Just thought I'd give my guinea experience so far. My 4 guineas are now a little over 10 weeks old. I received them as a "gift" when they were a few days old. I raised them in a box inside until they were about 3 weeks old, then moved them to their pen outside in the barn which is right beside the chicken coop. The guineas and chickens have always been able to see each other from their pens. About a week ago I decided to let the guineas out to free range. They finally emerged outside their pen and the barn after a few hours and then frantically broke into the chicken run/outside area. I wasn't sure how the chickens and guineas would get along, so I threw the guineas back outside, but they immediately broke their way back in again. And there they stayed. The outside area doesn't have a roof on it, so they could fly out, but they don't even try. Everyone gets along fine, as if they've known each other forever.
So, then we opened up the top part of the guinea pen into the chicken coop. So, every day now the guineas go out with the chickens, and later in the afternoon/evening they go by themselves back into their guinea pen and roost for the night. I put a really high roost in their guinea pen and they love it. I never thought it would work out this way, but it sure is a lot easier. It will make things a lot easier in the winter so I won't have to keep two different waterers from freezing.
And, if there ever is a problem, I guess we can just close up the guinea pen and separate them from the chickens again. But so far, all is great and I hope it continues!
The guineas have pretty feathers, but they have "a face only a mother could love!" But they are unique and interesting. They have been a little loud at times, but so far not too bad. But maybe because they've grown up outside all these weeks and already know all the animals on the farm? The only animals they yell at right now are birds that fly around in the rafters. They don't care about my cats, ducks, chickens, or the dog. But maybe that will change too?
So, then we opened up the top part of the guinea pen into the chicken coop. So, every day now the guineas go out with the chickens, and later in the afternoon/evening they go by themselves back into their guinea pen and roost for the night. I put a really high roost in their guinea pen and they love it. I never thought it would work out this way, but it sure is a lot easier. It will make things a lot easier in the winter so I won't have to keep two different waterers from freezing.
And, if there ever is a problem, I guess we can just close up the guinea pen and separate them from the chickens again. But so far, all is great and I hope it continues!
The guineas have pretty feathers, but they have "a face only a mother could love!" But they are unique and interesting. They have been a little loud at times, but so far not too bad. But maybe because they've grown up outside all these weeks and already know all the animals on the farm? The only animals they yell at right now are birds that fly around in the rafters. They don't care about my cats, ducks, chickens, or the dog. But maybe that will change too?
