Hello everyone! I'm a new member although I have been a voyer for some time! I have 7 chickens, Easter Eggers, Barred Rocks and Orpingtons and one Golden laced Wyandotte. This summer a male guinea adopted us. He had been dropped off at a farm down the road from us and was rejected by their flock. He stayed there one or two days then wandered into our yard and has stayed. I've tried to find him another home as the "farm" really doesn't want him back so he's kinda become my responsisblity. I haven't been successful so he's been here for about 2 months. I actually really enjoy him being around although he chases the kids and dogs more as he gets older. He comes to the back door every day to get fed and hangs out on the deck. He looks inside our coop during the day but won't sleep in it. He sleeps in the tree above it. He hangs out with my chickens during the day and watches over them. I'm worried about him getting through the winter. I live in RI and we can get some pretty harsh weather. I'm wondering if he'll smarten up and go in the warm coop once it gets real cold or if I should try harder to place him in another home. Maybe he won't sleep in there for a reason? My coop has a fence around it (I free range during the day) but no netting on top to keep him in. When he does get "stuck" in there he freaks out until he flies himself out. Should I cover the run and force him to stay in there? I'm concerned as winter will be on us soon. I'm even more worried that he's happy where ever he is. Because of my neighborhood I can't buy him a mate. Maybe he'd be better off with some female guineas somewhere else? HELP? Thank you, DawnMarie
The same thing happened here several years ago. We were adopted by a male guinea fowl. He too refused to enter/sleep in the coop. I have several large white pines and they were his favorite roosting place. Every morning he would perch on the deck railing and screech until I came outside and fed him. Somehow the GHO never found him, but after 3 or 4 years a red fox finally caught him. I'm in NJ so we share similar weather; therefore, I doubt that weather conditions will be a problem - the predators, that's another story.
Greetings from Kansas, DawnMarie, and ! Happy you joined our community! I have no advice regarding guinea behavior but I hope he wises up and buddies up with the chickens! Good luck to you!
our guineas are only 10 weeks old and we still got 2 more weeks till we can let them out to run free. so were still in the learning stage.
Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. You can also post in the Guinea Fowl section on the Forum page. You might be able to hook up with someone there for advice.
