The Old Folks Home

[ChickenCanoe]

Woo Hoo!!! Looks like rain is headed for southern California and the arid southwest.

 

[Outpost JWB]

SCG  - In my limited experience, they need close to a fifty/fifty ratio.  Also, I tended to get closer to that in guinea hatches than in chicken hatches.  The problem I had was that the hens will hide a nest and all lay in it.  Then, when there are a bunch of eggs (thirty or forty!) the alpha hen will sit.  She would stay on the nest and I sometimes could find it by looking for her male who would linger nearby all day, but go to roost at night.  She would be killed on the nest at night by preditors and I would have an extra male.  The next hen in line would be the next one lost and eventually all the males were fighting over the few remaining hens.  Once the hens were all gone, the boys turned their attention to the hens and beating the he11 out of the roosters.  They will grab the roosters (and sometimes the hens) and body slam them.  It's no contest at all.  I had enough and gave away all the ones I had left.  I swore, never again.  They got hit by cars, would scream at everything and everybody - except me - and often would have to be knocked out of the trees at bedtime.  That was three years ago.......



I am thinking about getting some more........



PS  They can be trained.  I hated them getting on the roof of the house and leaving white streaks from the peak to the gutters, so I started an experiment in classical conditioning.  When they would fly up to the gutter, I would run grab the garden hose and turn it on them yelling "Getofftha ROOOO-oooof!" It worked!  Eventually, even if they were on the second story peak, well out of reach of the hose spray, I could yell that and they would fly down.  It even worked if they were up in the trees at dusk and I wanted them to go into the coop.

That's awesome you had them trained.

 

[Wisher1000]

They really are interesting birds. Make no mistake, they are NOT chickens. They are completely different, but once you understand them, they are quite entertaining, and a bit obnoxious.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

SCG - In my limited experience, they need close to a fifty/fifty ratio. Also, I tended to get closer to that in guinea hatches than in chicken hatches. The problem I had was that the hens will hide a nest and all lay in it. Then, when there are a bunch of eggs (thirty or forty!) the alpha hen will sit. She would stay on the nest and I sometimes could find it by looking for her male who would linger nearby all day, but go to roost at night. She would be killed on the nest at night by preditors and I would have an extra male. The next hen in line would be the next one lost and eventually all the males were fighting over the few remaining hens. Once the hens were all gone, the boys turned their attention to the hens and beating the he11 out of the roosters. They will grab the roosters (and sometimes the hens) and body slam them. It's no contest at all. I had enough and gave away all the ones I had left. I swore, never again. They got hit by cars, would scream at everything and everybody - except me - and often would have to be knocked out of the trees at bedtime. That was three years ago.......



I am thinking about getting some more........

PS They can be trained. I hated them getting on the roof of the house and leaving white streaks from the peak to the gutters, so I started an experiment in classical conditioning. When they would fly up to the gutter, I would run grab the garden hose and turn it on them yelling "Getofftha ROOOO-oooof!" It worked! Eventually, even if they were on the second story peak, well out of reach of the hose spray, I could yell that and they would fly down. It even worked if they were up in the trees at dusk and I wanted them to go into the coop.

I can confirm I have both boys and girls. Other than that...

I used the garden hose technique on the goats, too. They've kinda learned what "no" is due to that. But they also understand that during the winter mad mommy doesn't have the hose. And they love the chase game.

I love that you're thinking of getting more.

I'm a bit nervous about letting the rest of the gang out but I think I'm going to have to today. The temperatures are going to plummet starting Monday and keeping liquid water in the jail is going to be near impossible.

 

[getaclue]

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes on behalf of my daughter. I'm a bit concerned that she isn't eating much, and is having trouble keeping food down.

 

[Wisher1000]

You should be okay, even if they go back to the jail for the night. You can just open the door and let them go in and out. Even if they want to go back to the jail at night, they will find the liquid water and will likely follow the flock to the other roost. Just don't let the flock go back to the jail!

 

[Beer can]

I loved the racket guineas make. I actually didn't know they could fly so good until a dog visited and the male was on the chimney above our second story roof sounding the 'alarm'. I haven't had to deal with ice other than on the surface of their waterers. Might have to Mon, high of 17 low 4. Back up to 40s by weekend. So much of a nicer winter than the last couple of Arctic winters that never got above negative temps for weeks This yr we had some days that were warmer in Dec 50s-60, than we had last June.
Enjoying the snow, what little of it there is, wont last long, kids want to go sledding, the inch might be enough for that but no snow forts or snow men.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
using a bell or whistle to call em in for treats is an excellent technique to get them to come home. or get down. or what ever.

works for the chickens too if they are out free ranging and you need to have them come in early.

But you have to condition them to it for at least two or three weeks.

deb

 

[bamadude]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Congrats on the chicks too!

I'm sorry to hear about the chicken losses.  I've been looking into electric fencing.  Parmak seems to be one of the more preferred brands.  It's an option.

My oldest had some surgery done yesterday, so she is here with me for a couple days, so I can care for her, and help her recuperate.  Her husband loaded up all the kids, and they all went to his mother's, until Sunday night. 

Sending healing vibes your way

 

[superchemicalgirl]

using a bell or whistle to call em in for treats is an excellent technique to get them to come home. or get down. or what ever.

works for the chickens too if they are out free ranging and you need to have them come in early.

But you have to condition them to it for at least two or three weeks.

deb

I have taught all the poultry hand signals. The turkeys take about 8 weeks to "get it" but the chickens are much faster, by about half. We'll see how the guineas are. So far they are all out and seem fine. They've really imprinted on the toms it seems.