- Feb 6, 2007
- 2,056
- 22
- 203
The one thing you can depend on with Guineas is about the time you relax and think they are not going to fly in to trees, or return to the coop at night is the time they do just that.
Mating season can be a frustrating time of year. Males will chase other males relentlessly until the one will take refuge in a tree. I had one spend the night in a tree recently he was so tired of being picked on.
During mating season its up to the girls on when its time to head for the coop. If she's out cruising looking for tender morsels her male will stay with her. Get several pairs and you can spend an entire evening outside trying to get them home.
New keets out with the adults seem to cause wandering. I have't figured that one out yet but my adults never left the house until they had keets with them. I've had to go hunt them down on several occassions.
Females can be trained to lay in the coop. Once you know that they are laying keep them in their coop until you know that laying is done. Doing that for several days will encourage them to nest in the coop.
Training Guineas to a treat, I use millet, will give you a bit more insurance that they will come when you call. Or if they are acclimated to receiving their millet in the coop each evening they will return for their fix.
Don't freak if you see your keets flying into the trees. Its like a game, one will fly up then another until most are in the tree. They'll hang out for a while and then go in search of a new adventure.
Guineas can be a problem around chickens. Some of it depends on the size of the flock and whether or not you have a particularly aggressive male. My Silkies and Guineas are housed seperately for that reason. Although things have been much quieter since the birds have matured.
Mating season can be a frustrating time of year. Males will chase other males relentlessly until the one will take refuge in a tree. I had one spend the night in a tree recently he was so tired of being picked on.
During mating season its up to the girls on when its time to head for the coop. If she's out cruising looking for tender morsels her male will stay with her. Get several pairs and you can spend an entire evening outside trying to get them home.
New keets out with the adults seem to cause wandering. I have't figured that one out yet but my adults never left the house until they had keets with them. I've had to go hunt them down on several occassions.
Females can be trained to lay in the coop. Once you know that they are laying keep them in their coop until you know that laying is done. Doing that for several days will encourage them to nest in the coop.
Training Guineas to a treat, I use millet, will give you a bit more insurance that they will come when you call. Or if they are acclimated to receiving their millet in the coop each evening they will return for their fix.
Don't freak if you see your keets flying into the trees. Its like a game, one will fly up then another until most are in the tree. They'll hang out for a while and then go in search of a new adventure.
Guineas can be a problem around chickens. Some of it depends on the size of the flock and whether or not you have a particularly aggressive male. My Silkies and Guineas are housed seperately for that reason. Although things have been much quieter since the birds have matured.
