How Many Keets?

[JLeigh]

I agree with Jared. My guineas don't come to the coop until dusk. The chickens are all roosting in a row earlier. Sometimes I do have to encourage the guineas in, but most of the time, they'll go themselves.

 

[PeepsCA]

If given the choice, Guineas will push it to the last possible second, or even right on past their "window of opportunity" until it's too dark and they'd rather take to the trees. Usually too many nights of being allowed to choose the trees and they will just stop using the coop. For the most part Guineas need to be trained/conditioned to come in, because if the choice is left the them...they will typically choose the trees, shed/coop/roof, anywhere high up, it's what's natural to them (not safe, but natural).

I do have a flock of full time free rangers that roost in the trees down hill that's well lit by my big yard light, but I don't let my breeding flocks roost in the trees, they all coop up each night. I've developed a pretty fail proof routine of getting my birds in each night... from the start, whenever I feed or give treats to my keets/Guineas I use the same exact call every time, so they all learn to associate that word/call with FOOD. And I don't start letting my birds out to free range until am sure they know that call and will reliably come running when they hear it.

During the day I do not leave my coops/pens open (too many squirrels, wood rats, wild birds and other critters would be getting in my coops and pens chowing down on the free choice feed I have hanging in feeders), but instead I have a routine evening feeding time for all animals on my ranch, and I've worked my Guineas' cooping up time into that routine. When it's time to get the Guineas in I call them with the food call they are used to (they are usually all under foot anyway while I am feeding horses and goats), and when they all come running into their coop/pen they get treats. They like routine and will stick to one, once you've established one.

I also feel that since their free choice/free come and go access to food and their coops/pens creates a little separation anxiety that also helps encourage them to want back into their coop each night. Sometimes if I am late my Guineas are waiting at the pen door for me, pacing and complaining. Needless to say I do not have any issues getting my birds in at night. They would probably all coop themselves up because of this routine I have established with them if I left the doors open, but that doesn't work out for my situation.

I'm not saying everybody should shut their coops/runs up every time they let their birds out... but more to the point, create a routine of getting them to come running for feed, and closing the coop/pen at first might help ingrain the routine quicker. Another great thing about the birds coming when called is that it's always a plus to be able to call your birds at any time of the day and get them back into their coop/pen.