New to Guineas, some questions and help.

[Foghorn Mike]

Hello, I am looking to get about 6 guineas. I am on 4.0 acres, mostly open area. I am in the process of converting over a old kennel 14x30 6 feet tall into a run/coop. The kennel is in a wooded area and opens to my yard. Inside the kennel is a large oak tree providing branches ect. My main question is what type and size of coop/house should I build? From reading, I see guineas most of the time will roost on branches ect. at night but I need some type of shelter as well for winter months. Just type/size and weather I need to provide boxes or not is where I am now. I will probably start out with several week old keets keeping them inside whatever I build, gradually letting them out into the run area.

Thanks for any help and suggestions!

 

[sred98]

Quote:
I would have some type of coop (like you would for chickens) for them to go into every night. Seems like if you don't, they tend to wander. Mine go in every night. I'd keep them up for a while, til they got all their feathers. They are kind of delicate at first. I had a much harder time getting all my guineas to adulthood, than chickens.

Oh! And...

:

Shelly

 

[speckledhen]

They prefer to nest on the floor, so I leaned a piece of plywood against a wall to make a lean-to/tent and secured it. That worked well. You don't want them roosting in trees anytime at all or you'll lose them to owls and coons. When you put them in their coop, keep them INSIDE the coop,or the run if it's roofed, for about four to six weeks to train them or they'll get out and travel and you may never see them again. See nest below:

 

[Foghorn Mike]

Thanks for the replies. So what size enclosed coop should I be looking to build for 6? and at what height? Some chicken coops I have seen look to small to me and not enough height. I might be wrong, I am still learning. Would like to get a build 1/2 right to start

 

[sred98]

I am not sure on that one. Mine is in a converted barn, and they roost in the rafters with the chickens. They like to be pretty high up. I am sure if it is at least tall enough for you to walk in, they will be happy with it.

Shelly

 

[speckledhen]

They like to roost up higher than most large breed chickens, but they did fine in my 6 ft coop, then later their own 8 ft high coop. They tend to be a bit smaller than most large chickens, about 4-5 lbs, unless you get the French Guineas, which are meant to be used as meat birds and are larger than normal ones.