Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[harley587]

Yesterday, in broad daylight, a coyote came into our yard where my 18 (1 week old) keets and their mothers were milling around. By the time I saw it, he had killed at least one keet and the rest scattered deep into the cornfield. We looked for keets for hours, but by dark, I was only able to find 5 living keets. The next morning, I was amazed to find 4 more keets waiting outside the coop. They had actually survived the night on their own and found their way back to the coop. I ended up losing 9 keets. Not sure if they were eaten or lost in the corn and died. I have seen a lot of fox and raccoon around my area, but this is the first time I have ever seen a coyote anywhere near my house. Anyway, my question is, does anyone have any recommendations for coyote deterrent (other than a nice big bullet....he got away too fast!) to keep them at a distance? (My guineas are free range only during the day and are locked in a coop at night, so I only worry about being picked off in the daytime) I've heard that people have tried putting a radio outside for noise to keep predators away. Has anyone had any luck with this? Any other ideas would be appreciated. I don't want to keep them locked up all day...I got the guineas so they could free range and take care of bugs and pests. I know with this, there will be predators that get some of them, but losing half my keets makes me feel awful and I want to do anything I can that will protect them. Thanks!

I'm so sorry to hear about your babies.

 

[guineapeeps]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your keets.  I hope the coyote does not come back.  I hope the radio and the pee works for you.  

Thanks you for your kind words! I was really upset, especially when I couldn't find any of them at first. Now that I've recovered nine, I feel a bit better.

 

[guineapeeps]

I'm so sorry to hear about your babies. 

Thank you! I know there will be loss when you have any animals, but it's never easy...especially when they are such cute little things!

 

[Kim Z]

I feel your loss and I am so sorry.
The fox came by again today and took one of my juveniles.

That is five birds in the past two months.

Every time I think we have chased him away for good he shows up again. Time to get the hubby more beer and the boy some more juice. I might even pitch in with some hard cider, but I don't think i can convince my teenage girl to join in.

Has anyone tried bobcat urine????

 

[Tikkijane]

I feel your loss and I am so sorry.
The fox came by again today and took one of my juveniles.  That is five birds in the past two months.  Every time I think we have chased him away for good he shows up again.  Time to get the hubby more beer and the boy some more juice. I might even pitch in with some hard cider, but I don't think i can convince my teenage girl to join in. 

Has anyone tried bobcat urine????

Lead is your best answer, imo.

 

[duluthralphie]

I feel your loss and I am so sorry.
The fox came by again today and took one of my juveniles.

That is five birds in the past two months.

Every time I think we have chased him away for good he shows up again. Time to get the hubby more beer and the boy some more juice. I might even pitch in with some hard cider, but I don't think i can convince my teenage girl to join in.

Has anyone tried bobcat urine????

While I agree lead is the best deterrent. Urine can't hurt. I am not sure how you can get a bobcat to drink a PBR and to pee where you want it......


And bobcats are harder on birds than fox... As far as the daughter goes just lock the bathroom door and say the Water closet is broken, but will be fixed next week, and she will join the outsiders....

 

[duluthralphie]

Oh, I forgot I have new Keets, no idea how many, my Partridge chanticler has hatched her eggs. I gave her 14 eggs.

I have a speckled Sussex broody now. I will give her 8-10 eggs tomorrow.

 

[guineapeeps]

Lead is your best answer, imo.

I agree....I have something special reserved for the coyote that just got my keets!

 

[guineapeeps]

I feel your loss and I am so sorry.
The fox came by again today and took one of my juveniles.  That is five birds in the past two months.  Every time I think we have chased him away for good he shows up again.  Time to get the hubby more beer and the boy some more juice. I might even pitch in with some hard cider, but I don't think i can convince my teenage girl to join in. 

Has anyone tried bobcat urine????

Thanks....sorry for your loss too. Last year I had a fox get several of mine, including my best mother Guinea hen.....very frustrating! Never heard of using bobcat urine, or any other urine, for that matter, before now. I do know that my 14 year old son is excited about the prospect of getting too pee outside around our property.....wierd teenage boy stuff, I guess! I hope the rest of your Guineas fare better this summer!

 

[cabinchicky]

I know the peeing trick works for raccoon. My friend does it and has her family helping her with it. Her coop is secure but her barn is where she has had problems. So they tinkle across the doorways every few days where it's chipped away.