Oh no! I have to go out of town and someone is Guinea-sitting!

[lizzybaxter]

I have 2 coops with about 20 or so chickens, and 2 guineas. Everyone free ranges all day and returns home at night. I have to go out of town, and the person watching them isn't comfortable letting them in and out, so I guess everyone will have to stay in their pen.

Here's my concern: the guineas REALLY love to be out, and REALLY hate being "cooped up" (!) so I was debating letting them stay out. What do you all think? I have 3 outdoor dogs, so I think the predators are not a concern. I imagine they'll just roost on top of the coop (mama has a nest of 11 eggs so far next to the coop, don't know if she'll begin setting on them or not). I worry that if they get used to being out, I'll never get them back in again when I return.

I do feel better when everyone is locked up for the night. I love my guineas, and I want them to be happy (and safe!). I notice that in bad weather when I don't let everyone out right away, the guineas fuss and make everyone around them miserable.

Advice, anyone? Has anyone had the experience of having the routine interrupted for awhile?

 

[KrisH]

I have 2 coops with about 20 or so chickens, and 2 guineas. Everyone free ranges all day and returns home at night. I have to go out of town, and the person watching them isn't comfortable letting them in and out, so I guess everyone will have to stay in their pen.

Here's my concern: the guineas REALLY love to be out, and REALLY hate being "cooped up" (!) so I was debating letting them stay out. What do you all think? I have 3 outdoor dogs, so I think the predators are not a concern. I imagine they'll just roost on top of the coop (mama has a nest of 11 eggs so far next to the coop, don't know if she'll begin setting on them or not). I worry that if they get used to being out, I'll never get them back in again when I return.

I do feel better when everyone is locked up for the night. I love my guineas, and I want them to be happy (and safe!). I notice that in bad weather when I don't let everyone out right away, the guineas fuss and make everyone around them miserable.

Advice, anyone? Has anyone had the experience of having the routine interrupted for awhile?

How long? i think if it were me, and it was only a day or two, keep them all locked up. if it was several days I think I would make a small pen and move the guineas into it (as close to everyone as possible, maybe even IN the bigger pen. keeps everyone safe, and the chickens won't be made miserable because of a couple of bullys.

RobertH

 

[lizzybaxter]

Yes, great idea. I will be gone for about a week (yikes!), and my husband just suggested that we move pretty much everyone into one coop, and leave the guineas in the other coop-- maybe with a rooster and game hen that they don't mess with for some reason. Although I do like your idea of having the guineas in a cage, in the coop. I'm going to have to think on this. I think I've pretty much made up my mind (after my first post, of course) that I don't want to leave them outside. Thank you.

I think I need to stop thinking so hard and try to get a life!! Although all you guinea owners understand, I'm sure!! Love those guineas...

 

[Tavian1309]

Its good you care for your animals and really think these things out. Im sure you have a thriving animal population