Did they kill it?

[My2butterflies]

I saw a swallow fly out of the guinea coop yesterday morning shortly after I had opened the door. I don’t know if it was there overnight, or had flown in when I wasn’t looking. I was on the phone with my husband at the time and jokingly said it better not make a nest in there or the guineas will kill it.

Fast forward to this morning....
After letting the guineas out I went in to fill their food and check on my broody girl. I look in her nesting spot and there on the ground dead is the swallow!

Do you think they really killed it? Or that it misjudged the door and broke it’s neck?
I don’t see blood, but one spot on the chest looked like it could be from a peck mark.

It had to have happened this morning. It’s body wasn’t stiff yet and it still has its eyes. No bugs on the scene yet either.

 

[Chicken Heel]

The guineas would be the prime suspects. Years ago there was an unfortunate male cardinal that got into my bantam pen and it did not end well for him.

 

[My2butterflies]

The guineas would be the prime suspects. Years ago there was an unfortunate male cardinal that got into my bantam pen and it did not end well for him.

Oh that is sad I would hate to lose a cardinal.
I blamed the guineas right away, but wasn’t sure if it would be more mangled if they did it. I’ve never seen them kill anything or seen evidence of anything getting killed.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I've seen one of my chickens with a swallow before. I've also seen chickens mess with toads. I think it's possible that the guineas killed it.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I think the guineas killed it. It could have been the broody - it might have gotten to close for her liking and then......

 

[R2elk]

The most likely culprit is the guineas but it could also have broken its neck by hitting the walls or ceiling too hard trying to escape. Even guineas have broken their necks when panicked and flying into something.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I saw a swallow fly out of the guinea coop yesterday morning shortly after I had opened the door. I don’t know if it was there overnight, or had flown in when I wasn’t looking. I was on the phone with my husband at the time and jokingly said it better not make a nest in there or the guineas will kill it.

Fast forward to this morning....
After letting the guineas out I went in to fill their food and check on my broody girl. I look in her nesting spot and there on the ground dead is the swallow!

Do you think they really killed it? Or that it misjudged the door and broke it’s neck?
I don’t see blood, but one spot on the chest looked like it could be from a peck mark.
View attachment 2164203View attachment 2164204View attachment 2164205

It had to have happened this morning. It’s body wasn’t stiff yet and it still has its eyes. No bugs on the scene yet either.

Sounds unpleasant for you! I think our guineas view our coop as their safe spot, and that they keep it free from interlopers if they can. So, it’s possible your guinea killed it. Swallows are such great fliers though - it seems like it wouldn’t willingly put itself in a position to be accosted bu the guineas and the guinea couldn’t catch a healthy swallow.... So, I would guess it’s more likely the swallow died of disease or flee into a wall.

On a cheerier note, how’s your broody guineas doing? Viceroy is still sitting on eggs - they’re now 14 days old!

 

[My2butterflies]

The most likely culprit is the guineas but it could also have broken its neck by hitting the walls or ceiling too hard trying to escape. Even guineas have broken their necks when panicked and flying into something.

Yeah, I’ve had birds hit windows on the house and die from a snapped neck. So it’s hard for me to fully believe the guineas did it.

Sounds unpleasant for you! I think our guineas view our coop as their safe spot, and that they keep it free from interlopers if they can. So, it’s possible your guinea killed it. Swallows are such great fliers though - it seems like it wouldn’t willingly put itself in a position to be accosted bu the guineas and the guinea couldn’t catch a healthy swallow.... So, I would guess it’s more likely the swallow died of disease or flee into a wall.

On a cheerier note, how’s your broody guineas doing? Viceroy is still sitting on eggs - they’re now 14 days old!

Hopefully it wasn’t sick. I’ll watch my flock and hope for the best:/

They are dedicated. Lol She used to leave the coop once or twice a day and I could sneak in and check the eggs. It’s been a while since she’s gotten off them. I have no idea how many she’s sitting on. Some maybe as old as 17 days. But I honestly can’t remember how long she’s been on them. I know for sure they won’t hatch till after my current round in the incubator hatches. They are due to hatch next week. If all goes well we will have 4.
Once they are done I’ll be raiding the guinea nest to move them into the incubator. After that I might let her keep a clutch to raise if she’s still bent on sitting.
I just don’t want to trust her to hatch babies when I have a couple people in-line waiting for them. Once I have the ones I need for them I’ll let her try being a mom

Have you had a chance to candle yours yet?

I’m so eager to get my hands on the new eggs. Lol

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Yeah, I’ve had birds hit windows on the house and die from a snapped neck. So it’s hard for me to fully believe the guineas did it.




Hopefully it wasn’t sick. I’ll watch my flock and hope for the best:/

They are dedicated. Lol She used to leave the coop once or twice a day and I could sneak in and check the eggs. It’s been a while since she’s gotten off them. I have no idea how many she’s sitting on. Some maybe as old as 17 days. But I honestly can’t remember how long she’s been on them. I know for sure they won’t hatch till after my current round in the incubator hatches. They are due to hatch next week. If all goes well we will have 4.
Once they are done I’ll be raiding the guinea nest to move them into the incubator. After that I might let her keep a clutch to raise if she’s still bent on sitting.
I just don’t want to trust her to hatch babies when I have a couple people in-line waiting for them. Once I have the ones I need for them I’ll let her try being a mom

Have you had a chance to candle yours yet?

I’m so eager to get my hands on the new eggs. Lol

I’m kicking Viceroy off her nest once a day to collect new eggs, so I’ll be candling soon. We had collected eggs then set some under her and some in the incubator at the same time, and they are all at day 14 today!

 

[My2butterflies]

How exciting!
I wish their incubation time wasn’t so long. I can’t wait to see the babies. Haha