Help with 'herding' guineas.. :)

[featherz]

I already know what you are going to say.. there's no telling guineas where they should go!!!

We have 26 acres of forest land with several acres of cleared space. At the back of the cleared space we have a coop with 17 guineas and 4 chickens (two of the chickens were eaten by hawks while free ranging, grr). We have the run partially covered so the guineas can fly out. So far, this was working OK. Guineas would fly out during the day then fly back in at night and/or roost in a branch above the coop. They'd run around the forest nearest the coop.

However, now they are ranging towards the front of the property and towards our neighbors bright and early each morning - buckwheating and chi chi chi ing away.

We'd of course like them to go the OTHER way so they don't start screeching into the neighbors yards, the street, etc - but who can tell a silly bird where to go?

They have acres and acres to explore but they like standing on our front lawn. I expect an irate call any day now.

Fencing won't work since they can fly over it.

I think my only option is to completely cover the run but is there any alternative? Any way to make one area more attractive and/or unattractive? Hubby keeps walking towards the direction we want them to go with a big bag of millet and of course they will follow, but then they'll turn into borg and all march back, right to the front of the house.

I know, it's hopeless.

But I think rehoming 17 4 month old guineas is going to be pretty difficult too.

 

[Msbear]

I have 25 acres and they pretty much stay near the barns where I feed them. I would go out a few times a day and feed them in the area where you want them. Keep a waterer out there and make it look more like home.

Good Luck!

 

[featherz]

Tried that!! I can't feed them several times a day because I have to work but they have a gravity feeder out there, a waterer, etc, and food is placed in the run morning and night. They stay there for a while then go a-roaming. I'm about to put the whole bunch up on CL even if there's not much hope there.

My front lawn is just more attractive!

 

[Msbear]

maybe try closing off your run completely but have a free range door... that you can open to let the guineas out. Only let a few out at a time and slowly let out more. Guineas share a common brain with the flock and sometimes won't stray if the majority of their brain is left back at the coop. Try one or two the first day, then 3 then ... so on and so on.

A agree the front yard is probably too enticing with its grass to forage. Maybe put a scarecrow out there

 

[robin416]

Guineas want to be where the action is. Mine spend most of their time up by the house or the other coops. The house because of the dogs, the coops because of the other chickens.

Hang a couple of bird feeders where you want them to spend more time. Any seed that falls will draw them and keep them a little more occupied. Actually you can fence. My property is fenced, the only time mine have flown over was at that teenage phase when they wanted to check out the other side. Now that they are adults they have no desire to check out the other side.

 

[racuda]

Robin, bird feeders is a brilliant idea. Mine can empty a chicken feeder in an hour, but the trickle falling from a bird feeder could last for days.

 

[tomingreeneco]

When we got Guinea Fowl, we thought they would roam everywhere. But we also have ducks and they do not range too far from their house and pond. The Guinea love to hang out with the ducks and annoy them.

So they all stay petty close (within an acre or two) to their houses.

 

[cparian]

Everyone is right! Guineas want to be wherever it is most annoying for you. You are lucky you have to go somewhere else when you go to work. My Guineas know I work from home & chose to stay right outside my office window & wait til I am either trying to concentrate or on a business call, to start making their warning calls at some invisible threat. *Sigh*