When can i let my guinea fowl free range

[raggie6653]

how long should I wait to turn my Birds out to free roam out they are four weeks old and are growing big never seem them grow so fast Have them in a pen for now

 

[R2elk]

how long should I wait to turn my Birds out to free roam out they are four weeks old and are growing big never seem them grow so fast Have them in a pen for now

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/free-ranging-age.1311577/

 

[cqangie29]

how long should I wait to turn my Birds out to free roam out they are four weeks old and are growing big never seem them grow so fast Have them in a pen for now

I had my guineas in their coop for 3 months before I let them out and free range. When I finally let them out, I let 1 guinea out while the others stayed in. I did that 2 days in a row. Then on the 3rd day, I opened up their door, pulled their food and water out, and within an hour they were curiously peeking out. Once they were out, they explored but came home at dusk. They've been doing that for almost 2 months now. They free range every day, come home a few times to eat, drink, and dust bathe, then out exploring again. And in bed by dusk. I haven't had an issue with them leaving and not coming back. Hope this helps. Good luck

 

[merrymutts]

I have my guineas in with the chickens and every afternoon I let chickens out to free range; so far ( 2 days now ) the guineas have not shown an interest in leaving the pen. But I think that'll be good for them as they see the other birds go out and come in, especially in the evening... good training ?

 

[Joev1973]

I was taught to keep them cooped for 4 to 6 weeks to let them know where home is and to form roosting/bedtime habits.

I should add both people that I know that have guineas did this ( kept them in 6 weeks) and both people let them out and never again gained control of the birds.

In both cases the guinea's took to the trees and even on top of the house. (Not the coop the house)

Pretty good chance if you let them out they wont go back in.

I am going 1 step further. I am on week 5 with them in the coop. They are in there with 23 chicks.

Next week I am letting them out into a 50x25 fully enclosed pen. And they will be allowed in there for 4-6 more weeks. And after all that I plan on letting them out to free range and I am fully prepared for them not to come back to the coop at night.

On another note 2 days ago Inwas carrying a large cage into the pen and left the door open and the guineas (all 8) got behind me and went to the wide open door. They stopped at the door and stared at freedom. Nothing stopping them they were free with 1 more step. Once I saw the door had nit closed I dropped the cage and went towards the door. They ran back around me and further into the coop.

They didnt want to go out. They were intent on staying in the coop. They could have been long gone but chose to stay.

Once they get a taste of outside perhaps they will want to be free. Once you let them out its no longer in your hands lol.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

I have had 5 of my Guineas for over a year and 5 more for just 4 weeks.

My original 5, they stayed in their pen for 4 weeks, then I let one out by itself, it didn’t want to go far without its flock mates. When it was getting close to dark, I put it back in the coop. I repeated this for about 1.5-2 weeks, then when they’d all had at least 2-3 days out separately (sometimes 2 out at a time) I let them out about 30 minutes before dusk together. Then herded everyone in, repeated for about a week. Now, my original 5, go in the coop every night, after free ranging for almost 12 hours.

When I brought the 5 girls home, they stayed penned for a full 2 weeks, then I let them
All out with my original 5, they now also coop every night at dusk.

It takes time, patience, more patience and big sticks. The big sticks are to herd them in if they get lost LOL

Good luck!

 

[libarena]

They are tricky to start but once you get a good routine, they are very reliable about putting themselves up.

Teach them times where they get food. So for me, I would give them food an hour before dusk inside the coop and then they would have access overnight but I would take it away during the day.

When I started letting them out, I would only let one out the first day and then I grew the number until they were all out and coming back to the coop. If they had hiccups, I would start over and go back to only letting one out. If I had issues, I would help guide them to the coop with two long sticks (now i just use my body) and SLOWLY move them to the door entrance. In the early stages, you will have random days where they won’t come to the coop and so I waited until it was pretty dark and went out with a flashlight and used the flashlight as a guide for them to walk home. They can’t see at night so they will go wherever you shine the light. They are attracted to light, that’s why they roost in trees because they “chase” the sun. So if you put a light in your coop, that will draw them to it even more. I’ve never done it but I hear it helps.

Another thing that helped me was to LOCK them out of the coop during the day so they couldn’t get any food until the night time. They are in such a good routine now that they all crowd by the door, waiting to get in about an hour to two hours before dusk. They also put themselves up if I keep the door open for them, I just don’t do this unless I can’t get home before dusk.

I hope I explained myself okay. I struggle writing down my thoughts sometimes haha!

Anyways, enjoy your guineas. They are THE BEST! I looooooove those birds. If you have any questions about training them, please let me know.

And again. BE PATIENT. And use their flock mentality to your advantage.

 

[cqangie29]

They are tricky to start but once you get a good routine, they are very reliable about putting themselves up.

Teach them times where they get food. So for me, I would give them food an hour before dusk inside the coop and then they would have access overnight but I would take it away during the day.

When I started letting them out, I would only let one out the first day and then I grew the number until they were all out and coming back to the coop. If they had hiccups, I would start over and go back to only letting one out. If I had issues, I would help guide them to the coop with two long sticks (now i just use my body) and SLOWLY move them to the door entrance. In the early stages, you will have random days where they won’t come to the coop and so I waited until it was pretty dark and went out with a flashlight and used the flashlight as a guide for them to walk home. They can’t see at night so they will go wherever you shine the light. They are attracted to light, that’s why they roost in trees because they “chase” the sun. So if you put a light in your coop, that will draw them to it even more. I’ve never done it but I hear it helps.

Another thing that helped me was to LOCK them out of the coop during the day so they couldn’t get any food until the night time. They are in such a good routine now that they all crowd by the door, waiting to get in about an hour to two hours before dusk. They also put themselves up if I keep the door open for them, I just don’t do this unless I can’t get home before dusk.

I hope I explained myself okay. I struggle writing down my thoughts sometimes haha!

Anyways, enjoy your guineas. They are THE BEST! I looooooove those birds. If you have any questions about training them, please let me know.

And again. BE PATIENT. And use their flock mentality to your advantage.

I love your reply....what you say is so true. I have 5 guineas. I kept them in their coop for almost 3 months before I let them free range. It's like clockwork, they start coming in around 9pm, every night. Funny thing is, they never roost in our tree. I got home later than I planned on one night, and they were locked out. I thought for sure they would be in the tree. When I found them, they were sleeping in the tall grass lol. But they are funny birds. I love having them.

 

[libarena]

I love your reply....what you say is so true. I have 5 guineas. I kept them in their coop for almost 3 months before I let them free range. It's like clockwork, they start coming in around 9pm, every night. Funny thing is, they never roost in our tree. I got home later than I planned on one night, and they were locked out. I thought for sure they would be in the tree. When I found them, they were sleeping in the tall grass lol. But they are funny birds. I love having them.

They are such funny birds!! And boy do they love a routine! They end up becoming really reliable.

 

[DonnaScott]

So I did something a little different then it seems everyone has. I received my birds at 3 weeks, put them in the coop at 4 weeks and immediately started free ranging them. I would sit outside with 3 of them for about two hours everyday, then 4, then 5, then 6, etc. (I'm new to these fine birds as well) and could watch them endlessly. I did make the mistake in the 5th week of letting all 12 out. HUGE mistake, they still hated me and thought I was the enemy so rather than herding them in their cage they went down in the brush deep into the woods. Husband herded them back up thank GOD and never made that mistake again. (I thought I was the new proud owner of NO HENS). Since then I continued spending two hours a day with them with half free ranging for two hours a day. They are now 9 weeks and I let 3 free range all while at work, then 4, then 5 and I'm up to 8 now.

This is how it went (yes I kept a diary):

Day #1 letting the hens free range while I could monitor them went perfect. They stayed by the cage all day.

Day #2 let out 5, came home from work and they were piled by their home cage. Also Perfect.

Day #3 Nothing short of a shit show. Let out 4. Came home to no free ranging Guineas. Tried to keep my cool. Chris let out the dog and he found one of the guineas and ran after them in excitement. One came hauling ass up the driveway straight at me and then turned and flew deep into the woods. So the bright side I knew one was alive and felt the others didnt make it. Chris searched through the woods and not a guinea sound to be heard. He leaves and shortly after my Guineas in the cage sound off like sirens and shortly there after 2 hens come up the left side of the wooded area (you would have thought these 2 birds were celebrities. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) so 2 out of 4 was better than none I kept repeating to myself. Than alas, two more birds emerge from the right of the woods (apparently not as popular as there was no big rejoicing ceremony). I wish they could talk because it must have been a huge adventure for them.

Day #4 Thunderstorms all day so they will stay penned

Day #5 I was home all day and I checked on them at 11am and all was good, checked on them at 11:30 and wasn't a hen in site. My husband and I ran down stairs and after searching the whole yard we found 3 hiding in the car port, 4 hiding behind a shed. Something spooked them. Still missing I looked up in the sky and pointed up for my husband to see. It looked like a horror movie. I couldn't even count the amount of vultures and one freaking hawk swirling around. I asked my husband what he thought and he said "I think we now own 11 Guinea hens". But I come with great news folks, at dusk he returned unharmed. (What I've learned is you don't worry about them until after dusk).

Day 6, 7 and 8 went perfect.

I haven't pulled the trigger on all 12 at the same time yet but we've finally become friends and once they are outside the coop they trust me (they still act terrified when they are inside but still have no issues taking meal worms from me.)

If I don't get home in time they hop on top of the coop.

With that said I think they know where home is but I've become so invested in these birds I'm afraid for anything to happen to them.

So as long winded as this post was, I hope it gave some incite on what to expect.

Free range with supervision at 4 weeks and started full free ranging a few at a time at 9 weeks with several scares. I'm glad they had scares, it gives them practice on how to hide and avoid predators.

People say they are dumb birds and I have to disagree, they are very in-Tuned to everything. They cause a bunch of commotion and I can't figure out why...I take the time to listen and look around my surroundings and I can see their side of things. ( a dog barking in the distance).

I did throw a giant square meal worm & see square as a treat and it terrified them so badly they wouldn't even go up on their roost so they won that battle and I pulled it out (their loss).

Well as you can see I can literally go on all day about them. I love them and I hope my neighbors will as well when they start exploring. Keeping a few in the coop is key for awhile.

I haven't pulled the trigger on all 12 yet but I'll keep you posted.