Guineas all took off, only one came back

[tsparrow]

I am new to guineas and I think I made a mistake. I raised them as babies all together and I started letting them out to get grass and then feed them in their coop. I have never had a problem getting them back in. Their water and food is in their coop. I have done this with them for about a year now, not everyday, but atleast twice a week. Well, I had to go to the store and left them out to free range and didn't think much about it, but a storm hit and I rushed home and they were all gone. Only 1 out of 11 has came home. I have corn all around me, so I couldn't see them anywhere. I lock the one up in the coop, but he isn't making a sound to call them back. Is it possible for them to get lost and is there something I can do to help them come back? I am really worried.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

I'm so sorry! I hope to come back later today and read that they all come home.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I only just started letting mine outside last night and I spent 2 hours chasing one who wouldn't come home. I am

that yours come home once they aren't afraid of the weather.

 

[damselfish]

They may still come back, but yes, they can get lost. Do you have a way that you usually call them for treats? Try taking a walk in several directions and make your call, then listen very carefully. Ask your neighbors if they've seen them, they may just wander up to the next likely-looking farm once they're disoriented.

I hope they come back for you, good luck. If you do have to start over, consider training them to a specific treat call, like a certain tune of whistling.

 

[tsparrow]

Thank you I am going now to look at the other farms and call them. There is 200 acres of corn, so they may have gotten lost in the corn. This is their only home they know so i am hoping. I am hoping they hear the call of the male. Thank you all. I am going driving around now and see.

 

[tsparrow]

found another male at the neighbors, okay I did my little call to him with food and no luck luring him home. Should I put the male I have in a cage and hopefully he would call to him?

 

[PeepsCA]

Wow you only found one? What a bummer. The male in the cage idea might help bring the others home, tho the females are usually the more vocal ones and would probably be more effective. I'd still continue to look for the others and if you do find them and can't herd them or get them to follow you home you could leave them there til dark and try to get a few people to help you catch them one at a time, as calmly as possible in the dark (Guineas are blind in the dark and usually easier to catch... but they may also scatter up high in the trees and stress them out even more than they already are, which does nothing as far as helping with getting them to come home).

Best of luck, hopefully you find all of them

 

[9farmgirl9]

Yes, they can get lost. When my guineas cant fit through the fence thats when i let them free range which is usually 1month and half. And last summer one of my flocksof keets were missing. There were about 20 in that group, well i thought i heard guineas back in the woods, but i couldnt go it was pitch dark and we have bobcats and wild dogs so i waited till morning. They still werent up in the morning so i went down the trail and they were squaking their heads off so i followed there noise. They were right there by the trail they could see the house!!! Anyways they followed me back up and everyone was finee. So maybe yours will ccome back. Idk if yours are like mine but if they are lost theyll stay there till you find them. But now mine are older and travel miles away and still come back! So GOOD LUCK!!

 

[tsparrow]

I still can't find them and the one at the neighbors will not come to me or the guinea that I still have. It brakes my heart, but I don't know what to do. If I get more I will keep some in the cage and only let a few out at a time and do the bell ringing at dinner time. Hard lesson for me to learn or should I say hard lesson for the lost guineas. You would think they would hear the male I have.

Thank you all for your support and advice. I am not giving up!

 

[watchdogps]

can you put the male you have contained in a cage within the coop? That way you can leave the coop open for the other(s) to return to without having to catch them?