How to catch a guinea

[threelilkids]

I have 3 guinea that are staying down my street. 1 pair and a female, the female in the pair is sitting on eggs. I have been trying to catch my guinea for awhile now so now when they see me they are gone. I put a trap out with feed but they are on to me, LOL. The eggs from my paired female started to hatch but the keets were not staying alive, so I grabbed her and put all other eggs in an incubator. Now my female just goes back and forth in the coop. I don't think my male knows where she is, he called to her this morning. I would like to put them together but I can't catch him or the other female. Can anyone give me some ideas to get them? Thanks

 

[EarlJ]

Last year I lost my guineas in a corn field behind the house. I had *no idea* where they were in there. Having seen the way they are when separated though, I got on my phone and played video of Guinea calls on YouTube.

They responded right away, and Marco Polo'd their way toward me. Once they were out of the field, they were not hard to herd back to the coop. Well... not that hard.

If yours will respond like that, it's certainly easier than trying to catch them outright. In the time I've had mine, I've caught one once, and it was... ahem... not thrilled to be held.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

3 houses down in a oak tee

Can you catch them from the roost? Maybe push them off with a pole and then net them? I know someone who caught her wayward guineas that way when they flew the coop! Another idea would be to herd them into somewhere, like a shed or garage?

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

my 5 c worth:

The only way I know to catch a lose Guinea is with a net, just after dark - and you get only one chance! They tend to get calmer and got to sleep at night and they cannot see in the dark. Be careful about that: if you chase them into an obstacle, they could fly up in a panic and break their neck. They tend to panic at night because they cannot see.

It is also very important to get a net that has holes small enough so they cannot stick their head through the net ***or you could break their neck. ***

I got a fishing net at Walmart in the sports equipment department - the biggest one I could find, that is with as big a mouth opening as I could find, but with a fine mesh as the netting material - do not get netting material that has big openings! They had both kinds there when I was looking and I got the wrong one first.

Then I would make myself aware of the exact location of the Guinea before it gets dark. Usually on the branch of a tree or the roof. After dark, I would get on a ladder or just reach up with the net to slip the net over the Guinea's head and body and then pull them towards my body and with a twist of the wrist close the opening of the net and catch the Guinea in side, careful not to hurt them. The opening will be turned 90 degrees from the capture position and the net will cover/close the opening and the Guinea will dangle in the loop of the net below the opening and not able to escape.

If you miss, the Guinea is going to fly up in fright to a higher location and usually out of reach for that night.

The fact that they tend to fly up in panic when they feel attacked is something to consider also, to avoid hurting them and to anticipate an effective capture in the net.

I usually try to carry them in the net with the opening covered by the net and then carefully set them on the ground and untwist my wrist to open the opening back up and let them walk out. Some light is needed here for them to see where they are and how to get out. Sometimes I have to help get the helmet out of a net opening but I try to avoid having to reach for them because it scares them so.

Also be aware that the other Guineas in the pen are going to panic when you come in with this huge net. There needs to be enough space to somehow get in and let the capture out while the others can hide in a corner somewhere.

Not sure any of this helps.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Thanks to all of you. I to liked the pic with the net, LOL. I got the main female and have her in a pen on my porch, she calls to the others everyday, today the male found her and stayed all day. He left at dark so tomorrow I am going to try to net him if he comes back. Thanks again

One word of caution: if you can follow the male and see where he goes you may find the other female sitting on a nest! That may help her save her little life and you could easily catch her in the net (well, comparatively easily) since sitting hens will not leave the nest, even if disturbed quite a bit. They will eventually, but have always been able to catch a sitting hen in a net even if I was a bit clumsy about it. The hardest thing was not to put the net over her but to get the belly and feet into the net because they would not get up. So the caution is: if you do manage to catch the male at your place somehow, you may miss the chance for him to lead you to the other female. Males often hang around a nesting female to protect her and the nest. That can be one way to find a nest. Does not always work, but it is another Guinea clue. He may be dividing up his time between protecting the nesting female and trying to help the calling female in distress.

And I agree with Mixed flock enthusiast - never caught a free ranging, awake Guinea in a net yet. They are too vigilant and lightening fast in their evasions. Centuries of genetic selection, I guess, to avoid predators like us. =] Big risk of injury, too, if you get mad and too aggressive with the net. I have not injured one but felt like I got close before I made myself quit. Again, I would try to follow the male at night and see if you can find the other female and take a milk stool or something (chair or towel to sit on) and plan on sitting there and waiting for an hour until they settle down and it gets dark - then you have a real chance of catching them. If the female is on a nest, I would go for the male first, bring him home and then come back. If you have a human helper guarding the female while you bring home the male, that would be ideal.

Best of luck!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

my 5 c worth:

The only way I know to catch a lose Guinea is with a net, just after dark - and you get only one chance! They tend to get calmer and got to sleep at night and they cannot see in the dark. Be careful about that: if you chase them into an obstacle, they could fly up in a panic and break their neck. They tend to panic at night because they cannot see.

It is also very important to get a net that has holes small enough so they cannot stick their head through the net ***or you could break their neck. ***

I got a fishing net at Walmart in the sports equipment department - the biggest one I could find, that is with as big a mouth opening as I could find, but with a fine mesh as the netting material - do not get netting material that has big openings! They had both kinds there when I was looking and I got the wrong one first.

Then I would make myself aware of the exact location of the Guinea before it gets dark. Usually on the branch of a tree or the roof. After dark, I would get on a ladder or just reach up with the net to slip the net over the Guinea's head and body and then pull them towards my body and with a twist of the wrist close the opening of the net and catch the Guinea in side, careful not to hurt them. The opening will be turned 90 degrees from the capture position and the net will cover/close the opening and the Guinea will dangle in the loop of the net below the opening and not able to escape.

If you miss, the Guinea is going to fly up in fright to a higher location and usually out of reach for that night.

The fact that they tend to fly up in panic when they feel attacked is something to consider also, to avoid hurting them and to anticipate an effective capture in the net.

I usually try to carry them in the net with the opening covered by the net and then carefully set them on the ground and untwist my wrist to open the opening back up and let them walk out. Some light is needed here for them to see where they are and how to get out. Sometimes I have to help get the helmet out of a net opening but I try to avoid having to reach for them because it scares them so.

Also be aware that the other Guineas in the pen are going to panic when you come in with this huge net. There needs to be enough space to somehow get in and let the capture out while the others can hide in a corner somewhere.

Not sure any of this helps.View attachment 2160023

Bennie, did you just create this drawing for this post? If so, I’m tickled and also awed by your commitment to helping fellow guinea owners! I must say that the calm expression of the netted guinea seems somewhat at odds with the panicked, freaky guineas I’ve found inside my net!

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Bennie, did you just create this drawing for this post? If so, I’m tickled and also awed by your commitment to helping fellow guinea owners! I must say that the calm expression of the netted guinea seems somewhat at odds with the panicked, freaky guineas I’ve found inside my net!

Ha ha ha, yes, they are not thrilled to be caught - and that is putting is very politely - without the expletives I have to endure from them and the evil eye that says: "if I was only a 6 foot Guinea, I'd show you!" (loosely translated from the movie The Rescuers)

But better caught than torn to shreds by a fox, is my reply.

Yes, I did make the drawing for the post. Hey, any time, anywhere. If there is a chance to save a Guinea from (almost) certain death and a fellow Guinea enthusiast from the heart ache of loosing one of those special creatures, I am motivated to try to help. God knows how much good it will do. Every situation is different and every Guinea has a slightly different take on life, I find. What works for one, may not work for another. The forum is awesome in that you get so many different people chipping in. Something is bound to work!

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Just for you - revised Step 3.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

oh, you said oak tree - hope it is a very young one and not so awfully high!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Just for you - revised Step 3.

View attachment 2169297

Awesome! That little touch of realism really brings the point home...