keeping Guineas without a coop

[MissCluck]

Hmmm....good information everyone.

I get so attached to my critters that I'm wondering if I'd be able to handle the free range Guinea! I'd hate to have a friend torn apart.

I suppose that if I should get some they could be in the backyard with my chickens - but I have a terrier that would like to be a chicken hunter so if a Guinea was to fly over the chicken paddock fence (different from the coop fence, which is covered) he would get it.

More thinking to do prior to any decision!

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Yup, had 3 cocks that free ranged at my place in FL. They roosted about 10 feet high on a big chicken pen. Something got one and the others eventually succumbed to my dog after flying over a fence and forgetting how to fly out. For all their awareness and bennefits, they sure dumb up when trying to get back out of a fenced area.

Just goy 20 new keets for my place in GA. Twenty three acres of hardwoods and millions of ticks. Predators took all 6 of my free range game chickens, but for some reason haven`t broken into any of my pens. I`ll be free ranging all these keets in a couple months. Hope they can stand the heat from all the predators........Pop

 

[featheredfriendlover]

I have 9 guineas. 4 adults, 2 one month old, and 3 three week old.
I started out with 6 adults and 5 babies. I let 2 out then about a week later I let the others out. They wondered around for a while then didn't come back that night. Then the next morning I got up early and was on here( BYC ) and I heard one of the first 2 I let out hollering outside by the pen his buddies where in. Then I went around the corner and there were the rest of them. Anyway now I only have 2 of those adults I started out with and 2 of the babies I started out with. They have roosted all around my property and they have finally picked a spot they feel safe in about 100 feet from the house. They've been roosting there for about a month and I haven't lost anymore. The 2 one month old are inside the coop with a foster mom and their peachick buddies. And the 3 three week olds are running around with there 3 foster moms outside during the day and go in to roost at night. Now like you said you are aware of the predator problem but don't be mad if you loose some guineas in the process. Once a predator knows where they roost at at night they will keep comming back. Sorry this is so long.... I love telling stories about my guineas.