Mature Age?

[Rose66]

At what age can guineas be successfully turned loose to free range? I've read they need to be "mature" but about what age is that? A guy that I work with says he turns his guineas loose directly from the brooder and they do okay. Is that okay? Seems like once they don't need to be confined to a brooder anymore that they would need to be kept loose in the coop for a week or so before you just open the coop door....right, wrong, or in difference? Thanks.

 

[Greendecember]

Quote:
I was told and did keep mine in the coop for about 2-3 months. This way they know where "Home" is and you should have less trouble getting them to come back at night. At about 4-5 months old I started getting some rebels that preferred the tree to the coop. After some critter killed a few of their flock mates they decided the tree was not so awesome after all and went back to the coop.

This is my first flock. They are some silly critters!

 

[robin416]

Quote:
Any choices made have to be with the climate taken in to consideration. Those that live in dryer, hotter areas can get away with letting them out at six weeks of age. Those that live in areas that are wetter and cooler in the mornings should wait for a bit.

I can not address the "how long to keep them up" question. I have an existing flock so any young hatched that are ready to go out, can. They have the main flock to lean on for what to do next. Mine were out at six weeks but we were also hotter than all get out at that time too.

 

[Grum P Oldamn]

I've posted this a bit late (by a few years by the look of it!) I hope your guineas are doing well

I brought some guineas back to my smallholding about a month ago, after three days in the coop I released them into the great wide world and had no problems with them disappearing off, apart from the recent problems with a predator coming in and a half of them have disappeared..... whenever I release them they hang around me or, if I come out of the house they immediately come rushing up to me, putting them away at night is no problem either..... I'm going to need to restock soon...by the time I get them I should have some arks built, but yeah, no problem with letting them roam free. Maybe I am just lucky

 

[PeepsCA]

I've posted this a bit late (by a few years by the look of it!) I hope your guineas are doing well

I brought some guineas back to my smallholding about a month ago, after three days in the coop I released them into the great wide world and had no problems with them disappearing off, apart from the recent problems with a predator coming in and a half of them have disappeared..... whenever I release them they hang around me or, if I come out of the house they immediately come rushing up to me, putting them away at night is no problem either..... I'm going to need to restock soon...by the time I get them I should have some arks built, but yeah, no problem with letting them roam free. Maybe I am just lucky

Everybody's property and poultry setup situation is different, but yah I think it's safe to say that you got lucky. Most people that release their Guineas after only a few days of confinement never see them again.

Guineas don't adjust to change well, and that is the main reason that they need plenty of time to imprint on a new home/new surroundings before they are allowed to free range. If they aren't familiar with where they are there's a high probability that they will start wandering, looking for their old home. They have no idea where they are so usually they keep on going, never to be seen again. They can end up getting spooked by or picked off by predators/dogs, hit by cars on the road, joining someone else's flock, shot at etc...