My second batch got eaten!

[Chare]

Advice please. This is very disheartening.

I lost eight of my ten Guineas. Three months ago the ten keets arrived and thrived. At about six weeks I put them outside in a large pen. Net on the top for hawk protection. Two days ago (at about three months of age) I took the net off. The grass had been completely destroyed in the pen and I thought they could use some fresh forage. They were three months old and I thought it was time to let them at the ticks in the yard. Yesterday four made it over the fence. I let the others out through the gate. Last night I didn't see them return to the perch in the pen. Worrisome. And this morning there were only two hanging around the bushes and there were piles of feathers here and there. I found one headless carcass. Ugh!

What could I have done differently? At what age are they able to protect themselves against predators? This is the second batch I've lost. The first escaped the chicken enclosure at only six weeks. They survived for two days. Poor birds. This is very frustrating. Did I release the three month olds too early to free range or are they just helpless animals? The whole reason for Guineas is to let them free range and eat ticks on the property.

Advice please.
This sucks.

 

[KrisH]

We followed Peepsca (If i remember correctly) suggestions. We let a few out for a while and left several in the pen, then let them back in before dark, did that for a couple of weeks, so that they always return to roost in their house. and every night, we shut the run to the house, and shut the doors to the house for extra safety. just have to nest hunt to prevent broodies from staying out overnight.

RobertH