Tale of the stubborn Guinea and the mean owl....

[duluthralphie]

I have, correct that had 6 guineas, I owned a few 30 years ago for all of about 3 days. I did everything wrong, and I am pretty sure they went back to the neighbor I bought them from.

This time I bought 10 of them, they were the most skittish little critters I had ever seen. They were temperamental and seemed to enjoy dying. I got 6 of to 4 months of age. I kept them locked up by themselves for a month, then added 6 chickens to them for a month. Moved them to their coop for a month and decided it was time to let them free into their fence......


Guineas do not really respect fences.

The guineas allowed me to put them back in the coop for about 10 days then they decided to H@LL with it. and started roosting on the roof of the coop.

I yelled at them, I tried to chase them off, I tried to get them back in the coop. They refused.......... They are trying little birds!

I enjoy their antics most of the time, but not the stubborn roosting on the roof habit. They are not afraid of us, but they do not let us hold them either. They will come to us during chicken TV time and eat by our feet and next to the dogs.... Of course they are loud most the time.


I warned them over and over an owl would eat them if they did not come into the coop, and to get down from that roof. They let my warnings fall on deaf ears. I thought my daughter was 14 again the way they ignored me.

Last night an owl got one. It was lying about 5 feet from the centerline of the roof, on the ground headless. It had it's crop ripped open and the shoulder area was eaten. I am sickened and confused. I do not want to lose another. Birds of prey are my nightmare. I know of no way to keep them away, During the day my dogs and the guineas do a good job keeping the chickens safe, at night I am defenseless...

I guess my only option is to try and get the guineas to roost in the coop again. Any ideas how I can make this happen? Do I have to lock them up for another month?

I am now worried about my turkeys too, they also refuse to roost in the coop. My chickens go in willingly, Who would have thunk chickens are the smart ones..........

Thanks for listening and suggestions are welcome...

 

[OakHillFarm]

Once I had the same problem they would not go in the coop I read on the internet and finally I found out that if you lock them in the coop for a day or two they will start to get it what try to get them in before sunset that's when the critters come out good luck

 

[duluthralphie]

Once I had the same problem they would not go in the coop I read on the internet and finally I found out that if you lock them in the coop for a day or two they will start to get it what try to get them in before sunset that's when the critters come out good luck

Thanks, I had locked them in for nearly a month last time. I guess I will try again,,,dang things! My wife and I spend an hour trying to get them in and finally gave up, last time.

 

[R2elk]

I have, correct that had 6 guineas, I owned a few 30 years ago for all of about 3 days. I did everything wrong, and I am pretty sure they went back to the neighbor I bought them from.

This time I bought 10 of them, they were the most skittish little critters I had ever seen. They were temperamental and seemed to enjoy dying. I got 6 of to 4 months of age. I kept them locked up by themselves for a month, then added 6 chickens to them for a month. Moved them to their coop for a month and decided it was time to let them free into their fence......


Guineas do not really respect fences.

The guineas allowed me to put them back in the coop for about 10 days then they decided to H@LL with it. and started roosting on the roof of the coop.

I yelled at them, I tried to chase them off, I tried to get them back in the coop. They refused.......... They are trying little birds!

I enjoy their antics most of the time, but not the stubborn roosting on the roof habit. They are not afraid of us, but they do not let us hold them either. They will come to us during chicken TV time and eat by our feet and next to the dogs.... Of course they are loud most the time.


I warned them over and over an owl would eat them if they did not come into the coop, and to get down from that roof. They let my warnings fall on deaf ears. I thought my daughter was 14 again the way they ignored me.

Last night an owl got one. It was lying about 5 feet from the centerline of the roof, on the ground headless. It had it's crop ripped open and the shoulder area was eaten. I am sickened and confused. I do not want to lose another. Birds of prey are my nightmare. I know of no way to keep them away, During the day my dogs and the guineas do a good job keeping the chickens safe, at night I am defenseless...

I guess my only option is to try and get the guineas to roost in the coop again. Any ideas how I can make this happen? Do I have to lock them up for another month?

I am now worried about my turkeys too, they also refuse to roost in the coop. My chickens go in willingly, Who would have thunk chickens are the smart ones..........

Thanks for listening and suggestions are welcome...

Many have good luck by training their guineas to come to a bell or a particular shout or call and then giving them treats. If you wait too late in the evening to put the guineas in, they will not enter a dark unlit coop.

I have trained my guineas to go in the coop in the evening by using long sticks to herd them in. I have been through the losing a flock of guineas to great horned owls and now also have raccoons that show up at night. I would be very quickly out of guineas if I did not make sure that they are all in the coop for the night.

As far as the turkeys go, I have never had an owl take a mature turkey but I did lose several half grown heritage poults a few years ago. I let the adult turkeys roost outside but keep the youngsters inside until they are about 2/3rds grown.

Good luck training your guineas.

 

[malinois]

I still use a light in their coop, which, i feel , helps them into it at night. Last week when the timer had not been adjusted, 5 of the 6 birds stayed outside. Once i adjusted the timer, they are back in the coop at night. I feel its a small price to pay to keep this glock of birds going. Hope it helps.....

 

[Sfraker]

I give mine mealworms and millet at night in their coop. Also, the only easy water for them on my property is in the coop. It seems to help them to come back each night. Mine have only been free ranging for a couple months but most nights they see me come out to tuck everyone in and they come running into the coop and wait for me to bring their treats. Also, I make sure to tuck them in before it gets dark.

 

[wskline]

When it starts getting dark out, I grabbed the meal worm bag and rattle it while making that kissy sound to call them and they come running and in pen they go.

 

[Hotcookie]

I would start all over again, by keeping them confined inside their coop for another 6 weeks.....maybe even an additional two if you're really concerned. I don't think they were in there long enough for them to know where they need to return every night. Guineas have their own minds........they won't come back until it's almost completely dark outside - later than my chickens.....and there really isn't any way for me to hurry them up. Patience, patience and more patience. But I've never had a problem with them returning to the coop at bedtime, either. Hope this helps!!

 

[TkayC]

Once I had the same problem they would not go in the coop I read on the internet and finally I found out that if you lock them in the coop for a day or two they will start to get it what try to get them in before sunset that's when the critters come out good luck

I would start all over again, by keeping them confined inside their coop for another 6 weeks.....maybe even an additional two if you're really concerned. I don't think they were in there long enough for them to know where they need to return every night. Guineas have their own minds........they won't come back until it's almost completely dark outside - later than my chickens.....and there really isn't any way for me to hurry them up. Patience, patience and more patience. But I've never had a problem with them returning to the coop at bedtime, either. Hope this helps!!

 

[TkayC]

I have, correct that had 6 guineas, I owned a few 30 years ago for all of about 3 days. I did everything wrong, and I am pretty sure they went back to the neighbor I bought them from.

This time I bought 10 of them, they were the most skittish little critters I had ever seen. They were temperamental and seemed to enjoy dying. I got 6 of to 4 months of age. I kept them locked up by themselves for a month, then added 6 chickens to them for a month. Moved them to their coop for a month and decided it was time to let them free into their fence......


Guineas do not really respect fences.

The guineas allowed me to put them back in the coop for about 10 days then they decided to H@LL with it. and started roosting on the roof of the coop.

I yelled at them, I tried to chase them off, I tried to get them back in the coop. They refused.......... They are trying little birds!

I enjoy their antics most of the time, but not the stubborn roosting on the roof habit. They are not afraid of us, but they do not let us hold them either. They will come to us during chicken TV time and eat by our feet and next to the dogs.... Of course they are loud most the time.


I warned them over and over an owl would eat them if they did not come into the coop, and to get down from that roof. They let my warnings fall on deaf ears. I thought my daughter was 14 again the way they ignored me.

Last night an owl got one. It was lying about 5 feet from the centerline of the roof, on the ground headless. It had it's crop ripped open and the shoulder area was eaten. I am sickened and confused. I do not want to lose another. Birds of prey are my nightmare. I know of no way to keep them away, During the day my dogs and the guineas do a good job keeping the chickens safe, at night I am defenseless...

I guess my only option is to try and get the guineas to roost in the coop again. Any ideas how I can make this happen? Do I have to lock them up for another month?

I am now worried about my turkeys too, they also refuse to roost in the coop. My chickens go in willingly, Who would have thunk chickens are the smart ones..........

Thanks for listening and suggestions are welcome...