chickens that may as well be guineas

[fzouk]

I have a flock of silver spangled hamburgs- a breed wilder than most; less domesticated. They will eat from my hands sometimes but will NOT let me touch them. I've always spent lots of time with them but it hasn't helped a bit. They free range because of our horrible tick problem and despite my very best efforts and much expense, only 6 out of the 17 will come to the coop at night. I leave the light on until it gets dark, I give them nice things to eat and shake the food dish, call the way I always do... but they insist on sleeping in the trees right around the coop. So I have decided to learn about guineas and treat them that way since they are just wild and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.

I read around in the guinea section here but I was wondering, as if I was a guinea owner, if there was anything to keep in mind about guineas, oops I mean chickens

that sleep out in the wild at night. We live in dense woods and the trees are giant. Hamburgs are great fliers, like guineas, and mine get waaaaaaay up in the tops of the trees.

Thanks so much!
Frances

 

[sephiroth]

I was wondering what other breeds might be 'low maintenance free range foragers' --

The only issue is keeping them safe at night, but I suppose if they're high enough in the trees then they're okay.

Any other breeds you know of like the Hamburg?

 

[obe10]

my guineas flew to the very top of the pine trees and roosted so i clipped there wings lol ( just like you would clip a parrots wings ) that nipped it! they could not fly that good ( just enough to get to the roost perches ) clipping helps a lot

 

[txchickie]

All of our birds go to the trees at night, chickens and guineas. Ours get to the highest, thickest parts of our cedar trees (which stay green year round

). We have several breeds of clean-legged bantams, they free range and are really quite tough little things! My feather feetie bantam silkies and frizz go back to the coop at night, obviously their flying skills are not up to par to get in the trees!

You will hear that the owls will get them, along with other predators, which is absolutley possible. We've been lucky so far and haven't lost any by roosting in the trees.

 

[shelleyd2008]

My guineas roosted in the trees when I first got them, until the cooler weather kicked in. They finally figured out that it was warmer (and drier) in the barn with the chickens, and have been there ever since.

I would also be worried about owls, or even coons or possums.

Where do you feed them at? Put their feed inside the coop, then when they are all in lock them up. Keep them locked up for a while and see if that changes their minds.

 

[fzouk]

I'm glad to hear of ones that sleep outside and seem to do just fine. I do worry about predators but it's been awhile and so far no problems. I feed them inside the coop only and also tried 2 1/2 weeks locking them in- I happened to catch all 17 inside one time. I was sure that would do the trick but the 1st night I let them out the usual 6 came inside and the rest stayed out. I'm resigning myself to the fact that at least while it's warm they'll be outside. -It does make for a VERY low maintanence flock! They stay nearby and devour my ticks so I guess it's ok. I just worry about raccoons and owls and things...

Thanks for the responses!! It makes me feel much better to hear about others with a similar set up.

Frances

 

[Lollipop]

fzouk, I have had tree roosting birds off and on for years. They are relatively safe in thick trees from owls and such, but climbing predators will locate them by their droppings and of course chickens don`t see well enough at night to escape. A safeguard you might consider is a live trap at the base of their favorite tree baited with a couple whole eggs. Most predators will go for an easy meal first. I keep a live trap set 24/7 and baited with eggs and I`ve caught all maner of predators over the years. Baiting with eggs is cheap and easy as you don`t heve to rebait except for once a month unless you trap something. Just cheap insurance.......Pop