Can Guinea Fowl Go Back Into the Coop at Night?

French Pearl, Lavender, White and Chocolate Guinea Fowl

Many people are surprised to learn that guinea fowl, often considered wild and unpredictable, can indeed be trained to return to a coop at night—but only under the right conditions. Unlike chickens, who naturally seek the safety of an enclosed roost, guineas are notorious for preferring trees, rooftops, or other exposed perches once they reach maturity. However, with the right approach, you can encourage them to adopt coop life just like your flock of chickens.

Raising Guineas in Their Own Coop

The key lies in how guineas are raised. If you want your flock of guinea fowl to reliably return to a coop, they should be:

• Raised in their own dedicated coop together.

• Kept inside until nearly adult size.

By the time they are old enough to venture outdoors, the coop is already established in their minds as “home.” When released, they will instinctively return to that safe place at night. This works best when the guineas are kept separate from chickens during their growing phase.

Why Keeping Guineas With Chickens Usually Fails

It’s a common mistake to raise guinea fowl alongside chickens and expect them to follow the chickens back into the coop at dusk. In practice, guineas raised this way often form their own tight-knit group and separate from the chickens as they mature.

The result? They begin roosting in trees, barns, or anywhere but the coop. Unlike chickens, who see safety in a dark, enclosed space, guineas view the high, open perch as the safer option. Once this behavior sets in, it’s difficult—sometimes impossible—to reverse.

The Single Guinea Exception

There is one fascinating exception: a lone guinea raised with chickens.A solitary guinea keet raised among chicks will bond strongly with them, adopting the chickens’ routines and habits. This includes following them into the coop at night.

However, once you introduce additional guinea fowl, the dynamic changes. More often than not, they will seek each other out and form their own “mini flock,” eventually abandoning the chickens’ routine. At that point, tree roosting usually wins over coop life.

Practical Tips for Success

• Start with a dedicated guinea coop if your goal is to house multiple guineas together at night.

• Keep them inside long enough—do not free-range them too early. Waiting until they are nearly grown ensures they imprint on the coop.

• Don’t mix groups. If you want your chickens and guineas to live together, know that housing success is far less predictable with more than one guinea.

• Consider your goals. If you only want a single guinea (for tick control, alert calls, or companionship), raising it with chickens can work beautifully.

• 
  

Final Thoughts

Guinea fowl can be trained to return to a coop just like chickens, but it requires a different strategy. Their natural instincts lean toward independence and wild roosting habits, which means flock structure and early housing conditions are everything. If raised properly, a dedicated group of guineas will view their coop as home, offering you the best of both worlds: the pest control and watchdog qualities of guineas, with the nightly safety and routine of chickens.