The adventures of free ranging guineas

[Leaguinea]

I have had guineas 20 years and am still trying to figure them out. I once had a group of 10 adult giuneas given to me as the owners were moving away. I brought them home, confined them in a pen for 2 weeks so they came to recognize there new home and new family members. They seamed ok with the new digs so i released them out with my flock of guineas and chickens and all was well until a couple weeks later the group split in 2 and went out the driveway and each went oppoisate directions down our country road. The group that went north got turned back by my neighbors border collie. The group that went south i tracked for 2 miles, going house to house and by people who saw the group along the road from there cars. I never did find them. Like to say they went walk-about and were looking for their previous home or just got lost. They probably went to roosting in trees at night and one by one were picked off. Giuneas we hatch and raise here on the farm still wander accross the road in there search for fresh grasshoppers occasinally but always return to the coop at the end of the day.

Yes, They don't seem to really understand boundaries

 

[R2elk]

Yes, They don't seem to really understand boundaries

Guineas can be taught to understand boundaries. My guineas can easily fly over the 6' high fence surrounding their run but they don't because they have been taught not to.

 

[Leaguinea]

Guineas can be taught to understand boundaries. My guineas can easily fly over the 6' high fence surrounding their run but they don't because they have been taught not to.

How would you go about the teaching? I don’t have fences other than the pastures.

 

[R2elk]

How would you go about the teaching? I don’t have fences other than the pastures.

You have to be available any time that the guineas could get out during the training phase. As soon as you see a guinea leave its allowed area, you make it so uncomfortable that it goes back where it belongs.

The guinea master @PeepsCA would go running at them waving a big towel. It did not take her very many attempts to convince her guineas to stay in her designated areas.

I just use the long stick herding method to immediately escort them back where they belong. During breeding season there are a few relapses when a harassed guinea will fly over my fence to get away from the guineas that are attacking it. My have been through training so many times that now all I have to do is open the outer door to the coop and they walk right in. Being escorted back to their run is normally no more than a once a day thing during breeding season and not at all during the rest of the year.

 

[Mary's Farm]

Hello... interesting thread. I fenced in my large veggie garden with 5' 2x4 welded wire, and I plan to keep my new guineas (3 weeks old soon) inside. I am building them a 4' by 4' by 4' guinea house that will be about 3-4 feet off the ground (mounted on 4 posts inside my garden; there are no trees in the veggie garden). I plan to allow them to free range in the garden area (which is about 75' by 100') during the day, and train them to return to their house/roost at night, when they will be closed in. It sounds like we will have to clip their wings to keep them from flying out of the fenced enclosure. Does anyone do this? We had an African Grey parrot we did this with, though I'm not sure guineas will be possible. Thank you for any suggestions.

 

[R2elk]

Hello... interesting thread. I fenced in my large veggie garden with 5' 2x4 welded wire, and I plan to keep my new guineas (3 weeks old soon) inside. I am building them a 4' by 4' by 4' guinea house that will be about 3-4 feet off the ground (mounted on 4 posts inside my garden; there are no trees in the veggie garden). I plan to allow them to free range in the garden area (which is about 75' by 100') during the day, and train them to return to their house/roost at night, when they will be closed in. It sounds like we will have to clip their wings to keep them from flying out of the fenced enclosure. Does anyone do this? We had an African Grey parrot we did this with, though I'm not sure guineas will be possible. Thank you for any suggestions.

A 4'x4'x4' coop may be fine for a few chickens but is not an appropriate coop for any number of guineas. Guineas really do need more personal space than chickens and should also have a tall structure so they can get up high to roost.

 

[Mary's Farm]

OK, well what do you recommend for space for 5 guineas? Thank you. Also, does anyone clip feathers?

Remember, during the day they will roam in my 75' by 100' garden. It is only at night they will be in the coop.

 

[R2elk]

OK, well what do you recommend for space for 5 guineas? Thank you. Also, does anyone clip feathers?

Remember, during the day they will roam in my 75' by 100' garden. It is only at night they will be in the coop.

The coop should have an absolute minimum of 4 sq. ft. of clear ground space which means any room taken up by a feeder, waterer, hiding places and nesting area. Anything more is better. making a coop bigger than minimum requirements really helps later when chicken math kicks in (chicken math applies to all poultry). I would not make a coop any shorter than 8' tall. The idea that the only time the guineas are in the coop is at night forgets about the days of inclement weather when they either choose to stay inside or are locked in for various reasons.

There are people that will clip one wing and even people who have their guineas pinioned. If they are to be pinioned it should be done shortly after hatching.

I do not clip or pinion my guineas. Guineas can be trained to either stay in their pen or to avoid certain areas. My guineas have been trained to stay in their pen that is fenced in with 6' tall 2"x4" welded wire.

If you want the guineas to leave your garden plants alone, never feed them treats from the garden. They will remember the treats and eat them whenever they find them growing in the garden.

 

[Mary's Farm]

OK. Started building the stilt house, which will have almost 25 square feet of ground space. Since it is on stilts, the height of the house reaches 7.5 feet, with two staggered perch bars. I will post photos tomorrow.

I have been feeding some chickweed to the 3 week old guineas, and they LOVE it. I hope that's ok. Today I also gave them a little hard boiled egg, because I thought it was OK to feed chick starter and am trying to slip them some extra protein. I know, I know. Tractor Supply didn't have game bird feed, and I will have to order it online.

The birds are currently in a large cardboard box in our shop with hardware cloth cover, and the sooner I get this guinea house done, the better for them. They are not happy campers, and I hope to get it done in two or three days. Will post photos asap.

 

[Mary's Farm]

Just a follow up, got the guinea house done. The guineas seem to like it; they won't come out unless I coax them with chickweed.