 

[southwind00]

I was so focused on training my guineas to not run away that now I'm afraid they are too tame. I got them because the tics on our property area awful. I have 40 acres but they will not leave the yard. I will chase them out into the woods hoping they will start seeing the buffet in there and get to work only to have them run back. I have read that I should restrict their feed but nothing see says how much. Any ideas?

When my guineas were young I was worried just like you are that they wouldn't eat live bugs or even leave the yard. But as I have learned, that the guineas learn what they like, and it does take some time and not all guineas like the same thing,they will get braver and before you know it they will be all over your property and your neighbors too. I got my guineas for tick control but now realize that there might be other bugs like cluster flies or Japanese beetles that are easy pickings that they will gorge on while others are chasing grasshoppers. I have my older male and mate that now basically run out to my driveway every morning when I let them out to get the moths and bugs that have crashed and died overnite under my driveway light.. And with ticks here in Western New York they go through molting stages where they are definitely more prevalent certain times of the year, and the guineas have learned that.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

My 40 is all woods

How dense are your woods? We have areas with very dense woods that our guineas don’t favor, and other areas with lots of brush but fewer trees that our guineas love. We also cleared some of the brush and that’s become their new favorite zone. Clearing some brush will also make it less hospitable for ticks.

 

[Gkundern]

Very densely wooded. There is a smattering of open areas that are a few acres in size but of course the open areas aren't where we get ticks. The trails in the woods are the worse offenders.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Very densely wooded. There is a smattering of open areas that are a few acres in size but of course the open areas aren't where we get ticks. The trails in the woods are the worse offenders.

My guess is that they will eventually use the trails, but that will be a danger zone where predators can ambush them. Anything you can do to open parts up a bit will help with safety, access and tick control.

They probably aren’t too tame, just justifiably scared of the unknown threats. You can grab some treats and get them to follow you to some nearby zones then scatter millet or whatever to encourage them. Putting on some boots and permethrin treated clothing will allow you to show them that they can access these areas and maybe get the predators to back off while your guineas learn. Learning about predators without parent instructors is a steep learning curve for birds!