Ok, so I have had guineas for about 6 months now. At the moment I have 17 left out of an original 25. The guineas free range the 4-ish acres of pasture out of my 20 acres. I live about 1/3 mile from the road and about 1/4 mile from my closest neighbor. Between me and my neighbors & road is nothing but woods.
Well, yesterday I was inside and decided that I would go outside and do a little yard work. Getting outside, I did not see any of the guineas, but heard them in the distance. I simply thought they were on the other side of the house. After doing a little weedwacking I stopped to listen for them. I heard them, but it sounded like they were far off in the direction of my closest neighbors house, so I decided to take a walk down his driveway to see if by chance they had meandered down there (this would be a first). I got about 1/2 way down the driveway and stopped to listen, but no guineas. Ok, maybe I was wrong, so I headed back to the house. Basically back at the house I heard them start up again, so back down the driveway I went. When I got 1/2 way down the neighbors driveway I noticed the sound seemed to be coming from the next neighbors house down the road.. grrrrr... Ok, so I found a likely spot and when tromping though the woods and scrub-brush to get to that neighbors driveway (easier than walking all the way around).. Finally, after getting to the driveway I could see all 17 guineas all the way down by that neighbors house crying at their front door (definately a first)... When they spotted me, they came running down the driveway and stopped a few feet from me. I started walking back home figuring that they would follow. They stayed behind me for about 20 yards and then decided to start meandering off into the woods again (stupid birds). Slighty annoyed at this point, I walked all the way home, got a little pail of cracked corn and walked all the way back to where the birds were. Luckily, the birds had decides to come back out onto the driveway. I showed them the corn and then started walking home while sprinkling a few kernels behind me. They followed me all the way home. After getting home, they took off again, but this time down the 1st neighbors driveway (did I mention"stupid birds" yet?). Luckily, they came back on their own a few min later and stayed around the house for the rest of the day.
I hope this does not become a habit for them, I really don't want to have to keep reminding them of where home is. grrr....
Mike-
Well, yesterday I was inside and decided that I would go outside and do a little yard work. Getting outside, I did not see any of the guineas, but heard them in the distance. I simply thought they were on the other side of the house. After doing a little weedwacking I stopped to listen for them. I heard them, but it sounded like they were far off in the direction of my closest neighbors house, so I decided to take a walk down his driveway to see if by chance they had meandered down there (this would be a first). I got about 1/2 way down the driveway and stopped to listen, but no guineas. Ok, maybe I was wrong, so I headed back to the house. Basically back at the house I heard them start up again, so back down the driveway I went. When I got 1/2 way down the neighbors driveway I noticed the sound seemed to be coming from the next neighbors house down the road.. grrrrr... Ok, so I found a likely spot and when tromping though the woods and scrub-brush to get to that neighbors driveway (easier than walking all the way around).. Finally, after getting to the driveway I could see all 17 guineas all the way down by that neighbors house crying at their front door (definately a first)... When they spotted me, they came running down the driveway and stopped a few feet from me. I started walking back home figuring that they would follow. They stayed behind me for about 20 yards and then decided to start meandering off into the woods again (stupid birds). Slighty annoyed at this point, I walked all the way home, got a little pail of cracked corn and walked all the way back to where the birds were. Luckily, the birds had decides to come back out onto the driveway. I showed them the corn and then started walking home while sprinkling a few kernels behind me. They followed me all the way home. After getting home, they took off again, but this time down the 1st neighbors driveway (did I mention"stupid birds" yet?). Luckily, they came back on their own a few min later and stayed around the house for the rest of the day.
I hope this does not become a habit for them, I really don't want to have to keep reminding them of where home is. grrr....
Mike-