Need simple house for my new guinea fowl

[red horse ranch]

I spent half my life in Indiana and there is very little food, if any, available for them this time of year. I wouldn't treat any bird or animal that way. It's cruel.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I spent half my life in Indiana and there is very little food, if any, available for them this time of year. I wouldn't treat any bird or animal that way. It's cruel.

We have plenty of food around here and plenty of water. Mind your own please.

 

[aart]

I spent half my life in Indiana and there is very little food, if any, available for them this time of year. I wouldn't treat any bird or animal that way. It's cruel.

We have plenty of food around here and plenty of water. Mind your own pleas.

Please take the argument offline.

 

[perchie.girl]

Hello all.

I’m totally new at this!!! I’ve been interested in having guinea fowl for sometime now and just purchased two adults. The seller advised to place them in a dog crate for a while, and feed in the evenings so they recognize home. I’ve propped up walls and roof around the crate but it’s makeshift at best and rather small. I think they probably need something more substantial? Looking for advice to for building a simple Guinea specific coop ASAP

I’m very good at building projects, just not sure what all is necessary for Guineas. I have a nice sized fenced back yard and primarily want these two to walk around freely and hopefully come back to the coop rather than leaving.

The young man I purchased from showed me how to clip wings to keep from flying away.

Thanks!

You dont mention where you are located... That will influence the need for shelter.

1 guineas like to roost high Encourage them to roost in the coop so perches should be at least six feet off the ground.
2 I have seen coops made of cattle panels with a knee wall to lift them up high off the ground... For at least six feet height.
3 The best coop in the world wont work if they wont use it... So conditioning is important.
4 Cover the top of the coop so raccoons cant decapatate for a snack.

5 do not clip wings unless you are simply doing it once in order to help condition them to stay home. I dont believe in clipping one though. TWo will allow them to motor away from a predator... Even get out of the yard...

Ok conditioning

Every time you feed ring a bell or call them or whistle to them to come. Treats like White millet sunflower seeds or just plain ole scratch are like Crack to them.

This works with chickens too and its a good tool to get every one cooped up at night. Night time predators are pretty well wills of the whisp... Unless you have a game cam and or can read tracks you will never know if one has visited your coop.

My night time predators are OWLs several varieties, Raccoons, Bob Cat, Mountain Lion, and WEasels. Believe it or not Squirrels will steal eggs so will Ravens. Ravens may take a chick now and then as well.

I also have coyotes and feral dogs who are pretty brazen... Normally a Coyote will hunt early morning or evening.... But I had one take my LAST hen not forty feet from me with me Screaming and yelling and throwing rocks.

Another thing about guineas if you need more research is They range pretty far normally and are pretty loud when the call off an alarm. I have them for walking burglar alarms and or predator alarms. but they will sound off upon seeing anything new... New bathrobe new shoes new hat or jacket... Or people ...

There are plenty of Cattle panel coops in the coops section so you can get an ide of what I am talking about. I personally use dog kennels... Being the desert here I havent yet built a standard coop... ONly a six by twelve by six dog kennel with heavy wire top and tarp cover for the weather. I roll down the walls for the winter time as a wind break... I will build floor run in shelters for my little uns and the silkeys... But thats pretty much it.

Good luck

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Letting them roost in trees is a good way to feed the predators especially big owls.

Also a Bobcat will go straight up a tree for Take out....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Lucky there’s none of those in Ireland
Sorry you lost a whole flock to them.

You have Stotes though right? I have seen videos of them hunting.... pretty Deft predators.

deb

 

[R2elk]

Squirrels will steal eggs so will Ravens. Ravens may take a chick now and then as well.

You can add gulls to this list.

 

[R2elk]

You have Stotes though right? I have seen videos of them hunting.... pretty Deft predators.

deb

Just being picky, stoats aka weasels.

 

[Topgum]

Thanks all. The little fellas have flown off. Yes, even with clipped wings they managed to fly about 20’ high and hop from tree to house and so on. Hopefully they return to food and shelter.

 

[perchie.girl]

Just being picky, stoats aka weasels.

Learned something new Myself... Thinking the same..... Ireland They are a different species.... I keyed in a google search for Weasels in Ireland and this is what I got

https://www.mammals-in-ireland.ie/species/irish-stoat

Here is a quick quote from the site:

""
The Irish stoat (Mustela erminea hibernica) is found all over Ireland and mainly eats rabbits.


They are usually, and mistakenly, called weasels in rural areas. It is in fact a distinctive stoat and a separate Irish sub-species.
""
deb