Woke up to 2 of my boys fighting...

[chimneyrock]

what looked like to the death!!

They are fine now, but it was quite a sight!

I was wondering if this is a sign to start to let them out of the coop to free rage?

 

[StevenW.]

They are probably just showing each other who is boss.

 

[PeepsCA]

How old are they, and how long have they been in the coop? You want them to have the coop imprinted as HOME in their little pea sized brains

(Usually 6 weeks works great for that, sometimes you can get away with a shorter time tho).

 

[chimneyrock]

Quote:
They are about 11 weeks old. I have had them in the coop for 7.5 weeks and I have them trained to come to a treat call. I want to let them out soon...I'm just nervous. I'm not really sure how to let them out. I have heard just one or two at a time....but that would mean I would have to catch (or try to catch) them and put them out! I almost think it would be better to open the door and let them decide when they would like to come out..But that means all of them would end up going out....

I just want them to be safe and happy! I would love your opinion, I read your all your posts and you are so knowledgeable

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
They are about 11 weeks old. I have had them in the coop for 7.5 weeks and I have them trained to come to a treat call. I want to let them out soon...I'm just nervous. I'm not really sure how to let them out. I have heard just one or two at a time....but that would mean I would have to catch (or try to catch) them and put them out! I almost think it would be better to open the door and let them decide when they would like to come out..But that means all of them would end up going out....

I just want them to be safe and happy! I would love your opinion, I read your all your posts and you are so knowledgeable

I've never used the 1 or 2 at a time method, (too much work and anxiety involved for both the birds and for me, lol). Opening the door and letting them out all at once after they are 12 weeks old and/or have been in their coop/pen for at least 6 weeks (and I have worked with them so they all know to come running for treats) is how I do it. I usually take away their food a few hours b4 I plan to let them out in the PM (so they go out a little hungry), then I open the door and hang out in the area so I can keep an eye on them, or I just get a chair and a cold drink and sit with them and talk to them. They don't always come out on the first try, but I don't force them or make it traumatic. Eventually one will wander over the threshold of the only safety they know (HOME) and then the others get brave and try it too. Then I slowly walk over and shut the door/gate so they can't go back in until I'm ready to herd them in. I try not to let them wander too far at first and just keep them in the general area near the coop/pen. When it's time to go in (feeding time here on my ranch), I go in the pen and call them for treats and shake their feeders (it usually helps to have someone help herd them in while you are calling them). I repeat that day after day for a couple weeks, letting them wander a little farther and a little longer each time, but I stick to herding/calling them in at the same time each day and establishing the routine of going in as the sun is going down. Guineas like routine. Pretty soon they just come running when they see me coming with treats or they are already waiting at the gate for me if I am late, lol.

 

[GuineaLady93]

I kept mine in like a 12x12 dog pen until they were about a year old. I know they don't need to stay in a pen that long but it turned out great because I have only lost one to a fox and that was my fault because I didn't know she had started sitting and that night a fox got her.

When they where in their cage the boys would fight a little but not too bad. they do start fighting worse when it comes time to mate, but even then its not too bad.
Good Luck!
-Ashley