Will my guineas stay around?

[SmallFlocker207]

If i keep my guineas in a coop until they get the idea that its their home and i let them out to get bugs out of the coop and into the yard (free Range), will they go back to the coop to sleep?

 

[KrisH]

If i keep my guineas in a coop until they get the idea that its their home and i let them out to get bugs out of the coop and into the yard (free Range), will they go back to the coop to sleep?

Ours do, And we constantly thank Peepsca for her many suggestions, such as keep them penned for at least 6 weeks, and to test with a few at a time until they can be trusted to come home.

RobertH

 

[PeepsCA]

Besides keeping them in for the 6 wks, I also suggest that while you keep them penned you start giving them an evening treat around the time that you will want to be their normal coop-up time, and be consistent with the time while you are conditioning them. I use the time when the sun is starting to go down, so they also have a visual cue to help them make the connection that it's time to go to bed, but the time you choose is up to you... just make sure it's before the sun goes completely down tho, or they may head for the trees instead.

Whenever you give them the treats (and feed them), always make a specifical call to them, one you will want to use to get them to come in at night (or eventually get them in any time you need to)... then consistently use that call every single time you feed them or give them treats. Repeat it over and over like a broken record, lol (but only when there is food or treats involved, so they learn to understand that specific call means they need to come running for food/treats).

Once you start letting them out I would only feed them in the coop for a while, and do not let them have free choice access to their feed for the time they are out (I just raise my hanging feeders up to where they can't reach them... or I will shut the coops/pens so they can't come and go as they please.. but I make sure they have a source for water while they are out). Be sure to keep on giving them treats in the coop in the evenings when you call them to come in, making a routine of coming in each night and getting a treat. Eventually they will be in the coop waiting for you to bring their treat (and complaining if you are late, lol). After they are reliably coming in when you call them (or are already in or waiting at the coop waiting for their treat) you can give them free choice to their food and coop again... it's just during the conditioning period this is or can be helpful. And if they ever seem to be roaming too far, I call them back for a treat in the coop (but I don't close them in). Sometimes I will just call them at random times for treats just to keep them guessing as to when there might be treats coming and they tend not to roam as far.

Guineas like routine, so try to establish a regular/consistent one with the treats and their coop up time and you will have a much more cooperative flock. I can call my birds any time of the day and they will all come running/flying to me from all corners of my 10 acres, lol.