I've decided keets are dumb

[sawilliams]

I have 3 keets, lavender I think. They were suppose to be about 3 months when we got them a month ago, honestly i have no idea but it doesn't really matter.

Anyways like i said I've had them about a month. We have let them out of their pen 4 times the first they stayed right by thier pen but a'll 3 other times we have to find them and walk them back to thier pen. I'm talking ground nesting right out in the middle of the field as prime fox or cayote bait. I mean of they at least went up in a tree or something I wouldn't even bother. But no they are on the ground. And even though they follow the chickens aroundand act like my rooster is thier mama, they won't even go in chicken pen and just sleep on the ground there they have to find a wide open clearing to bed down.

Anyways when we moved in 6 months ago there was a flock of 3 guineas that wander the neighborhood, they have disappeared. Apparently before we moved in there had been at least 6-8 left of the flock but we guess the foxes have gotten most off all of them. Mine and one of the other neighbors hope is that when these 3 are big enough they can free range and hopefully join thr other flock (if it still exists). Honestly it looks like this spring ill have to get a few more to help increase thier numbers.

I just wish these keets will either return to their pen (a mini store bought coop) or start roostinf in a tree already.

 

[sawilliams]

I want to build a bigger pen for them or coop at least so they have some where safe to return at night, but there's no piont in a guinea coop if they won't return home...

 

[JaeG]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-guinea-fowl-101.312682/

This thread might help you understand your guineas a little better.

 

[CapricornFarm]

If you keep guineas in a space for a couple of months they will return to it. Especially if they are following the chickens. My guineas were returning to their coop nightly. I think the main problem with guineas is that they like to roost high so they dislike being in a small short coop. I built a hoop coop for mine. They are confined there for now but i am confident they will return because the coop is 10 feet high and they like their high perches.
I have no idea why your guineas lay on the ground unless the chickens taught them. Seems like chicken behavior.

 

[sawilliams]

The keets aren't cooped with the chickens and no my chickens don't sleep on the ground. They don't even perch on the 3ft fence though the chickens will.

 

[sawilliams]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-guinea-fowl-101.312682/

This thread might help you understand your guineas a little better.

I thank you for the information,I did read through the main post. I have read a lot about guineas. These 3 just aren't quite like I expected. It's like they want to prove everything I have read wrong.

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

Welcome to the guineas are the dumbest critters on the farm club! Glad to have ya
mine are about 7 months old, and they still fly into the chicken pen and "get stuck" and have to be let out via the gate

 

[Krazyquilts]

Welcome to the guineas are the dumbest critters on the farm club! Glad to have ya
mine are about 7 months old, and they still fly into the chicken pen and "get stuck" and have to be let out via the gate

OMG so true! Guineas are stupid on a level of "How have you survived as a species!!!!" When talking about my flock, I always refer to the guineas as Stupid Guineas.

 

[The Moonshiner]

We've had guineas for years. They sure do have some stupid moments but probably no more then I've seen chickens having.
Ours never stay out on the ground. We free range 24/7 but have many shelters. They don't seem to like roosting inside. Ours roost on out buildings or in the trees. Only ones that liked going up at night are some that roost in the barn rafters.
My biggest issue was always the hens leaving the yard to nest in the pastures which most times means they aren't coming home.
Besides that yes I've seen them hop a fence them immediately run the other side panicking to get back and stuff like that.
Guineas are far less domesticated then other fowl so their wild tendencies probably makes them seem dumber because they are so different from chickens.
Imo you want to raise something without a lot of common sense try turkeys.

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

OMG so true! Guineas are stupid on a level of "How have you survived as a species!!!!" When talking about my flock, I always refer to the guineas as Stupid Guineas.

Yeah!

For me, it’s you stupid ugly birds