Rouge guinea hen in my front yard. What to do?

[PoPo76]

So I heard some rustling in the leaves out front a few nights in a row. Looked out to find nothing. One night it was especially loud sounding like a person walking around my house. Keep in mind this is the middle of the night. Finally I decided to let my dogs out on what or whoever it was. The dogs bolt out and up flies a panicked guinea hen or what looks like a guinea fowl (do not know the gender). My dogs are familiar with chickens and are socialized to them so they didn't chase the mystery bird. Anyway, over the next few days I have been noticing this bird sitting on a park bench that I have on my front porch. I have no problem with this except its pooping all over my front porch area.

Here are the problems.

1. I have no idea if this bird belongs to anyone in the neighborhood and have no idea why it would take up residence in my front yard.

2. Unlike my chickens this bird is EXTREMELY skiddish. Even if I did know who it belonged to I w
can't even get close enough to catch it.

3. Winter is coming and I am concerned about when this bird will find shelter.

So, should I start to feed it or catch it or just let it be?? Every time I open my front door it screams like a banshee and runs like crazy into the street.

 

[Kiki]

Walk away.
Ignore it.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Do you have foxes in your area? If you do, the best you can do is keep trying to catch him. If you don't, you can let him be and before winter, try to set up a small temporary nest kinda thing so he/she has a bit of warmth.
Pretty much the only advice I can give with trying to befriend it is feeding it.

Guineafowl are known to be very skittish. The female more often than male. But if you found a way to uphold the task of keeping her, they're good birds. Good luck, God bless!

-Angry Hen

P.S. Hope this helps the slightest bit for you.

 

[GretaGarboFirst]

Hi,
Well, she does deserve a lot of credit for being brave and hanging in there. I would guess something scared her on her real property and she ran off. My guess is it is probably one of your rather close neighbors. Perhaps leave a few notes in a couple of mailboxes with your number or address.

Secondly, providing shelter would be really great. Anything to block the wind and weather with a bale of hay would help. I don't think he or she can do it alone. Give it a shot and keep us posted......best of luck!
Greta

 

[Ms Kim]

So I heard some rustling in the leaves out front a few nights in a row. Looked out to find nothing. One night it was especially loud sounding like a person walking around my house. Keep in mind this is the middle of the night. Finally I decided to let my dogs out on what or whoever it was. The dogs bolt out and up flies a panicked guinea hen or what looks like a guinea fowl (do not know the gender). My dogs are familiar with chickens and are socialized to them so they didn't chase the mystery bird. Anyway, over the next few days I have been noticing this bird sitting on a park bench that I have on my front porch. I have no problem with this except its pooping all over my front porch area.

Here are the problems.

1. I have no idea if this bird belongs to anyone in the neighborhood and have no idea why it would take up residence in my front yard.

2. Unlike my chickens this bird is EXTREMELY skiddish. Even if I did know who it belonged to I w
can't even get close enough to catch it.

3. Winter is coming and I am concerned about when this bird will find shelter.

So, should I start to feed it or catch it or just let it be?? Every time I open my front door it screams like a banshee and runs like crazy into the street.

8

 

[Ms Kim]

So I heard some rustling in the leaves out front a few nights in a row. Looked out to find nothing. One night it was especially loud sounding like a person walking around my house. Keep in mind this is the middle of the night. Finally I decided to let my dogs out on what or whoever it was. The dogs bolt out and up flies a panicked guinea hen or what looks like a guinea fowl (do not know the gender). My dogs are familiar with chickens and are socialized to them so they didn't chase the mystery bird. Anyway, over the next few days I have been noticing this bird sitting on a park bench that I have on my front porch. I have no problem with this except its pooping all over my front porch area.

Here are the problems.

1. I have no idea if this bird belongs to anyone in the neighborhood and have no idea why it would take up residence in my front yard.

2. Unlike my chickens this bird is EXTREMELY skiddish. Even if I did know who it belonged to I w
can't even get close enough to catch it.

3. Winter is coming and I am concerned about when this bird will find shelter.

So, should I start to feed it or catch it or just let it be?? Every time I open my front door it screams like a banshee and runs like crazy into the street.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IS, DO YOU WANT A GUINEA FOWL? FROM WHAT I HEAR THEY ARE GREAT WATCH DOGS BUT VERY LOUD. MY SISTER WHO IS A BIRD AND ANIMAL LOVER FOUND A NEW HOME FOR HERS BECAUSE OF THE UNSETTLING NOISE THEY MADE. THEY ARE A HARDY BIRD FROM AFRICA AND CONNECTED TO THEIR WILD INSTINCTS THEY LOVE TO ROOST IN TREES AND FOLLOW A DAILY MIGRATION IN THEIR TERRITORY. IF YOU HAVE SPACE FOR THEM TO ROAM AND TOLERATE THEIR CALL THEN GO FOR IT.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I think you should try to earn her trust by putting food out in the same spot at the same time every day for a few days and try to lure her into a humane trap. Just my 2 cents. Good luck

 

[PoPo76]

I asked a few neighbors. No one seems to know anything. I put out some food. He/she is definitely eating it. We'll see how it goes, maybe ill set up a trap. I don't mid keeping it as long as it gets along with my other Chix. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Akrnaf2]

I asked a few neighbors. No one seems to know anything. I put out some food. He/she is definitely eating it. We'll see how it goes, maybe ill set up a trap. I don't mid keeping it as long as it gets along with my other Chix. Thanks for the advice!

The are extremely dominant and it will certainly bully them, another thing that you should take in consideration is the Pathogens it could bring to your flock.