Keets Leave the Coop
September 18th, 2013 · 2 Comments · Posted in farming
All 15 of our Guinea fowl keets have now left the coop. I guess removing the feeder and waterer did the trick. But I’m sorry I wasn’t there to witness their exit. Did they fly out the door, or walk down the ramp I built for them? The keets aren’t talking, so I guess we’ll never know.
The only problem is, they won’t go back in the coop. Unlike our laying hens, who voluntarily return the coop each evening so they can be safely locked away, the Guinea fowl show no interest in their former abode. I built the coop for their own safety, so they could be protected from predators at night. But how do I convince them of that? At least they have not run off, but stay close by, either lounging underneath the coop, huddling round the feeder, or rustling and squawking in the bushes along the hedgerow.
One thing they don’t appreciate is human company. They skitter away whenever I get too close.
This uncooperative behavior has given rise to a domestic situation. My wife insists it’s my fault the keets aren’t behaving according to plan. If only I’d followed the instructions of one particular Guinea fowl expect she has located online, we might be able to exert more control over our keets. According to this expert, our keets should come when we call them, and allow themselves to be herded into the coop at night. If only I’d been bright enough to train them from the beginning, I suppose.
It’s not like I didn’t bone up before I decided to raise Guinea fowl. Apparently, it wasn’t enough to suit my spouse. She’s not here at the moment to do anything about it. But it’s reassuring to know we now have at least one Guinea fowl whisperer in the family who can whip these keets into shape when she returns.
Well, I think had “daughter” been on the farm when they arrived this wouldn’t be an issue because she’s totally enamored with the destined for slaughter in ten weeks broiler chicks. She’s often got one in her hand walking around the house–it would have been impossible for them to not be more used to humans. My concern is the investment. By that I mean five weeks with those things brooding in the basement and stinking up the house seems an utter waste of time and olfactory distress to have them be a tasty dinner for a predator.
I wonder if they would return to the coop if you put the food and water back in at night?