Catching a Guinea

[JackieK318]

One of my fellow guinea owners in the area is moving and needs to catch her male guinea. I loaned her my female to, in hopes, lure her male into the dog crate. After two weeks, he's just getting interested, but still not going in the crate. Thoughts? She doesn't want to leave her male at the house, but may have to leave him behind if the house sells!

 

[MandyH]

If we have a bird on the loose we use the big fish net. One of us runs him towards it and then sticks it in front of him or else get close enough to toss it over him.

 

[mdbucks]

Where does he roost at night?? catch him while he is sleeping.

 

[JackieK318]

I think he roosts in the trees or on the house...

I do like the fishing net idea. If only I could climb a tree with a fishing net...

 

[okiechick57]

It is possible to CLIMB a tree with one of those big cloth nets...........

I have done it............. but couldnt get it back out of the tree,,,so I poked it down with the other end.and what do you know.....I caught my hen.......now Guineas are another thing.....maybe when at feed bucket....leave net there so he isnt so aware of it when you are there and holding it...........hope you can catch him.

 

[MandyH]

Guineas ARE crazy. Everything at my house has caught on to the fishing net and now I have to send my 2 year old after whatever we have to catch. It is hilarious to see her running after a bird. I am usually waiting around the corner and when I hear her squealing I get ready with the net!!

 

[RioLindoAz]

if you find it corowing try to catch it then & there
most likely they won't move till they stop crowing

 

[Standard Hen]

I have never been able to catch my Guineas, even in the pen! They just keep on flying into it and I am scared they will break their necks. I agree with the net which really might be the only way.

 

[mdbucks]

Dont try to catch them with a hook, thier legs are not as strong as a chicken and supposedly will break, I haven't broke any, so am not sure if this is true, i avoid the legs because of that

 

[robin416]

You're correct, the legs on a guinea are the weakest part of the bird. It takes very little to do injury to them. I saw jerk catch his bird by the legs, the bird could barely walk after that.

What you're seeing now is the pitfall of not training the birds to come to the coop at night to roost. It might be too late for your neighbor but if she begins training him to come with calling using millet or some other treat she might suceed in getting him in to a confined area. If she does then a net is the best way to catch him safely. But the net is going to take patience and once he's caught he'll need to be wrapped in the net and lifted carefully to prevent injury to the bird and injury to her.