Owl? The guineas are in an enclosed run 9/16!

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

Wow this stinks. I have tin around the outside to stop digging a 90% tin covered run (filling in the small gap from fence wire to tin with hardwire wire), 8 ft heavy fence, for the run lined with 2 ft hardwire to prevent grab throughs, all enclosed with electric fence. The guenies coop is 4 ft off the ground no ck wire anywhere on it, the front and bottom is hardwire cloth they have hay to sleep on, the sides and back are made from plywood. And they have the nerve to sleep in the darn tree. This really stinks. Oh did I mention I have a baby monitor in there so I can listen at night. I will brain storm more tomorrow. Will it really come that close to a dog that big? My pit would kill it if it got close enough to her. She does not bother any of my livestock but had killed other predators, dogs, cat and we have not had a coon or coyote here for awhile I spread the poop from the dogs around to mark the place up. I also ran tuna on the electric fence for a month before a chickens went in it. I just made a sort of hot (really hot) pocket out of foil and hung it on the fence. That way they would take it square in the face. I heard a few get popped but not one since the first 2 weeks. haha

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

Still brainstorming but I am wore out I was on the ladder all day covering the gap in the silkie roof. Baby monior is on and I will be paying close attention tonight. Thanks everyone for your help. I will pick up the decoy owl tomorrow. It can't hurt right??????

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

No owl last night so I have today to make the nest boxes. For now that is really my only option. The guineas have never had a run just the coop which they do not use and are very hard to catch. If I lock them up in the nest boxes I am builing attached to the dog kennel I do not think the owl will be able to get them, and it would have to pretty much fly directly in front of the dogs. Surey this has to work. I thought about it all night. There has to be easier pray around here, there is plenty of wildlife out here for it to eat, beside my flock. What about cutting the tree down it lives in as well. I will not make life easy around here for it. This is war? And install the fake owl thing. I will update as I make progress. Gotta get to work on the nest boxes as well as finish covering the Silkie run. Hope you all have a great day. I am on cloud nine since getting word about the showgirl roo last night.

 

[featherbaby]

Even with a baby monitor you won't be able to hear the owl approach. Their feathers are constructed for totally silent flight. You will hear the commotion of the victims, but that may be too late. A friend of mine hung old CD's from fishing line all over the trees. They twist and turn in the breeze and the shiny circles catch light and probably look like a giant eye. (Maybe a big Dinosaur EYE!!!!!). It is a passive deterrent, but it is economical. Since you know which tree, you have the advantage of "decorating" it with "eyes" in hopes of scaring him away. Also, novelty stores carry strobe lights and 'laser' lights that you could rig to fire intermittently.

Unfortunately, the best solution is to get your babies protected which you are doing now. Until then, good luck.

Remember: You've got to be smarter than the owl.

HA!

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

Ok so the CD idea sounds good I think I read that somewhere else on here. And I do have opposable thumbs on my side and with those big ole owl eyes they can't possibly have room for a big brains. I have been reading and the chances are if I do not get rid of this one it will come back year after year. I wonder if I encouraged other large flying birds they could run him off. What about crows, or buzzards we have lots of those. How bout I feed them. Not sure how I will feed the buzzards since it eats only dead but I sure I could get my neighbors to let me have the carcasses of dead livestock killed by coyotes and put them in the back lot of my farm, I have 10 acres. Like I said the coyotes do not come this close to the house with the dogs. All my neighbors have lost several goats to them but they have yet to come here. If I move the crows and buzards in, cut down the tree since it is dead anyway and should be removed for everyones safety, put the fake owl up, and lock the guineas in a nest box at night, won't the owl leave? Oh I should have figured it would rain today. I can be stringing the CD up though in the house so they will be ready to hang as soon as it stops.

 

[Debbi]

I sure wouldn't use dead livestock! You will be calling the coyotes in for sure. Don't kid yourself, they WILL come around to the coops once you start "feeding" them, dogs or not. As for the crows and buzzards, they won't be much help for an owl. Owls are nighttime predators. Buzzards (Vultures) won't do anything to deter either hawks or owls. Best plan is to build the coop/run up to keep the guineas safe, as well as your Silkies. You may want to try a motion sensor light, aimed into the tree. If a power source is not available, you can get one that is solar powered. The light flashing on and off with motion may also deter your Guineas from roosting in the tree too! Good luck!

 

[bobbi-j]

Since it has found your guineas, I would think it would just move to another tree if you cut down the one its living in now. There most likely is other prey for it, but it has found an easy source - your guines. How much easier can it get - all lined up in a tree like that? Keep working on your coop, and if possible build them a run.

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

OK so I finished covering the 2 silkie runs yesterday, they are now 100% enclosed. I picked up the supplies for the nest boxes as well as the cheapest cds I could find. I started feeding the guineas in their coop and yesterday they were all in it on and off through the day, but come dusk they went back to death row tree. No owl for 2 nights so I expect it to show its ugly head tonight for sure. I fed them again in coop this morning and put some fresh bedding in there, and they went right to it, so they are getting more comfortable with it. I am not sure if I am trying to out smart the guineas, the owl or both but I am making progress. They free range to help with the bugs and other small critters that is why I bought them and I fully expected to lose a few guineas but with this predator I could very well lose them all. I can at least shoot or trap and then shoot, the others after it takes the first one. I will hang the CDs today, and start the nest boxes. They also work great as an alarm system and will not let most things in my yard without alerting me (or the predator human or animal). Like I said I knew the owl was there but a few seconds to late. I assume they would do the same thing if it was a thief or crook out there also, yet he would be coming for me not the guineas and I could have also shot him. WHY CANT I JUST SHOOT THIS THING?

Long day today and I hate HATE hate the skil saw. Not looking forward to using that thing at all.

 

[featherbaby]

Ironic isn't it, that you can shoot a 2 legged predator, but not a winged one......?

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

Featherbaby find find it pretty messed up that I could have shot an armed man at that distance but not the owl. So I built the nest boxes, finished covering the silkie runs I will work on the disc here in a few and get them hung up on death row tree. Oh and I also contacted USDA and I expect them to call back tomorrow concerning a permit to shoot it. I really wish he would just move on and find other prey becasue I do not like the thought of taking his life. He could easily choose other small wildlife and leave my flock alone but he has signed his on death warrent by attacking my flock. I will update as it comes in. Thanks for all the tips I hope something works because I am sure he will be back tonight since he did not come for 2 nights in a row and he has to be hungry for sure. Oh and thank goodness for good neighbors the one with the owl stopped by when he saw me with the saw and did my cutting for me. I am so very blessed to be surrounded with great neighbors. Today my Knight in shining armor arrived in a purple truck, yielding only a skilsaw. Maybe tomorrow my knight will have an owl kill permit!