Guineas?

[LynnsFlock]

So I have happily raised my chickens for a year now, they are awesome!

I decided to get Guineas.... uh, help. Had them 4 weeks, so they are about 6 weeks old, and more feral that the stray cats! They REFUSE to go in the coop (their own) at night. I have tried keeping a few in (they escape when I try to get the others back in), have left them to go them selves (with a flashlight hanging to encourage them), have left them in there for days at a time to see if THAT works, NOTHING! They REFUSE to go back in, and for now, they are kept in a secured pen around the coop. I'd like to eventually free range them, but this group, I'd probably never see them again!
What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance!

 

[Pyxis]

Guineas need to be coop trained far more extensively than chickens. I'm talking about locking them in for six weeks straight at first, and then only letting small groups out at a time so that they come back to the rest of the flock at night.

So, lock them in for at least four weeks, six to be even safer, and then let a few out at a time and do that for a week or so, and then try letting them all out at once.

 

[LynnsFlock]

Ok. Thanks for the reply. I actually want to move them to a bigger coop, should I go ahead and do that now and do this long term in the new one? They are in the "baby coop", probably not big enough for all of them in 4-6 weeks.

 

[LynnsFlock]

And, do they ever get docile like chickens? These babies panic each other, I try not to scare them more feeding/watering LOL

 

[Pyxis]

Yeah, I'd go ahead and move them into the bigger coop now. If you try to move them later you'd have to go through the whole rigmarole of locking them up again.

Not really docile, no. They're fairly spazzy. They can be friendly, but calm and docile would not be words I'd ever use to describe them, lol.

 

[LynnsFlock]

OK, Friday project.
I heard they are good for tick control, and this year has been nasty. They are literally crawling all over our fence posts. But I have such sweet chickens, I didn't expect this, haha! As much as they cut me up getting them in at night, I still don't want to leave them out this young.
Thank you again for the advice. I will move them and pen them, it's an old run in shed turned into a coop so it'll be plenty big enough for 24-7. Thanks again!!

 

[lilybug51]

I secured my run and call them back home every night. They don't actually have a coop just tunnels and a tarp roof for cover. I started saying "hey guy hey! sweet keets!" when they were just tiny. They are now 4 months old and I call them home with the same call at the same time. It is so FUN to see them marching thru the woods and following my roommate like she's the pied piper back to the run for dinner and meal worms.

 

[BlueShadow]

OK, Friday project.
I heard they are good for tick control, and this year has been nasty. They are literally crawling all over our fence posts. But I have such sweet chickens, I didn't expect this, haha! As much as they cut me up getting them in at night, I still don't want to leave them out this young.
Thank you again for the advice. I will move them and pen them, it's an old run in shed turned into a coop so it'll be plenty big enough for 24-7. Thanks again!!

I agree with everything Pyxis said. The guineas need to be kept inside for at least 2 weeks, 6 is optimal, so that they learn where "home" is. You can also use this time to get them used to you, your voice, mannerisms, etc. when you do daily chores each day. Yes, they are spazzy and they will freak out each time you come in the coop, but hopefully they settle down fairly quickly and stop panicking after they realize its just you, the same you as yesterday, doing the same things as yesterday. When they start free ranging, a reasonable goal is guineas that will permit you to walk within 5 feet of them without squawking. I wouldn't expect more from them than that. Although it is possible to tame them so much that they will come up to sit in your lap, that level of tameness is exceptionally rare for guineas.

 

[sillyfab]

Guineas need to be coop trained far more extensively than chickens. I'm talking about locking them in for six weeks straight at first, and then only letting small groups out at a time so that they come back to the rest of the flock at night.

So, lock them in for at least four weeks, six to be even safer, and then let a few out at a time and do that for a week or so, and then try letting them all out at once.

how long do you suggest until they will be trained in week time i have keets trying learn everything i can

 

[Pyxis]

how long do you suggest until they will be trained in week time i have keets trying learn everything i can

Four to six weeks, as stated in the post you quoted