Rescued guinea set free

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

For scaring guineas... I've found that my birds hate the broom. All of my birds. They're terrified of it. Maybe that'll help your guinea into the air?
They also hate umbrellas, in my experience....

Oooh, umbrellas are a great idea! I’m about ready to let my guineas back out again, and was thinking about chasing them away from the road with a long stick, like I usually do, but maybe I will look less insane walking along the road with an umbrella instead?

 

[R2elk]

Oooh, umbrellas are a great idea! I’m about ready to let my guineas back out again, and was thinking about chasing them away from the road with a long stick, like I usually do, but maybe I will look less insane walking along the road with an umbrella instead?

The object of using an umbrella is to keep popping it open and then closing it. I suspect that viewers will look askance at you.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

The object of using an umbrella is to keep popping it open and then closing it. I suspect that viewers will look askance at you.

Our son hates the guineas because he’s sure that the neighbors think that I’m “that” neighbor due to our loud guineas, who have also recently decided to raid their yard (across the street, which is what I’m trying to prevent). We live just outside town, in a moderately priced house on land, right next to some incredibly expensive houses on smaller tracts, with more going in all the time. I’m pretty sure these neighbors were always going to think of us as “those people”, umbrella, stick, whatever! I like the umbrella idea though. I need a skit to go with it, like, “Does it look like rain? Someone said there would be rain.”, as I hold the umbrella open and stare into a blue, cloudless sky...

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Nah, you just need to open the umbrella and wave it at them. They'll run -- hopefully fly -- for the hills. Or trees -- trees would be better.

 

[R2elk]

Our son hates the guineas because he’s sure that the neighbors think that I’m “that” neighbor due to our loud guineas, who have also recently decided to raid their yard (across the street, which is what I’m trying to prevent). We live just outside town, in a moderately priced house on land, right next to some incredibly expensive houses on smaller tracts, with more going in all the time. I’m pretty sure these neighbors were always going to think of us as “those people”, umbrella, stick, whatever! I like the umbrella idea though. I need a skit to go with it, like, “Does it look like rain? Someone said there would be rain.”, as I hold the umbrella open and stare into a blue, cloudless sky...

Be sure to include the Mary Poppins dance as you chase them about.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Yes.

 

[KirbyH]

I think that your neighbor, like me, expects people to keep their animals on their own property. It is not her responsibility to teach your guineas. She already has a solution that works for her. If her dogs kill the guineas, they won't be coming back ever.

I don’t agree with you because dogs have killed them in the neighborhood, years ago, and it didn’t stop anything. Sure I don’t want people’s animals on my property but my solution to remove them (unless they attacked me) would not be to kill them. If they killed my animals, i would seek a solution short of killing them. Killing as a first course of action is lazy, selfish, and frankly vicious. Period, end of story.

 

[KirbyH]

A highly reputable animal sanctuary is going to take my sweet bird and her two boyfriends. I am immensely relieved. Thank you everyone for all the thoughtful commentary. I have learned much and I am grateful for folks’ kindness and insight. This site and its forums is a truly invaluable resource for poultry owners. I will be enjoying the guinea flock from a less personal distance but with more understanding and knowledge of their behavior.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

A highly reputable animal sanctuary is going to take my sweet bird and her two boyfriends. I am immensely relieved. Thank you everyone for all the thoughtful commentary. I have learned much and I am grateful for folks’ kindness and insight. This site and its forums is a truly invaluable resource for poultry owners. I will be enjoying the guinea flock from a less personal distance but with more understanding and knowledge of their behavior.

Best of luck to Popeye and her guys!!!

 

[KirbyH]

Just so you all should know. I found a place, a so-called sanctuary only two miles from my home, that agreed to take her and one of the males who had mated with her and kept her company. This place came highly recommended, even by a veterinarian I respected, and I thought she would be safe. I gave them specific instructions on how to keep her safe and they reassured me everything would be OK. It wasn’t. After a week in quarantine where she and the male were confined to a stall, they put her in an open run with their other birds. She and the male flew away, which is exactly what I told them they would do if they did that. Though they knew she responded to my voice, they didn’t notify me until hours after she had gone. I went to look for her, it was dark, no luck. The next day and the next I searched. Thenow ears of the “sanctuary“ were were unsympathetic and hostile. Finally, acting on information from a friend, I found her remains—well, feathers, no carcass. I searched for her mate because people who had seen her had seen him. He has not been seen since that day. They were clearly heading home. I am heartbroken. I relied on others’ recommendations and because of the Covid lockdown, I did not tour the place. If I had, I believe I would have seen they did not have an enclosure suitable for the birds to be in until they acceptEd their new quarters as home. It has been heartbreaking for me because I loved that bird as much as I have any animal in my care. So, a sad ending.