Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[Kim Z]

it is sitting next to a coke bottle cap.

I think we all have our brains too stuck in poultry mode. It looks more like a wild bird's egg to me. Somewhat like a cardinal's. Maybe the egg was pushed out of a nest close by. Could have been pilfered by a predator then dropped when they were startled.

 

[charid]

My hens eggs were varieties of freckled tan or spotted khaki.Here is one up close.

 

[harley587]

My hens eggs were varieties of freckled tan or spotted khaki.Here is one up close.

Mine look exactly like yours!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Pleanty of pictures not stuck on poultry mode, Happens in all poultry even, guinea fowl, turkeys... some can have a small yolk but often times its just the first thing to come in line in the egg factory. which is an amazing process in of itself.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/929229/fart-eggs

Picture from above threadk




deb

 

[charid]

Now that I have hatched my own eggs for the first time I dont look at an egg the same. Now I see an egg and think oh how cute.

 

[guineapeeps]

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!

 

[duluthralphie]

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!

\
Sorry to hear. Coyotes are terrible they can strike anytime of day. I think a radio is a good idea. I would tune it to talk radio so you have the voices instead of music. Coyotes are still afraid of people sounds. The other thing is dogs outside and milling about yourself as much as you can.

I know I also like to pee along the edges of the chickens area as much as I can. Urine seems to scare them off too. Besides if you need to urinate to scare off predators you have a ready made excuse to drink Mike's Hard Lemonade or cheap beer all day long!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: done that

 

[guineapeeps]

\
Sorry to hear. Coyotes are terrible they can strike anytime of day.  I think a radio is a good idea. I would tune it to talk radio so you have the voices instead of music. Coyotes are still afraid of people sounds. The other thing is dogs outside and milling about yourself as much as you can.  

I know I also like to pee along the edges of the chickens area as much as I can. Urine seems to scare them off too.  Besides if you need to urinate to scare off predators you have a ready made excuse to drink Mike's Hard Lemonade or cheap beer all day long!

I think, being female, that I might avoid peeing around the Guinea's area....I think there would be way too much activity involved with covering the area. However, my son will be very happy to hear that he has an excuse to pee outside, now! I could still use it as an excuse to drink more hard cider, though! Thanks so much for the tips....very helpful!

 

[pattyhen]

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