Can rats kill guineas?

[Brayjj]

So we had our 2 month old and 1 month old guineas in a pasture poultry pen outside till they get a little bigger till they could go in with our adult guineas (the bigger ones were attacking them). Last night something got in and killed 7 or 8 of them. The space where it got in, they dug in, was maybe about 1/2 inch or so, i mean you wouldn't even have noticed it if not looking... they pulled out a 2 month old guinea through that hole, along with the 1 month olds. (sadly we just got 3 lavenders 2 days ago and were soo excited to add them to our flock). All that was left was 1 small wing, and one larger wing, a heart and a gizzard. EVERYTHING else was gone. Would a rat do this?? There was 1 lavendar left that is in pretty bad shape. I don't think it will make it. It breaks my hearts. The other guineas are completely scared to death and honestly like they are all in shock that are left. This is our first predator attack.

 

[R2elk]

So we had our 2 month old and 1 month old guineas in a pasture poultry pen outside till they get a little bigger till they could go in with our adult guineas (the bigger ones were attacking them). Last night something got in and killed 7 or 8 of them. The space where it got in, they dug in, was maybe about 1/2 inch or so, i mean you wouldn't even have noticed it if not looking... they pulled out a 2 month old guinea through that hole, along with the 1 month olds. (sadly we just got 3 lavenders 2 days ago and were soo excited to add them to our flock). All that was left was 1 small wing, and one larger wing, a heart and a gizzard. EVERYTHING else was gone. Would a rat do this?? There was 1 lavendar left that is in pretty bad shape. I don't think it will make it. It breaks my hearts. The other guineas are completely scared to death and honestly like they are all in shock that are left. This is our first predator attack.

Yes rats can easily kill young guineas but I would be more likely to suspect a weasel.

 

[AMoritz]

Yes rats can easily kill young guineas but I would be more likely to suspect a weasel.

X2. That sounds like a weasel type predator

 

[Brayjj]

Thanks. I honestly didn't even know we had weasels, but I guess they are everywhere? Thanks so much. We have a broody guinea and now makes me nervous. Would a weasel take a full grown guinea? Should I remove her from her nest? Really can't afford to lose a grownup right now after this loss. I could put her eggs in the incubator.

 

[R2elk]

Thanks. I honestly didn't even know we had weasels, but I guess they are everywhere? Thanks so much. We have a broody guinea and now makes me nervous. Would a weasel take a full grown guinea? Should I remove her from her nest? Really can't afford to lose a grownup right now after this loss. I could put her eggs in the incubator.

Yes a weasel can kill a full grown guinea especially if she is sitting on an unprotected nest at night.

I do not allow any of my guineas to spend a night outside of their coop. It is the only way I can protect them at night.

 

[Brayjj]

Yes a weasel can kill a full grown guinea especially if she is sitting on an unprotected nest at night.

I do not allow any of my guineas to spend a night outside of their coop. It is the only way I can protect them at night.

How would you go about breaking her broodiness? We had been taking her eggs but she kept finding a new spot, so we started leaving a few and before we knew it she laid a few more and went broody... we found her... but she is VERY MEAN. How would you get her off the nest?? Sorry for seeming uneducated but this is our first year with a broody guinea.

 

[AMoritz]

How would you go about breaking her broodiness? We had been taking her eggs but she kept finding a new spot, so we started leaving a few and before we knew it she laid a few more and went broody... we found her... but she is VERY MEAN. How would you get her off the nest?? Sorry for seeming uneducated but this is our first year with a broody guinea.

Get a light blanket, if she's mean and protecting her nest she won't go easily. So get a light blanket and gently toss it over her before you pick her up off the nest. That way she can't see what yourey doing and try to bite you

 

[Brayjj]

Get a light blanket, if she's mean and protecting her nest she won't go easily. So get a light blanket and gently toss it over her before you pick her up off the nest. That way she can't see what yourey doing and try to bite you

I assume you do this at night?

 

[R2elk]

How would you go about breaking her broodiness? We had been taking her eggs but she kept finding a new spot, so we started leaving a few and before we knew it she laid a few more and went broody... we found her... but she is VERY MEAN. How would you get her off the nest?? Sorry for seeming uneducated but this is our first year with a broody guinea.

I make sure I find every guinea in the evening and escort them to the coop. I use a long stick to herd them in the direction that I want them to go. On occasion a hen will try to stay on a hidden nest and I have had them attack the end of my stick as I gently urge them to leave the nest. Once they are in the coop, I return and take all the eggs and leave a couple of fake eggs in their place to encourage them to keep using the same nest. Removing all the eggs will get them to abandon the nest very quickly and then it is a search to find the new nest.

Good luck.

 

[AMoritz]

I assume you do this at night?

Night or dusk is when i'd do it. Or as mentioned above get a long stick and gently but firmly make her move. If you have a weasel on the loose you need to get her and those eggs in asap, as it most likely will be back