Recent content by Cadillac Jill

Tonight when we went out to coop up the chickens we discovered that our Polish Crested broody hen's lone 5 week old chick had been snatched by something (feathers all over). Momma was perched on the edge of the coop instead of in her usual position in the nest box. I am just sick. I can't tell...

She's just under a year old, and very independent. We were surprised when she went broody. (We've never had a broody before.) She stayed on the nest for a few days, so we decided to leave an egg under there to see if she'd "stick". A couple of days later she was still on the nest, so we put two...

I guess I'm just seeing this differently. I know that a lot of folks around here have started trying to garden and raise backyard flocks and so forth because they don't have steady incomes. Unless we're talking about show birds or exotics, I don't understand why this would be a problem. The...

Thanks again for your support and for sharing in the humor of the situation with me! Peeps--no offense taken. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. Okdfarms--I hear that same song! The only time our guineas can't fly over a fence is when it would make my life easier--LOL...

Here's the coop: and one of their dust bathing areas:

Here’s a diagram of Guineapolis. It’s not drawn to scale, but it’s fairly close. I’d take some pics of the whole compound, but it’s currently draped with agricultural fabric to protect our plants from this record heat!

Many thanks to all who have contributed. I truly appreciate having access to so much expertise! I’m going to continue/expand this thread, and I hope you’ll give additional input. Please know that I have no desire to be “right”. Our guineas may be mutant freaks, or perhaps guinea behavior varies...

Okay, that field test is over, and I can now confirm that agricultural soap spray does not deter guineas in the least. If fact, they seemed to find it a piquant addition to those delectable plants. I'll be trying hot peper wax spray next, and will report my findings.

The author who proclaimed guineas will mosey through the garden "without harming a single tender leaf!" was dead wrong. (She also claims that guineas "don't scratch like chickens do", even though mine basically tilled the garden plot for me. If all else fails, I guess I can construct miniature...

Quote: I have three polish hens that are about 7 months old, and one has just now started acting like she's going to lay...that is to say, she's going under the goat shed (where I'd have to use a garden rake to retrieve the egg), squawking loudly, attracting the nest-building skills of our...

Thank you all for your kindness and encouragement! I've been trying to get a good picture of her, but she's so frisky now that she won't hold still long enough! All the shots come out blurry. If I manage to get a decent one, I'll be sure to post it.

One thing I've figured out, this guinea thing is fraught with obstacles, and you never know what will be the source of the next one. So early Sunday morning DH and I go out to do some work on operation Guinea Garden (or perhaps Fowl Fiasco...time will tell). We drape a 50' x 50' aviary net over...

Okay, she wandered back and I put her poof up in a ponytail holder. There was an immediate difference in her disposition. She was looking around like she's never seen the world before, and even challenged some of the other chickens. She's out roaming with the flock now, keeping pace and...