Guineas and hawks

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

The guineas were asleep in a tree...middle of the night. They won’t fly at night, so they just scooted away from the owl. Once I got the last two used to going in the barn at night, things settled down. The third one was taken by a red tail hawk(?) in broad daylight off the ground! Two other hawks joined in and she was in pieces by the time my husband made it to her....

Ouch! That really sounds awful. My husband was just now telling me about a red-shouldered hawk that was sitting on a fence watching the guineas today while I was out. He’s not a guinea fan, so I suspect he’s rooting for the hawk...

 

[johnsonhillfarm]

I have a flock of 9 who turn 4 months old tomorrow. For the past 3 days have let them out and they follow me. They are very tame with me and I hope that did not mess them up! A hawk circled us today and they didn't really respond and make much noise or try to hide. O had an air horn and was able to scare it off and got them all back in chicken run/coop as fast as I could. Now I am so worried about letting them roam alone.​

 

[Sydney65]

Did I missing something, Mixed? Agreeing w/R2elk re owls. We've seen pics posted of them prowling goons free ranging on the ground in broad daylight, and we had a discussion once abt how much weight an owl cld carry while flying-not enough.
Hawks circle our yard constantly. When I'm present, they do it from so high up they're barely a spec to me, but Mama spots them, and the keets are learning as well to keep an eye on the sky. - Needs must-the females never used to pay attention bc one of the boys was always on guard.
Now-re Cooper's hawk..sorry, I can't scroll back while typing to find the name, but the falconer person (way cool, btw)-what is this?
Bc it took up post in an evergreen in our yard in the spring 2 yrs ago watching our guineas-no keets. I kept the goons locked up until we took out the tree and it moved on.
Last spring we had this beauty hang around in a tree for several hrs. I didn't let them out, she moved on to a neighborhood down the road where small pets are plentiful, from what I heard. The significance was that it's the 1st time one has been seen around here - ppl who live near by were coming to take pictures. Cornfields, no water around, not a normal sight for us. The only thing we cld figure was she saw the goons.

I'm wondering, Mixed, if it was thechunnel that stressed them out or inside the coop itself? You've had snake issues before. I know they're given room & board for extermination services, but if I'm not going to be here, they get cooped. Heck the stuff that happens when I'm here has been bad enough.‍♀

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I think that some predator avoidance is hardwired but some is experience. My guineas can tell the difference between different birds and even different hawks flying overhead. Unfortunately, they’ve had multiple encounters and losses to learn from… In the US, fall also seems to be a particularly dangerous time of year for hawk predation on poultry. Do you know what species of hawk you’re seeing? Can you keep them cooped until the hawk moves on?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Did I missing something, Mixed? Agreeing w/R2elk re owls. We've seen pics posted of them prowling goons free ranging on the ground in broad daylight, and we had a discussion once abt how much weight an owl cld carry while flying-not enough.
Hawks circle our yard constantly. When I'm present, they do it from so high up they're barely a spec to me, but Mama spots them, and the keets are learning as well to keep an eye on the sky. - Needs must-the females never used to pay attention bc one of the boys was always on guard.
Now-re Cooper's hawk..sorry, I can't scroll back while typing to find the name, but the falconer person (way cool, btw)-what is this?View attachment 2884203
Bc it took up post in an evergreen in our yard in the spring 2 yrs ago watching our guineas-no keets. I kept the goons locked up until we took out the tree and it moved on.
Last spring we had this beauty hang around in a tree for several hrs. I didn't let them out, she moved on to a neighborhood down the road where small pets are plentiful, from what I heard. The significance was that it's the 1st time one has been seen around here - ppl who live near by were coming to take pictures. Cornfields, no water around, not a normal sight for us. The only thing we cld figure was she saw the goons.View attachment 2884208
I'm wondering, Mixed, if it was thechunnel that stressed them out or inside the coop itself? You've had snake issues before. I know they're given room & board for extermination services, but if I'm not going to be here, they get cooped. Heck the stuff that happens when I'm here has been bad enough.‍♀

As far as carrying prey off, I don’t think it’s necessary for a hawk or owl, as they can eat them in the area where they were killed…Is your first bird a Cooper’s hawk? These are common, bird specialist hawks. Adult guineas and full sized chickens are on the larger side for them, but they are quite capable of killing them and eating them where they land. I suspect this is what killed and ate Mad Pie, then later made an unsuccessful grab for Kingpin. My guess is that my Coopers became less interested in guinea hunting when the guineas started staying in a tight group. Interesting that it was your boys on the lookout - both cocks and hens are doing a lot of scanning the skies right now, but I think that the girls are more likely to be scanning while the flock forages.

Someone else on BYCs (I’ll look for the post) mentioned that Coopers weren’t problematic for them because they can’t carry off a chicken, and the rooster would attack the smallish Coopers before it could eat it’s prey… Unfortunately, our Coopers is still here. DH saw it try for (and miss) a mourning dove yesterday!

What’s your second pic - bald eagle? There was a BYC poster with an orchard that was suffering bald eagle attacks!

 

[Sydney65]

I think that some predator avoidance is hardwired but some is experience. My guineas can tell the difference between different birds and even different hawks flying overhead. Unfortunately, they’ve had multiple encounters and losses to learn from… In the US, fall also seems to be a particularly dangerous time of year for hawk predation on poultry. Do you know what species of hawk you’re seeing? Can you keep them cooped until the hawk moves on?

I can,do, and did. Even though they were in the coop and it was in the tree, they seemed fully aware that there was an eagle out there. But to be fair, I always remind, my coop and run are one solid enclosed unit, so they aren't exactly "cooped up".
When they're out, as soon as she sees one she herds the young ones back in the coop.
I don't know what it's like with a big flock, if the habits of mine were "normal" or bc they were a small group. The girls grazed, dust bathed, whatever. The boys did those things too, but they did it in turns so one was guarding. I think Nug spent the most time on guard. He even used to chase her down when she was meandering & it was time to go in.
Now it's Rosie and the two juvenile hens. It's on her to "protect the flock", I guess. I think the only time she's not on guard is in the coop proper - not the enclosed run, but in the actual coop.
She eyeballs the vultures, the crows, airplanes, but if it's a hawk, she tarts chattering & ushers the other 2 inside.
Here, yes, hawks are more active overhead bc they've harvested the fields - easy pickings.
As for what kind of hawk, most commonly seen and recognized is red tailed hawk. The consensus seems to be that they're the only ones big enough to take a full grown goon.We also have falcons, and saw another (or the same) eagle 3 wks ago out in the field across the street.
This is the cooper's hawk..mine didn't have a red chest-https://ebird.org/species/coohaw/US-IN-167
Maybe this was mine ? https://ebird.org/species/shshaw/US-IN-167

 

[Sydney65]

As far as carrying prey off, I don’t think it’s necessary for a hawk or owl, as they can eat them in the area where they were killed…Is your first bird a Cooper’s hawk? These are common, bird specialist hawks. Adult guineas and full sized chickens are on the larger side for them, but they are quite capable of killing them and eating them where they land. I suspect this is what killed and ate Mad Pie, then later made an unsuccessful grab for Kingpin. My guess is that my Coopers became less interested in guinea hunting when the guineas started staying in a tight group. Interesting that it was your boys on the lookout - both cocks and hens are doing a lot of scanning the skies right now, but I think that the girls are more likely to be scanning while the flock forages.

Someone else on BYCs (I’ll look for the post) mentioned that Coopers weren’t problematic for them because they can’t carry off a chicken, and the rooster would attack the smallish Coopers before it could eat it’s prey… Unfortunately, our Coopers is still here. DH saw it try for (and miss) a mourning dove yesterday!

What’s your second pic - bald eagle? There was a BYC poster with an orchard that was suffering bald eagle attacks!

Yes, bald eagle, in my back yard. We were all looking up at it saying "you don't..belong here..", But something's changed, given the one in the field 3 weeks ago.
What I'm seeing online is all over the place, that guineas will fight, guineas won't fight, guineas freeze in terror. Agreed, they'll eat in place. That was what I suggesting, it was more likely to pounce on a grazing guinea than try to pluck it out of the air.
So to be clear, you haven't had more recent losses, you're trying to prevent more, and feel goons are on alert? Is that correct?

 

[Sydney65]

As far as carrying prey off, I don’t think it’s necessary for a hawk or owl, as they can eat them in the area where they were killed…Is your first bird a Cooper’s hawk? These are common, bird specialist hawks. Adult guineas and full sized chickens are on the larger side for them, but they are quite capable of killing them and eating them where they land. I suspect this is what killed and ate Mad Pie, then later made an unsuccessful grab for Kingpin. My guess is that my Coopers became less interested in guinea hunting when the guineas started staying in a tight group. Interesting that it was your boys on the lookout - both cocks and hens are doing a lot of scanning the skies right now, but I think that the girls are more likely to be scanning while the flock forages.

Someone else on BYCs (I’ll look for the post) mentioned that Coopers weren’t problematic for them because they can’t carry off a chicken, and the rooster would attack the smallish Coopers before it could eat it’s prey… Unfortunately, our Coopers is still here. DH saw it try for (and miss) a mourning dove yesterday!

What’s your second pic - bald eagle? There was a BYC poster with an orchard that was suffering bald eagle attacks!

So how are the babies?❤

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Yes, bald eagle, in my back yard. We were all looking up at it saying "you don't..belong here..", But something's changed, given the one in the field 3 weeks ago.
What I'm seeing online is all over the place, that guineas will fight, guineas won't fight, guineas freeze in terror. Agreed, they'll eat in place. That was what I suggesting, it was more likely to pounce on a grazing guinea than try to pluck it out of the air.
So to be clear, you haven't had more recent losses, you're trying to prevent more, and feel goons are on alert? Is that correct?

I think Mud Pie was lost to a hawk, 2 months ago. That was my most recent loss. I guess it still feels quite recent to me… Yes, I suspect the same hawk is still around, though due to migrations, it could be a different hawk. I’m not doing a lot to prevent more. I stand outside with the guineas when I hear them making red alert noises, like their “machine gun“ call. Goons are still on alert, but not like they were after Muddy’s loss and Kingpins attack!

Babies - yes! They are still here. I’ll take some pics at the end of this week - 8!weeks! It’s getting colder and colder, but they seem to be surviving the cold so far.

 

[Sydney65]

I think Mud Pie was lost to a hawk, 2 months ago. That was my most recent loss. I guess it still feels quite recent to me… Yes, I suspect the same hawk is still around, though due to migrations, it could be a different hawk. I’m not doing a lot to prevent more. I stand outside with the guineas when I hear them making red alert noises, like their “machine gun“ call. Goons are still on alert, but not like they were after Muddy’s loss and Kingpins attack!

Babies - yes! They are still here. I’ll take some pics at the end of this week - 8!weeks! It’s getting colder and colder, but they seem to be surviving the cold so far.

I remember Mudpie...and yes, even though I look at the calendar and see we're heading into November (!!!!) it doesn't seem that long ago. I don't know if I'd feel better knowing what happened that day but it's frustrating trying to figure out what took out so many all at once with no clues left behind.
I am NOT ready for cold dreary days yet. Haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to do this, but no babies will be going out in the cold. Meh, eventually Himself will want them out and THEN he'll remember that promise for bigger coop. Lol
Btw- thank you so much- box arrived and mounted, electrical cords fit perfectly and staying dry!