If I get them from the neighbor....

[furbabymum]

I'm going to be free ranging my guineas. Yes, I'm going to keep them locked up in the barn for 6 weeks to train them. I'm wondering if I get them from my neighbor if they'll still want to go "home" to his house?

 

[brahmabreeder]

They should stay on your property if you keep them confined for a week or so. I gave my neighbor some White Leghorn's and she had them just out in a few days and they have yet to step back on my property.

 

[PeepsCA]

If you are getting adults and your neighbor has other poultry/more Guineas then more than likely no matter how long you keep them penned they will eventually wander back over there and probably not come back (or the other side of the coin is that your neighbor's birds may decide to live on your property, because they are missing the birds that left). Guineas are very flock oriented, and prefer to be around larger numbers of birds, (sometimes even if the other birds are something other than Guineas).

If you get them as keets, raise them, grow them out in their coop/run and work on conditioning them to come running to you to a specific call for food and treats reliably before you start letting them free range, you can at least call them back home if you see them heading that direction. I call my birds to me off and on thru the day, randomly to keep them guessing when they will be getting treats, so they stick around but still free range. I also close the coops/pens so that it sort of creates a little separation anxiety and they actually want to coop up in the evenings. You will need to consistently herd them into their coop each evening for a couple weeks (or maybe longer) when you start letting them out tho, making a routine of getting them all in so they understand that everybody back has to go back in the coop/pen each night (which also helps concrete the fact that your property is home, and that no where else is).

Motion activated sprinklers help Guineas at home too, if placed in their pathway of where you don't want them to go. Shiny spooky things like reflective bird tape, pinwheels, aluminum pie pans, CDs etc hung in their access routes to places you don't want them to go sometimes work too, (but you have to change them out frequently or they don't remain spooky). Guineas hate change, and usually always steer clear of anything new (or they just stand back at a safe distance and scream at it, lol). Most birds eventually figure out it's better to just stay home after consistent correction, some are relentless tho. And last but not least making your property more tempting to them than the neighbor's is always a good idea... like by giving them areas to dust-bathe and mirrors (Guineas love mirrors). Even having a wild bird feeder that they can forage under can help keep them content.