I have two questions, on different subjects.
First, I need to do sinus cavity surgery, on a nearly full grown French Midget Turkey. Any ideas on how to restrain her, to minimize the chance of hurting her, while doing the surgery?
Second, I have a guinea issue. They really need to stay out, most of the time, to be effective, and force them to forage. Otherwise they are "Welfare Birds" standing around, looking for a handout. The problem is, I have a dog, that I've had 7, or 8 years, and had rescued him from the streets as a starving puppy. He's a chicken (& guinea) killer. I've been keeping him indoors, while the chickens were out, in the daytime, then once the chickens are cooped up, he goes out for the night, as I go to bed, then let him in, as I awaken, to make coffee. He is pretty easy to keep away from the chickens, because he's a well behaved dog, indoors, but sees the fluttering birds as toys, and catching them, just to kill them, is like a game to him. He'll eat small amounts of the meat, but not much. It's more about the killing. So, him inside, while the birds are out, and vice versa, seems to work well. Until last night, when he found a way to get to the guineas. He has spent many nights out there with guineas, without a loss, prior to this. However, We lost somewhere between 6, and 10 guineas to him last night. I awoke this morning, and found 6 of them, eviscerated in the yard, and, of 18 guineas, I am only seeing 8. There may be 4 more, scattered in the woods, around the house. I just won't know, until and if, I ever see them again.
So, my question is this. I can't keep him indoors all of the time (he's a big-80#-Catahoula Cur), like I can my toy poodle and mini schnauzer. And the guineas, sometimes want to coop, and sometimes refuse to coop up. As I understand it, the most effective way to keep the guineas, and get them to forage, is to (once they are fully feathered and able to fly, WELL) leave them out, full time. We have 15 acres, and another 20 or so wooded acres surrounding our property, for the birds and dogs, to roam, and play in. I lived for 53 years in a house with a tiny yard, and part of the reason I moved here, was to give my dogs room to be dogs. So, I'm not in favor of chaining him up, and fencing a large enough area, is too costly. Even the electronic, fenceless fence, was tried, and caused a tragedy, when we first moved here, so my wife will never allow that, again.
All that said, since chickens are relatively easy to coop up, are there chickens that can be good at bug (mostly ticks) control, that I could use, in lieu, of guineas?
Thanks, in advance, to everyone, for your thoughtful help.
e And @HeyBigRhondaq the blue egg Arlo was gifted at the poultry show???Totally developing! We are so excited for a pure bantam ameraucana (sp?). Also have 13 sizzle/silkie eggs and everyone of them looks good! And here is my new little girl (from Rhonda), I love her so much
She really follows me everywhere around their run and does my chores with me.
@NanaKat so glad to hear surgery is over and you are healing. I bet you get stir crazy pretty easily
Do you still have the black bantam cochin cockerel available? I'll send you a PM in a few days @YardBirdMom Im hoping these next 3 weeks go by quickly for you. It sounds so intense and how sad to be away from your husband and chicks. @Ksane
Just feeling so sad you're going thro so much with your beloved birds. Arlo says
