Lost Another One

[kcardella]

We live in an area with LOTS of raccoons, foxes, hawks, etc. surrounded by woods. I lock my guineas up in the chicken coop every night, but last night one of the girls did not come home. I looked for her, but could not find her. About dusk, I heard a loud squawking, and went outside, but did not see anything. She is still not back today, and I have to assume she has become a victim.

This is the second one I lost this year (I usually lose one or two every year during breeding season). I keep them for tick control, so it does not make sense to lock them up during the day (I have never lost one during the day), but I HATE breeding season when I cannot find their nests!

 

[emzee]

That's so sad.

I know how you feel. We made the mistake of free ranging our silkies and last week my best one disappeared. I searched for several days through our 8 1/2 acres, but never found her.

 

[kcardella]

I'm sorry emzee! It never gets easier.

 

[N2tropicAL]

yeah.....i bought 2 hens and a rooster this spring and lost my pied pearl hen to some predator while she was on her nest. luckily, my other coral blue pied hen hatched 17 babies and i have had 100% survival. i did lock them up in the coop the day they hatched and i plan to let them out soon.

 

[featheredfriendlover]

i havent lost one yet. to predators anyway. ive had mine since last year. and the cool thing is my guinea hen makes a noise after she lays an egg just a chicken doing the BAWK BAWK BAAAKKKAAWWWKKK. she does a different noise but i think it is the i just laid an egg noise. every time she goes down to where her nest is at she makes that noise and i know right where her enst is. she has had 4 NESTS THIS YEAR and hasnt been able to sit and hatch one fo them because of things getting the eggs. anyway look for a different noise that the dont usually make and go to it. usually shell do it them the males do the machine gun noise. hope this helps.

p.s. i have 11 babies now so finding nests is going to be especially hard but if they all make the noise i will find all of them.

cole.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
If you know where the nests are, you can collect the eggs and either hatch them in a bator or move the hen to a safe place and give them back to her. Just a thought.......Pop

 

[kcardella]

Quote:
If you know where the nests are, you can collect the eggs and either hatch them in a bator or move the hen to a safe place and give them back to her. Just a thought.......Pop

Lucky!! Mine are as quiet as a church mouse when sitting on a nest. I have found a few nests over the years by walking the edge of the woods and literally turning over each leaf with a stick, but it's merely by chance.

 

[featheredfriendlover]

yeah well pop i would but my grandfather wont let me. i am hoping to be able to convince him to let me incubate them and then sell them or something. i dont know.


believe me she is not quite.