My guineas and chickens put themselves away! YAY!

[yakitori]

I'm soooooo excited! My 10 week keets and pullets just put themselves away for the first time.

Truth be told, they probably could have done it earlier, but the coop is pretty high up (4 ft above ground) and I didn't build them a ladder until today Posting in the guinea forum and hoping my experience will help future guinea owners.

From about 3 weeks old, I've had my birds outside during the day - first in a pen, then later in the run. So everyday I was catching them one by one into a plastic tote, then bringing them inside to the brooder. This involved a lot of handling, which they obviously hated. So to make it a positive experience for them, I placed white millet in the transport tote, which they would happily gobble up while I shipped them to the brooder. After a few days of this, they stopped freaking out at bed time. I never had a lid for the tote, they enjoyed the millet bribe so much, no one ever tried to jump ship.

I finished the coop around 2 weeks ago, and that was when I started a new routine. First I put the white millet inside the coop, then I caught them one by one for the coop. Because it was now routine to be caught at bed time (7:30 pm), they were easy to catch (sometimes they were outside the run). At first the guineas absolutely freaked out and I needed to shut the coop door after every single bird. But it only took 2 days for the birds to know this was their new home.

Sooooo today...I built a coop ladder, intending to train them to use it. At 7:30pm, I went to get the millet as usual. When I came out, I caught sight of the last of the birds hopping into the coop. I was so mad at myself for missing most of this amazing moment

I'm a proud fowl mama. I've come a long way since that first day when I brought guinea keets home knowing next to nothing about keeping poultry. I was so upset when I saw them huddling in the corner of the brooder because they were scared of me. The first two weeks was also super frustrating, especially when a chick from TSC died the next day. I was so stressed out when one of my chicks had pasty butt that just wouldn't go away. There was so many moment where I wanted to throw in the towel and give them away. But I'm so glad I stuck through with it instead of giving up!

 

[JNC]

I'm soooooo excited! My 10 week keets and pullets just put themselves away for the first time.

Truth be told, they probably could have done it earlier, but the coop is pretty high up (4 ft above ground) and I didn't build them a ladder until today Posting in the guinea forum and hoping my experience will help future guinea owners.

From about 3 weeks old, I've had my birds outside during the day - first in a pen, then later in the run. So everyday I was catching them one by one into a plastic tote, then bringing them inside to the brooder. This involved a lot of handling, which they obviously hated. So to make it a positive experience for them, I placed white millet in the transport tote, which they would happily gobble up while I shipped them to the brooder. After a few days of this, they stopped freaking out at bed time. I never had a lid for the tote, they enjoyed the millet bribe so much, no one ever tried to jump ship.

I finished the coop around 2 weeks ago, and that was when I started a new routine. First I put the white millet inside the coop, then I caught them one by one for the coop. Because it was now routine to be caught at bed time (7:30 pm), they were easy to catch (sometimes they were outside the run). At first the guineas absolutely freaked out and I needed to shut the coop door after every single bird. But it only took 2 days for the birds to know this was their new home.

Sooooo today...I built a coop ladder, intending to train them to use it. At 7:30pm, I went to get the millet as usual. When I came out, I caught sight of the last of the birds hopping into the coop. I was so mad at myself for missing most of this amazing moment

I'm a proud fowl mama. I've come a long way since that first day when I brought guinea keets home knowing next to nothing about keeping poultry. I was so upset when I saw them huddling in the corner of the brooder because they were scared of me. The first two weeks was also super frustrating, especially when a chick from TSC died the next day. I was so stressed out when one of my chicks had pasty butt that just wouldn't go away. There was so many moment where I wanted to throw in the towel and give them away. But I'm so glad I stuck through with it instead of giving up!

My ducks put themselves to bed to! When they were younger I would find them already in their coop. It’s because you’ve gotten your chickens into a routine and they learned. However one day I found them outside not in bed and then it got to the point where only on some days they would go inside. This is because the get alert or something so they feel safer outside. I have got into a habit of giving them green beans or peas in water before bed. Now the just wait for me to give them their soup and then go to bed. It’s amazing how smart they can be!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I'm soooooo excited! My 10 week keets and pullets just put themselves away for the first time.

Truth be told, they probably could have done it earlier, but the coop is pretty high up (4 ft above ground) and I didn't build them a ladder until today Posting in the guinea forum and hoping my experience will help future guinea owners.

From about 3 weeks old, I've had my birds outside during the day - first in a pen, then later in the run. So everyday I was catching them one by one into a plastic tote, then bringing them inside to the brooder. This involved a lot of handling, which they obviously hated. So to make it a positive experience for them, I placed white millet in the transport tote, which they would happily gobble up while I shipped them to the brooder. After a few days of this, they stopped freaking out at bed time. I never had a lid for the tote, they enjoyed the millet bribe so much, no one ever tried to jump ship.

I finished the coop around 2 weeks ago, and that was when I started a new routine. First I put the white millet inside the coop, then I caught them one by one for the coop. Because it was now routine to be caught at bed time (7:30 pm), they were easy to catch (sometimes they were outside the run). At first the guineas absolutely freaked out and I needed to shut the coop door after every single bird. But it only took 2 days for the birds to know this was their new home.

Sooooo today...I built a coop ladder, intending to train them to use it. At 7:30pm, I went to get the millet as usual. When I came out, I caught sight of the last of the birds hopping into the coop. I was so mad at myself for missing most of this amazing moment

I'm a proud fowl mama. I've come a long way since that first day when I brought guinea keets home knowing next to nothing about keeping poultry. I was so upset when I saw them huddling in the corner of the brooder because they were scared of me. The first two weeks was also super frustrating, especially when a chick from TSC died the next day. I was so stressed out when one of my chicks had pasty butt that just wouldn't go away. There was so many moment where I wanted to throw in the towel and give them away. But I'm so glad I stuck through with it instead of giving up!

That is a momentous occasion! Congratulations!!! Be prepared for some possible back sliding, but wonderful job with the taming and training!

 

[yakitori]

I have got into a habit of giving them green beans or peas in water before bed. Now the just wait for me to give them their soup and then go to bed. It’s amazing how smart they can be!

Yes! Treats are great training tools. I didn’t know ducks came home to sleep as well :O

That is a momentous occasion! Congratulations!!! Be prepared for some possible back sliding, but wonderful job with the taming and training!

Thanks! Definitely expecting some back sliding... even my well mannered fluffbutt cat throws a curve ball at me from time to time. Sometimes he does things he knows he’s not allowed to do, such as jumping on the counter yesterday! I babied him when he was sick a few days ago, and now he thinks he can rule my house I spent weeks when he was a kitten training him to stay off tables and counters, sigh.

I think with animals (and children!), being consistent is key. They seem to appreciate routine and predictability, and will happily adapt to a constant.

 

[My2butterflies]

Congratulations!!! It’s so exciting to have things go smoothly I’m happy your consistent training is paying off!