My fault it happened, but had idea tonight and wanted to know thoughts

[brownies]

So I started letting my ducks, chickens and Guinea's free range a bit, all enjoyed this under my and my families watchful eye however the Guinea's where not satisfied after tasting sweet sweet freedom and a couple had daily excursions over the top of the fence (about 8 feet tall) Today we noticed that all where roosting except for two, one we found in the pasture next door, and the other we found dead. It had it's head and interior eaten (and dragged about an acre up to my house) - we believe it was one of our own dogs, dogs get let out, typically not an issue but the guinea's where out. So here my question, would clipping their wings or something of that nature help keep them inside the pen? I almost think the escapees where my only two big issues as far as escape go but their guineas and I am not niave enough to think they won't go right over that fence again....
Any suggestions are appreciated, and shooting my own dog not an option since other then this actually very good boxer and good w/ my girls

Thanks!
T

 

[guineaman]

you can clip the wings just like any other-should work

 

[Aj1911]

guineas are meant to free range not be penned up no matter how big the pen is they just dont go for it.

and i wouldnt clip they're wings cause if they did get out then well they really couldnt get away.

best bet is to train your dog to be around birds and not care

i would get a shock caller let all the birds out then if the dog goes near them zap the dog

do it tell the dog gets the hint then handle the birds in front of the dog making them set there and not moving (takes 2 to do this) this way the dog knows they are part of your pack.

of course none of that will work if the dog knows you arent the one in charge.

 

[annaserv]

The shock collar worked wonders on our dog (A German Short Hair-a bird dog). I trained her when she was younger and gave her a zap whenever she started paying too much attention to the chickens. Now shes just runs past them like they don't even exist. I was worried that she would bother my tiny bantys and little silkies I got this year, since she has been know to catch and kill wild ducks (grrrr), but she completely ignores them too.

Maybe it work so well because she has a very submissive personality, but she also has a very sneaky personality. If she really has her mind set on something, digging a hole, tearing up the garbage, etc. she'll look around to see if she's being watched before she dives in to whatever mischief is on her mind. But she never harasses the chickens and she tries to stay out of the guineas way. (I've seen them chase her) Although she does like finding their nests and eating their eggs.

 

[brownies]

I think I am going to try to train the dogs, they older but they are really good, probably my fault for never working the combo of dog/bird to make sure the dogs knew these are also part of our pack. This particular dog really doing great since we moved from the city here where she has ten acres to run - and I do want the guinea's to have run of the yard - thanks for the tips, now to price out the collars

Thanks all!
T

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I don't think its a dog. I would blame a mink. Head removed and eaten out from that area. Doesn't sound like anything a dog would do. A dog would just start ripping it and then eat the fleshy parts, that we also like.
Set up a trap with somethink smelly like fish.
Now about the wings. I have always been told to clip the wings of a bird you don't want to fly over a fence, but only clip one side, because you want it unequal. Otherwise it will be difficult to fly with shorter wing feathers, but still possible. If you only do the left side, they won't be able to balance properly.
I want guineas to be guineas, but I don't want to set a buffet for all the neighborhood dogs and local preditors.
The shock collar wouldn't hurt. The dog can hurt the birds and I would supervise with the collar and shock them if they are doing something dangerous, but in this case, I really don't think the dog is to blame.

 

[brownies]

Hope your wrong because ole Effie be a lot easier to stop then a mink lol - need a trap, and there about 2 doz catfish carcasses I dumped into the pond on Saturday (I had a great morning out on lake Conway, fish all winter!) wonder if I brought in a mink or something w/ all the smell and the guinea just got caught outside the fence at the wrong time and the dog ended up dragging the body up to her spot (Hence her blood on face) - I'm gonna go borrow a trap now I think