Do we need more?

[pasdechat73]

Guineas are worthless and very vulnerable as detectors of anything at night. During the daytime their fearlessness can cause them to be victims of all kinds of predators. There are the stories of a flock of guineas escorting predators out of their domain. There are more stories of the guineas falling victim to those same predators especially once the predator gets a taste and learns just how delicious they are.

R2elk is spot-on about them at night.

During the day though --> he's a watch fowl. I'm home all day and as soon as he starts his warning cry ... grab a gun. Esp. when the coyotes and cats come on our property.

But like R2elk said, there are more stories of them falling victim to predators. A few months ago, our friend lost 12 out of 13 keets + goats to a mountain lion in spite of fortifying her yard. My pineapple (that's my g. fowls name) and flock are free-range so I am grateful for each day I spend with them. I also have a German shepherd who is fond of my babies, and between him, the roosters and pineapple, I always know when something isn't right outside.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

R2elk is spot-on about them at night.

During the day though --> he's a watch fowl. I'm home all day and as soon as he starts his warning cry ... grab a gun. Esp. when the coyotes and cats come on our property.

But like R2elk said, there are more stories of them falling victim to predators. A few months ago, our friend lost 12 out of 13 keets + goats to a mountain lion in spite of fortifying her yard. My pineapple (that's my g. fowls name) and flock are free-range so I am grateful for each day I spend with them. I also have a German shepherd who is fond of my babies, and between him, the roosters and pineapple, I always know when something isn't right outside.

A mountain lion!!!! How do you protect against that???

 

[pasdechat73]

A mountain lion!!!! How do you protect against that???

Besides fortifying your property, getting a security camera, and having certain "watch animals" on hand (think Donkeys, Llamas, Hunting Hounds, etc.) there's not much you can do. People are on the fence with re: to killing them or not: https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2019/jun/12/city-lights-whether-kill-san-diego-mountain-lions/.

Then you have the Mountain Lion foundation who presented at my husband's branch this January that encourages collaring: https://www.facebook.com/events/185...ng-mountain-lions-in-julian/2635957196497103/

Its definitely a problem with all the fires we've had over the years. The animals are displaced and it makes our livestock a prime target. To be honest, I think the coyotes are more of a pain. They just jump the fence and come on the property in broad daylight. I remember one day I was walking around with my Noel (she was an injured araucana that could no longer walk) and all of a sudden I noticed this big dog walking around (turned out to be a coyote) and it took me a good five minutes to shoo him away. They are extremely stubborn where as the Mountain Lions are a bit more skittish, if you will.

 

[Manhen]

I remember one day I was walking around with my Noel (she was an injured araucana that could no longer walk) and all of a sudden I noticed this big dog walking around (turned out to be a coyote) and it took me a good five minutes to shoo him away. They are extremely stubborn where as the Mountain Lions are a bit more skittish, if you will.

Don't forget, an wild animal that stays near a human may be mad with rabbies.

 

[pasdechat73]

Don't forget, an wild animal that stays near a human may be mad with rabbies.

Yes, you are correct. And unfortunately, the mountain lion that attacked my friends livestock was racked with mange, and probably other diseases too, as it acted in an abnormally aggressive behaviour. Only reason why I know it had mange is because they ended up shooting it and brought in fish & wildlife who confirmed. So very sad.