When to turn guineas loose?

[BantammChick]

I have 15 3 month old guineas that I don't know when to turn loose! I love my guineas and I don't want them to run away,but I have been letting them out all day and putting them up at night.But I know that I can't keep them up forever,so when should turn them loose?

 

[Kiki]

Do guineas tend to "run away?"
I have no idea....would like to learn something today.

 

[BantammChick]

Yes,they sometimes do.They will often run away from love,food,water and shelter and run away!

 

[guineapeeps]

I have 15 3 month old guineas that I don't know when to turn loose! I love my guineas and I don't want them to run away,but I have been letting them out all day and putting them up at night.But I know that I can't keep them up forever,so when should turn them loose?

How long have you had them? Did you hatch them as keets?
Also, how long have they been in that particular spot/coop?
When you say that you let them out all day, is it in a run or are they let out to fully free range? It takes guineas awhile to "learn" where home is but if they have been in the same spot/coop for more than 4-6 weeks, they should definitely consider it home and are very unlikely to run off.
Are you wanting them to return to the coop each night? I would recommend locking them up each night rather than trying to get them to roost in the trees. Guineas are completely useless after dark and are easily picked off by raccoons, owls, and any other predator that roams at night.

 

[Kiki]

Yes,they sometimes do.They will often run away from love,food,water and shelter and run away!

I'd have to ground them then.
Bad things!

 

[R2elk]

Do guineas tend to "run away?"
I have no idea....would like to learn something today.

No, guineas that know where home is do not tend to run away. They have gotten this reputation because people go out and buy adult guineas, bring them home and turn them loose and then wonder why they left since they never gave them a chance to get imprinted on their new home.

Another reason that guineas leave home is because the new owners got just a few guineas which then went and joined a neighbor's larger flock. Guineas are a flock bird and do best in large groups. I never recommend getting fewer than 10 guineas to start.

One more reason is that people really don't realize how vulnerable guineas are to predators. A common cause of a wandering guinea is the loss of the mate that was on a hidden nest. Fleeing from the scene can cause the surviving guinea (normally the male) to get lost and start wandering while seeking a new mate.

 

[R2elk]

I have 15 3 month old guineas that I don't know when to turn loose! I love my guineas and I don't want them to run away,but I have been letting them out all day and putting them up at night.But I know that I can't keep them up forever,so when should turn them loose?

I have had my guineas for many years. The only reason I still have them is because I shut them in their coop at night. If I left them out after dark, I soon would not have any guineas. I lost my whole first flock of guineas to Great Horned Owls.

Mine are so used to being put in at night that they put themselves in if I happen to be running late.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I got chickens in with them to teach them to return to the coop. But the rooster is lame for whatever reason. Just moved them to the coop recently. I figure another week or 2 and i will let them range. The bigger pullet is pretty calm and i think she will do as the leader. I put the rooster back in his tractor until he gets better. These guineas hatched July 10th or so.

 

[BantammChick]

No, guineas that know where home is do not tend to run away. They have gotten this reputation because people go out and buy adult guineas, bring them home and turn them loose and then wonder why they left since they never gave them a chance to get imprinted on their new home.

Another reason that guineas leave home is because the new owners got just a few guineas which then went and joined a neighbor's larger flock. Guineas are a flock bird and do best in large groups. I never recommend getting fewer than 10 guineas to start.

One more reason is that people really don't realize how vulnerable guineas are to predators. A common cause of a wandering guinea is the loss of the mate that was on a hidden nest. Fleeing from the scene can cause the surviving guinea (normally the male) to get lost and start wandering while seeking a new mate.

I got my guineas as babies,kept them inside until they were a week or two old,and then I put them in a cage outside for another week,then I started letting them out and putting them up every night. I have been doing this for about three days,and this is the first time this group of guineas run away.

 

[R2elk]

I got my guineas as babies,kept them inside until they were a week or two old,and then I put them in a cage outside for another week,then I started letting them out and putting them up every night. I have been doing this for about three days,and this is the first time this group of guineas run away.

Did they run away, get chased away or just wandered a little too far. If I understand you correctly you basically had them in their new home for a total of ten days. Ten days is not necessarily long enough for guineas to imprint on their new home. You also do not say whether or not a neighbor had guineas within hearing distance or how many keets you had.