When to start letting loose?!

[sunnie7]

I have 15 almost 1 month old keets in a dog kennel in the garage right now. My coop is almost done! I will be free ranging them but at what age can I start letting them out? I don’t have a temporary run or anything to contain them in the yard but how hard are they to herd back into the kennel if I take them out for a little while with me supervising? Or will they scatter and run off?

 

[sourland]

Guinea fowl are generally difficult to make do anything. I have had best luck in pen/coop acclimating them for several weeks and then letting a small group our in the evening. They will generally return to the pen and the calls of their flock mates. I am concerned that if you just let them loose without acclimating them to the outdoors they may just take off.

 

[sunnie7]

That’s what I figured!

 

[Gray Farms]

I'd let them loose during the day and feed them in the evening "only in the evening" so they go back in. If you only feed them when you want them to go to bed they get the routine.

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi There.
I am not sure of keets, only chickens, and i should imagine they are just as fast.
You also have 15 of them to catch, they could run off in diffrent directions. Plus they will
get stressed, with you chasing them. The other thing you could do, if you want them to
have exercise, is buy one of these. lol I bought ours, just to introduce new chickens
to flock, as they can see each other, and they get use to them. It comes in handy for
a lot of things. I have copied it for you to see. They are not expensive, and you will
find them on Amazon, or anywhere if you google it. The panels slot together, it is
a bit flimsy, but we used tie cables to secure the panels together.We also used tent pegs, to secure it to the ground. It is a good size too and you get the sunshade with it. At least you know they will be safe, until your coop is done. Hope this helps and good luck.

Bunny Business 8-Panel Playpen with Free Safety Net, 55 x 55-inch, Extra Large

 

[southwind00]

I wouldn't be in any great hurry until you have a place they feel comfortable in and want to return to. It will will only frustrate you and they will end up being left out on their own. And being as young as they are they will have a whole lot more predators(smaller hawks and owls) then when they are full sized. They have no brain and no idea what is going on. It is all a learning experience for them and you.

 

[dfarmann]

I would finish your coop then move them over to it and leave them there for a long while so they get use to it. Have screened windows and doors so they get use to the sight and sounds of there new home and area.

When we get keets they are raised in there coop(old milk house) around the cattle and hogs, so they are use to the area and can see out at the other buildings, I will keep them there for four to five months before turn out. Good Luck.

 

[sunnie7]

Well so far here’s what my hubby has got done so far on the coop. It’s an 8x8 shed that I’m going to use for the Guineas but possibly someday I might let them just roost in the trees (Tick control is my purpose for them!) and someday use it for just chickens. Or I might get pretty attached to the Guineas and leave them in there! I told him up maybe 2’ on the blackjack 57, what can I say he’s an overachiever! Obviously we won’t keep the windows open this much and we need to figure out a way to put some type of overhang so rain won’t get into the widows. Any suggestions on layout for the inside? roosts? I’m thinking I want the nest boxes on one of the side walls and maybe putting the pop door on the front to the right of the big door. Here are the nest boxes that were given to us, my husband said he thinks he might cut them down so we don’t have so many.

They finally started checking the roosts out today!!!!