I have young guineas that are about 9 wks old that will be going into outdoor enclosure. This will be an old shed attached to a newly built run of 32'x8'x8' or so. I have some adult/sub adult silkies that will be going in there too. I am prepared to divide the run and build a little shelter at one end for the chickens if they get picked on by guineas, but I think since I'm introducing them young, with close monitoring, it will be fine.
Now - on to my plan. I'm not home during the day, and my area has quite a lot of predators. I built the run very secure. Next summer, I want to let the guineas free range my property all day with the option to go in and out of the enclosure. The silkies can't fly a bit and would have absolutely no defense. I do not want them free ranging. Next summer, the coop/run ideally would only be for the guineas to sleep safely at night.
If I made a "guinea door" say 4' high on the shed, with a landing board, so the guineas can fly in and out, but the chickens could not, would that work? That's my plan, as I don't think many daytime predators would be trying to fly/climb into a shed door that high up, so the silkies should remain safe.
Thoughts? If anyone else does this, I'd love to see pictures of a setup like that.
Thanks!
Now - on to my plan. I'm not home during the day, and my area has quite a lot of predators. I built the run very secure. Next summer, I want to let the guineas free range my property all day with the option to go in and out of the enclosure. The silkies can't fly a bit and would have absolutely no defense. I do not want them free ranging. Next summer, the coop/run ideally would only be for the guineas to sleep safely at night.
If I made a "guinea door" say 4' high on the shed, with a landing board, so the guineas can fly in and out, but the chickens could not, would that work? That's my plan, as I don't think many daytime predators would be trying to fly/climb into a shed door that high up, so the silkies should remain safe.
Thoughts? If anyone else does this, I'd love to see pictures of a setup like that.
Thanks!
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