Ready to QUIT UPDATE YEAH

[PeepsCA]

I have had the exact opposite problem the last couple days... 2 of my breeding flocks that normally come bustin' out all noisy and crazy like a bunch of escaped lunatics as soon as I open the gate to their run have absolutely refused to come out and they just yell, squawk and cackle really loudly at me until I shut the gate, lol. 2 days in a row now, and I tried more than once and at different times in the day to get them to come out. No go. Only thing I can figure is that ever since last weekend there's been a screech owl and a great horned owl hanging around in the evenings being very vocal... maybe the Guineas are smarter than I give them credit for. My free rangers are all present and accounted for, going about their pest patrol/yard guard duties as usual and not acting all skitzo or anything, so I dunno. Weird birds

Terri... I know it's not what you want to see happen, but it may take your flock actually seeing one of their flockmates get taken by the owl in order for them to smarten up. But then again it may take them seeing 6 or more of them getting taken before they figure out the coop is a safe place to be as soon as the sun goes down

Sorry you are having problems with them, I know you really love them and have had so much fun hatching and raising them

Hope you get them in, ground them for a while and just ride it out

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
Have you been letting them out to free range? If so they have probably been laying in the bushes and other well hidden places, and predators have been taking the eggs. Also are they being fed a layer feed free choice and oyster shell free choice too? Guineas are seasonal layers, so maybe they have already quit for the year. Mine have all stopped laying for the year, it's just too hot and everybody's molting now. They are done (that's ok, cuz so am I!)

 

[Missi]

Awwww From what I read, you guinea people have really good hearts

Helping eachother out & loving your guineas no matter how much of a pita they are! I love to visit these guinea threads

 

[livenwpeeps]

I too can be found running around and around the coop trying to get all the guineas in for the night. Crock Pot likes to sit on the roof of the coop and watch me. DH says it's like NASCAR and want's to paint numbers on the sides of the guineas. I always put them in right before it gets dark so when I have to run around the coop, it's almost dark and I know I look like a crazy person tripping and stagering around with two long herding sticks. A coupe of times I have given up and told the guineas that didn't go in I hope they got ate. Another time I even threw rocks, they made me so mad. Thank goodness I throw like a girl!!

 

[terrilhb]

Quote:

Thanks for the laugh. It sounds just like me. I really do love them but sometimes

But when I get them up tonight they are going to be in GUINEA JAIL. They are already running to their coop but I have it locked and they can't get in. And they will want in tonight and want their dinner. Till then to bad so sad. I will win. And they will learn whether it kills me or not.

 

[terrilhb]

Well as hard as it was to do today because it rained off and on all day. And my babies wanted in their house and to eat. I almost gave in but knew it would not be good. So I waited. (I was not bullied by them today Peeps). I finally got their food and opened their coop up. And they all came running and hollering. All 9 are up and will be staying in there for a couple of weeks. They will learn. Thanks to all for all the support. I will update you as progress comes. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO PEEPS.

 

[PeepsCA]

Good job Terri!!!!!!! I knew you could do it... tough love is how it's gotta be sometimes with those bird brains!

Now the next time you finally let em out, take their food away a couple hours before you let them out and close that coop! Let em out hungry, then they come in hungry ... just like men... lmao! (I'll pay dearly for that comment, just watch

).

Glad you got em in, feeling guilty cuz they are locked up (and safe) is a heck of a lot easier to deal with than feeling guilty because an owl ate them for dinner!