Guineas surround Fox!

[kelly52862]

I have been feeding a family of foxes for several months. Not by choice, but because I have been unable to trap or kill them. I have a free range flock with no fenced area, so it was difficult to stop the killing. Well, now that I have fewer chickens, (again not by choice), the foxes are having to work harder.

Yesterday I found my 3 guinea hens around a fox in the field. They were 10 feet from him and he just sat there as the guineas sounded the alarm. The hens quickly went into the front yard (closer to the dogs) and the guineas stayed put until the fox went back into the woods. I knew guineas made good watch dogs, but didn't know they would actually attempt to protect the flock.

Anyone else seen this before?

 

[scooter147]

I've seen them trot towards a seen predator all the while sounding the alarm. They will then stop when they feel they are close enough all the while making a heck of a racket.
When the predator makes a move towards them they fly away. An advantage a guinea has over standard size chickens.
Now that being said fox, coyote will catch guineas.
I always had guineas around when I lived out in the country. Many times I was able to dispatch a predator because the guineas told me they were there and then showed me where they were. BOOM, SSS.

 

[yochickiemomma]

I think I need guineas. I have at least two fox that have taken 3 and injured 1 of my girls. I was hoping to get a few but my husband wasn't real thrilled when he found out they're really noisy. BTW the only reason I still have fox is because I haven't caught them in my scope yet.

 

[centrarchid]

I may give guineas a try to help dogs out. My adult games can fly very well, probably as well as guineas, although chicks and American Dominiques are not so capable. Additionally the games will not collaborate when dealing with a ground predator as they sometimes do when tangling with a raptor. I have dogs that that do a pretty good job but something that might help distract predator just a little more might be helpful. Problems currently are my area is too brushy for guineas and I will have to figure out a way to get them to roost in secure location from Great-horned Owls that my chickens avoid by good choice of roost sites that dogs and I can protect. My wife is also interested in them despite their reputation for being noisy.

 

[microchick]

I've always loved this picture. Not only are the Guineas surrounding the snake but look at the hens joining in! You just know it isn't going to end well for that poor snake.


So I can well imagine a fox setting off their alarm system.

 

[centrarchid]

I've always loved this picture. Not only are the Guineas surrounding the snake but look at the hens joining in! You just know it isn't going to end well for that poor snake. So I can well imagine a fox setting off their alarm system.

At least three of the chickens appear to be roosters and they are the closest of the chickens to the scene. Mine will do similar but do little to harass.

 

[Cindy in PA]

My first five guineas did that 5 years ago in my yard. They actually chased the fox out of the yard. That did not stop the fox from picking off the 3 females one by one during that summer & I lost 3 more females the next year from a new group.