Getting Guinea Keets to Roost in Coop at Night

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I have 6 week old guinea keets. I've kept them in a coop except for trying to let them out once when they were four weeks old. They had a delightful time eating bugs but did not return to their coop at nightfall. They just bedded down where they happened to be (in the watermelon patch). I have kept them up since this happened. It was quite an event to get all eight of them back in their barn. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments? Will two weeks make a difference in the chances of them roosting in their coop? I'm looking forward to getting them out and to work during the day but I was hoping to be able to protect them from predators at night. Any responses would be most welcomed!!!

-- Mel Carroll (frank.a.carroll@worldnet.att.net), July 23, 2000

Answers

Mel:

To help answer this question please tell us how you acquired the keets. Hatched under a hen, in an incubrator, bought from a hatchery, etc.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 23, 2000.


Hi Mel, I've always cooped my guineas up with my chickens. After a few weeks I let them out to free range during the day. At sundown I go out with a can of feed, call the hens and everyone comes running to the fenced run. Once everyone is busy with the feed I just quietly duck out and shut the door. Everyone wonders why my guineas stick around. No big secret, I just play a dirty trick on them by making them think they are part of my laying flock. It's not too late for you to try this. Just make sure they aren't allowed to free range for a few weeks so they get the idea that they belong with the chickens. Hope this helps. Stephanie

-- Stephanie Masters (ajsd@gateway.net), July 23, 2000.

Ken, I acquired my guinea keets through a mail order company - so they were hatched in an incubator, packed and shipped to me. Thanks for asking. I'm sorry it didn't occur to me to include that information.

-- Mel Carroll (frank.a.carroll@worldnet.att.net), July 23, 2000.

It sounds like Stephanie had your answer.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 24, 2000.

Normally: let a chicken hatch the eggs. Keep them in the coop til feathered up. Let only one out each day for a couple of days. They buddy up, so will return to the pen. Then let 2 out, etc.

With yours, keep them in the pen until they feather up (2-3 months), with chickens if possible, then follow the one a day, then 2 a day, etc. Some folks get lucky when they turn them all out together ~ some don't! They don't do well with roosters, may try to kill them.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 24, 2000.



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