Problem with cooping guineas.

[pearlGuinea]

I have 11 guineas that are almost 5 months old, and they have been raised in a coop that is 6 feet by 6 feet since they were a couple weeks old and have been free rangeing during the day for a couple of months and they have always came back to the coop at night until recently when they started roosting in a tree. I have been able to lure them into the coop with some feed if I get out there before they roost in the tree, but I can't do it every night. I'm concerned about preditors getting them in the tree, so I would like for them to come back to the coop at night. I was wondering if anybody had any ideas on how to make them come back to the coop at night, or if any body has had a similar problem and how you solved it if you did? I will be glad to any information anyone may have.

 

[redsoxs]

I have the same problem with mine - if I'm not out there they will fly into a tree. If I have food in their coop they will go into it and roost there sometimes but I'd say it's about half the time is all. They are so blasted independent!!! I've been lucky so far and have lost none. I hope someone will chime in its what works for them because I'd like to know myself! Best wishes!

 

[Ameraucanas]

Since I don't have guineas, I don't know much about them, but, I did do some research and found three different links that might be helpful to you.

http://guineas.com/articles/training.php
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/715116/how-to-get-guineas-to-go-in-to-the-coop-at-night
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/802599/adult-guinea-hens-will-not-go-into-coop

Good luck!
-Ameraucanas

 

[ocap]

I was lucky, the first night they decided to roost in a tree the thunderstorm made the experience a bad one. I started training them to return through the small door by building a very small cage outside. You might use the very small cage idea until nighttime thunderstorms are forecast, then take the cage away and let them roost in the trees if they choose and hope they learn that the coop will be more comfortable.

 

[pearlGuinea]

Thanks everyone for your adivce. I'm going to see what I can do.

 

[GlennLee]

I feed mine every day about an hour before the sunsets and ring a bell as a cue. I've done this since they were keets and USUALLY they come in on their own and wait for me to feed them. The only times I have had problems with them wanting to come in were when they either had predator attacks earlier in the day or were competing for mates.

 

[pearlGuinea]

Thanks for that advice GlenLee. My family's dog killed one of my pearl males yesterday so I have my guineas looked up for at lest a week or two, so maybe they will come back to the coop at night after that.

 

[GlennLee]

Very sorry to hear that you lost one of your males to a dog. It's difficult enough when it's a wild predator, but when it's a pet, it's even more upsetting. Plus, you know there's a strong possibility of it happening again. Hope the lockup works for you getting them back to the coop.

 

[CityGuineas]

My City Guineas are2yrs old.
Last week, Rosie suddenly stopped being able to roost in my backyard oak tree she and my Male, Lee have always slept in.Seemed she wasn't able to fly anymore.Checked for signs of her being eggbound, but no lethargy, eating fine, no abnormal stool. In fact, she DID fly- to the ONLY neighbor on the one block radius she and Lee are NOT welcome! After being threatened with a lawsuit for them destroying plants- and Rosie being stuck in the one yard on block currently not inhabited- for 3 days- we finally caught her, returned her to Lee and her never used coop! It is larger than city standard, with oak branches so they can roost.Been 4 days now they have been contained. Except for once crying out for me to spend time on patio outside with them, they have been content, eating, and quiet.
What do I do next?
Cant keep them locked up forever- they're free rangers.
For nearlyc2 yrs, they ve mostly avoided the forbidden zone.
Lee will return when called, but not Rosie.They mostly stay in my yard, my back neighbor and her next door yard...where she had her eggs last season.No eggs as of yet, Mid June!!! What do I do next , how to release them, etc?
Thanks so much,
City Guineas