new 8-week old guineas

[ixnay]

I bought 5 young guineas for a pretty good price at a local ChickenStock. They've been here for about 10 days, and are becoming accustomed to me. I've been keeping them in an A-frame chicken tractor originally built for 8 laying hens. The guineas were raised with chickens.

My questions: how soon should i open the door from the tractor to the free-range chicken area? Anything in particular that I should watch out for? When can I expect the guineas to start roosting in the chicken coop? (btw, they seem to still be sleeping on the ground at this time.)

I am seriously looking forward to the bug-eating capabilities of the guineas. Plus, I'm looking forward to actual guinea calls (they're sorta trying out their voices, but mostly are still peeping).

 

[ma2babygurl13]

I dont know about when to let them out, but when you do only do one at a time ( like one for a day or two...then another for a day or two....this way they learn their "home" area and dont take off! If you let all of them out they will probalby take off and disappear... but if you do one at a time, for quite some time they will learn their "area" and stick around.

 

[shelleyd2008]

It doesn't have to be only one, but you don't want to let all of them out at once. Plus it's a good idea to keep them locked up in their 'home' for 4-6 weeks so they learn where home is as well.

 

[Junkybird]

My babies are 12 weeks old and they STILL sleep on the ground with my two mallards and one Dominicker rooster. All piled in one corner of the coop. It is pretty funny. I haven't let mine out yet either. Still waiting. I am so scared that they will all run away.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Mine are only three weeks and they ALL roost. DH built them a lovely coop with multiple roosts, but everyone insists on cramming onto the highest roost.

I would keep them up for at least four to six more weeks before allowing them to free range. Guineas are notoriously difficult to coop train.

 

[kcardella]

Mine are usually roosting by 4 weeks or so. They will start on lower roosts, and work their way up to the high roosts after 5-6 weeks. As previously stated, I keep them locked up in the coop for 6 weeks, then let a couple of them out each day. They are all out together within a week. The only time I have a problem with them coming home is during breeding season when they have a nest.