Question about guinea keets' housing

[shelleyd2008]

The guineas kind of do their own thing, don't really see much of them till the evening. But the chickens are a blast! My 3-year-old son calls it 'the show' when they go up to roost at night.

So since the tractor is more or less temporary, I should put them in the barn instead? That is where all the chickens roost at. I have a large dog kennel in there that was being used for a broody hen, and they wouldn't be able to get out of it.

How long should they have a light? It has been getting kind of cool here, and we had frost a few days last week in the morning. Plus, the light they have is only a 40 watt bulb, which is good for what they're in now, but would they need a stronger watt light if they are in an open cage?

The dog kennel is about 2' wide, by 3' long, by 2-2&1/2' high. Should that be enough room for them, until they are big enough to be let out?

Ok, one more ?, then I think I'm done...

My adult guineas roost in a tree that is close to the barn. Why they won't go in is beyond me. There is one that goes in the barn most nights, and one that goes once in a while. (I have 5 adults total) Would the young ones follow them to the trees, or should they stay in the barn, after they're trained to go there?

Sorry about all the ?'s, I just barely know about chickens, and I am clueless (obviously) when it comes to guineas!!

 

[wren]

I have a group of 30 ish and they go on marches around the house and into the pasture. They have taken to roosting in the rafters of the porch on a huge barn. My younger guineas have decided to roost with them.

They do love to make noise in the evening! I like to wake them up in the morning.

I have had to drive them into the barn when there's freezing rain or I would have lost probably half of them or more. I hope that you have better weather where you are. If I didn't care so much it would be easier on me. They would rather run along the same stretch of fence all day and freeze to death rather than fly over it and into the barn.

Okay here's what I think now having considered your situation. Put them in the tractor for now because of the heat. They are too little to let out. They need heat for one more month at least. Then elease them into the barn and try to keep them there for a few weeks so they can build up their wing muscles. They might not be able to fly very well at first. They will probably steer clear of the chickens that are in the barn out of fear of being beat up by a larger bird. Then set them free. They will try to integrate into the rest of the guinea flock in the tree. The older birds will get the prime roosting spots, but should tolerate the newbies.

I wouldn't use the dog kennel for them. And yes you are right, bigger space requires a higher wattage light. I suggest a heat bulb, but I don't think its necessary unless you put them in the barn now in a big cage made of wire so they can really fly. Just an idea.

All the training in the world will not overcome the lure of the rest of the guineas roosting outside. I forgot about that part of your situation. I have one individual that will hang out in the barn with the chickens, eats and lays an egg with them but she leaves at night. They were trained for 6 weeks and ended up roosting in the rafters of the porch which is above the coop. I did not know that was an option. Apparently guineas have their own ideas.

Hope I've helped,

K

 

[sweetshoplady]

My guineas came with 3 little chicks. I kept them in a tractor. Supposed to be til 6 weeks, but they figured out how to get out. I would come home and guineas and little chicks would be out running around. Not all of them, but some.

Now they're about 8 weeks - 10 weeks. And they run around, follow me all over the place. Go everywhere I go. Its a nuisance when I leave for work because they run over doing their warning call when I get in the truck and follow me to the gate and stand there as I leave.

Now I have to put netting over my garden because they follow me in there too.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Thanks wren, and everyone else.

I think I will put them in the tractor with the chicks for a while. I had them in the yard today, where all the chicks hang out at. The poor things were trying their darnedest to figure out how to get out of that cage.

They really seem like they want to interact with the chicks. Probably just want their freedom

They are in a pretty small cage right now. They were in a box, until I almost lost one trying to get them out of it to go in the cage!! I caught it under my arm, and had to get my dad to come get it. I was afraid to move!!

Then the next day, I started to get them out, but had to do something else real quick. Either they knocked the wire off the top, or it just fell off, but I came back, and all 3 of them were sitting on the side of the box!!

So now they live in the cage, so we have no more near misses...but they look so pitiful, and I just hate having caged animals.

If I could figure out a way for my bunnies to be free range, without turning into dog food (

), they wouldn't be caged either!

Thanks again everyone!!