Training them to roost in a coop?

[asinnamon]

We built a great coop w/ a fence. There is straw for heat and absorbency, a mirror, heated water dish so the water doesn't freeze, heat lamp so the birds don't freeze and a huge dish of yummy cracked corn, millet and sunflower seeds. All inside the coop. Outside there is a covered area under the coop and then the regular fence. It rained here yesterday and today it is COLD and windy. Where are the birds you may ask....They are all outside. They slept on the cold damp ground, not even under the shelter.

How do I get them to go inside and see how wonderful it is? These three guineas ought to named dumb, dumber and dumbest...

 

[tomingreeneco]

Do they go in the coop at night? If so, no problem. Mine will stay out in the rain or snow and will not go back in the coop until dusk. They can be soaking wet or covered with snow and it does not bother them. They go in at night and in the morning they are dried off and ready to go our again. If they do not go in at night you really need to train them to go in. Not so much because of the weather, but because of predators. Guinea are practically blind at night and easy prey for coons, fox, owls and whatever.

 

[asinnamon]

Nope, no birds go in the coop at night. It snowed here last night Cold and windy today, think negative wind chill factor. Birds are outside scratching around for food. I'm so afraid they are going to freeze to death!!!

 

[malinois]

My home raised keets, from a day old,occasionally need help cooping up at night. My solution was to use a dog ex pen, 4x4 square, covered with a tarp, and enclosed at the coop hatch door. Each night i basically herd them or round them up, into the coop. Once they had thsi figured out, they could free range, and at night i could bribe them into the expen area with corn, and then shoo them into the coop. So far, so good.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

My girls were very hesitant to go into the new coop when we built it. They stopped just short of the door and wanted to stay outside.

Canned corn. I made a path of canned corn from outside the coop to inside and they ate their way through the pop door. I then shut the door and kept them in the coop for about 4 days. After that I never had a problem. They'd go out in the morning, back at dusk to roost.

A light might help at first as my girls seem drawn to light. Maybe that will help them find their way in. Either way, keep them inside for several days as "coop training" and they will learn that it's home.

 

[tomingreeneco]

Guinea should be kept in the coop for 4-6 weeks before you first let them free range. By keeping them in this long they "know" were to go come dusk. Also, you should use thawed, frozen corn for treats. Canned corn contains a lot of salt that can kill your birds. Mine also love unsalted peanuts for treats. I just crack the shells a little and let them open them up the rest of the way to get the nuts inside.