How to Build a Guinea Fowl House

Guinea fowl are useful birds to keep, particularly for meat or for insect control. Their needs in a shelter are similar to such farm poultry as chickens or turkeys. You can easily adapt a chicken coop design to house guineas if you keep in mind a few key differences. Guineas need coop training and require a higher square footage per bird.

Things You'll Need

  • 8 concrete cinder blocks
  • 2- by 6-inch treated lumber
  • 2- by 4-inch treated lumber
  • 3/4-inch plywood
  • 1/2-inch plywood
  • Galvanized nails
  • 2-inch deck screws
  • 4-inch deck screws
  • Door hinges
  • Roof felt paper
  • Roof shingles
  • Level
  • Hammer
  • Circular saw or table saw
  • Jigsaw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a design for your guinea house. It is simplest to modify a basic rectangular chicken coop design for your birds, as chicken coop designs are easier to find. Estimate three to four square feet per guinea instead of the recommended two square feet per chicken.

    • 2

      Choose a location for your guinea house that is clear and has good water runoff.

    • 3

      Level the area of your building site and clear it of any large brush, logs or rocks.

    • 4

      Stack two concrete blocks for each corner of the house.

    • 5

      Form a rectangular floor to match your planned guinea house size by building your floor joists from 2- by 6-inch lumber running every 16 inches on center. Attach them to 2- by 6-inch pieces on either side with galvanized nails.

    • 6

      Cut 3/4-inch plywood to form the floor using a circular saw or table saw. Lay the plywood perpendicular to the floor joists.

    • 7

      Frame the two side walls and the back wall on the ground using 2- by 4-inch lumber that runs every 16 inches from center. Toenail with galvanized nails.

    • 8

      Frame the front wall to include a door for easy cleaning access. Use 2- by 4-inch lumber and galvanized nails to frame the wall.

    • 9

      Use 4-inch deck screws to attach each wall securely to the floor frame.

    • 10

      Cut 1/2-inch plywood to match the wall sizes and attach it to the outside of the wall frame using 2-inch deck screws.

    • 11

      Make an access door using 2- by 4-inch lumber to form the door frame. Cover with 1/2-inch plywood using 2-inch deck screws. Attach to the house with door hinges.

    • 12

      Cut a separate entrance for guineas if there is a fenced run located just off the house. Use the jigsaw to cut a rectangle 12 inches up from the floor and 18 inches wide. Be sure to cut only the plywood between the 2- by 4-inch framing.

    • 13

      Build a lean-to style roof that slopes slightly toward the back using 2- by 4-inch lumber as rafters and 3/4-inch plywood as sheathing. Apply felt paper and shingles according to the manufacturer's instructions.

    • 14

      Provide a ramp for any guinea entrance that is more than a foot off the ground.

    • 15

      Add wooden perches from two to four feet off the ground for roosting.

    • 16

      Install an overhead light. If electricity isn't an option, use a battery powered light.

    • 17

      Lay an absorbent material over the floor, such as hay or wood shavings, to protect your guineas' feet.