IDK what I'm doing. Last night I couldn't get anyone cooped up. Lost two guineas last night to a predator. Heard the poor things getting eaten at around 445(one hour tll F-in sunrise) and when the sun came up two were missing. What works one day with these birds does not work the next. I am obviously going to keep trying but I don't really know what else to do. Got the white millet on order, Hopefully that will help. Going to make minor coop adjustments today finally that I have some time. It was pouring and thundering last night. I thought for sure they would want to coop up. NOPE. I wasn't prepared for the emotional toll of these birds. They leave, they come back. They coop up one night, scatter the next and get killed. Gaah! I hope all the time and energy I put in doesn't end up being just to feed a couple raccoons, but that is becoming a distinct possibility. Down to 5 guineas, and feeling defeated.
Oh Tre3Hugger, I’m so so sorry. Believe me, it’s not just you, I take every death way too much to heart! When we first got poultry, my husband‘s work friends, long time country poultry keepers, laughed at all of my pictures and names, and doting ways. They told him, “Don’t worry, after she loses a few birds, she’ll stop naming them and settle down about this whole poultry business.” He just laughed because he knows me too well... All this to say that some people just stop naming them and caring so much to save themselves grief. I get that and totally see that viewpoint. Some people double down. At any rate, keeping free-ranging birds is hard, no matter what the species is. I’ve spent some time browsing the Predator and Pests forum and the post that starts “My birds free range and ...” always goes next into some gruesome predator details. Guinea fowl ARE better at surviving predator attacks than most other domestic poultry but their learning curve is steep. I've done some wildlife rehab, and if you just plunked down human-raised crows or doves or pretty much anything else and expected them to survive like their wild brethren, you’d be watching them get eaten too. Going from a human-raised brooder chick to a predator savvy adult is quite the transformation. It won’t happen all at once, and there will be losses. So, you’re feeling awful and need some time to process these losses, but you also need a plan. My thoughts on this:
1) What’s your goal? Are your guineas there to provide human entertainment? Watch dogs for other birds? Tick eating for your property?
2) What flock number do you need to reach this goal? 5 guineas are probably too small a flock to do well outside on their own. There’s probably some critical mass needed to have enough predator scouts and group function. Guineas don’t survive well in small groups. Can you add more?
3) Current predator issue: sounds like a night time issue now, but some predator just learned that guineas are defenseless and delicious. It may make a daytime grab now. So, first order of business after any predator loss is a lockdown, I’d do 2 weeks. You want to convince your predator that the time spent stalking guineas doesn’t pay. Also, your guineas will likely be upset and traumatized and they need the time to recover.
4) Future plan to mitigate predator issue: currently your biggest issue is nighttime coop training, so you’ll need to develop a plan then set your guineas up for success. Start slow, don’t let them out at all if the weather is bad, or you won’t be home, etc. Getting this group coop trained and predator savvy will help any guineas that you decide to add. These guys may also have to be your learning birds where you figure out what works for you and your situation.
Again, I’m so sorry! Guineas are funny, silly creatures that can really get under your skin, and I still find it so hard to lose them.
