Training Adult Guinea Fowl

[HaleMoa]

If we got a few adult guinea fowl that were used to free ranging would we be able to train them to come home roost in a new coop on our property after allowing them to partially free range in the late afternoon???

i hear they're pretty flighty birds compared to chickens, and if you haven't raised them from keets, you're better off keeping them cooped up in a really big coop. we'd rather not have to do that to them though, as it seems birds seem much happier when they're free to roam around, for at least a little bit.

 

[Sherry]

You need to keep them confined for at least 4 months before letting them out. Especially adult birds.

 

[feathersgalore]

Pen them up for at least 6 weeks. At that time, I'd just let out one guinea. It won't go far with everyone else still in the pen. Then you can gradually let out more. If you ever have trouble getting them back into the coop at night put them in lockdown for a couple more weeks. Eventually they will get the hang of returning each night.

Guineas don't like change. Once they get into a routine they will calm down.

 

[M@M@2four]

Yeah, I agree...I raised mine from chicks and the after several months let them out to free range. We almost lost them because they decided to go into the neighbor's abandoned yard(which is so overgrown it's like finding a needle in a haystack). We then penned them in the barn and let one out at a time. They don't like to go far from the others, so this way it was controlled. Now mine are completely free to free range from dusk to dawn and ALWAYS come in the barn at night, fly up into the rafters and roost. I have no fence on my property. Somehow they have just figured out the boundaries...they are freakishly intelligent little birds! Scary! lol

 

[sundance]

my GS has Guineas and they free range around both his house and our,at night he feeds them close to his house and they fly up in the top of the tree on the side of his house, when winter comes how can he make them go inside the dog pen he converted into a coop,which now they won't stay in,I don't want them to freeze,but they just don't want to roost anywhere except in the tree,and when theleaves fall off and it snows they will get COLD. marrie

 

[rooster0209]

Quote:
My young adults roosted in the trees last year until the leaves started falling off, then they went in the coop at night. This year they are doing the same thing, roosting in the trees. I am sure they will again head into the coop when it gets colder. I also feed mine, when necessary, inside the coop.

 

[HaleMoa]

At that time, I'd just let out one guinea. It won't go far with everyone else still in the pen. Then you can gradually let out more.

this is a great idea! i definitely think i'll try this. thanks everyone for your suggestions. looks like they're gonna have to deal with the lockdown until further notice.​

 

[Peach Mom]

The last owner of the farm we bought had guineas. He was not the type to over think things or worry and just let them roost in the trees at night. He said the owls got every last guinea by knocking them out of the trees and eating them one a night. It seems like it is possible to get them to go in at night. Would it be a bad idea to house them in a bird outfitted predator proof stall next to the chickens? Would they be likely to attack the chickens when they are all out if they were raised able to see one another?

 

[mruth551]

Looks like everyone's all over the board here with how long to keep them penned up. I just penned my adults up 3 days ago and I was told to leave them in for 2 weeks and to keep food and water around. My question is, if you leave one out and the other ones inside, how do you get the one in at night? If you leave the door down the other ones will get out, do you wait until dark and open the door to let the 1 guinea in?