- Nov 5, 2010
- 35
- 10
- 22
After co-existing peacefully since they were keets and chicks (hatched in October), today my guineas decided that my roosters must be exterminated. We've had a few bullying moments, but nothing that didn't work itself out within a few seconds. We have four guinease and three roosters.
About six weeks ago, our guinease decided they did not want to be cooped up with the chickens at night, thank you very much. No problem, they roosted on the privacy fence just outside our door. But they still ate and ranged with the chickens for much of the day, except when they went off to explore on their own.
Today when I let the chickens out of the coop, the guineas descended upon my Welsummer rooster and would not let up until I was finally able to snatch him. (His comb was bloody.) While I was attending to him, they went after a Polish Crested rooster. DH rescued him, and they went after the other Polish Crested rooster. It wqas like watching an urban street gang attack a tourist. I kept imagining them with tiny Glocks and bandanas.
After an hour and a half of running around our property with long sticks and a landing net, we finally got all of the roosters back into the coop, where they stayed most of the day. Everything was peaceful until about 5pm, when we decided to let the roosters out and see if it was a fluke event. No such luck, it started all over again, the same as this morning.
We have intended from day one to relocate the guineas to the garden to help with pest control after our frost free date, so we're prepared to provide a separate coop. The problem is, these guineas are footloose and fancy free, and they're obsessed with our chickens. They know their way all around our 3.5 acres, so even if we move them to the garden, they'll march right back up and find the chickens.
I'm guessing we'll need to contain the guineas in the garden area with a small run until they are acclimated, but I'm concerned about whether it's even possible to break them of this. When they can't get to the chickens, they just pace back and forth obsessively. I mean, it's like a "10 minutes 'til Wapner" thing. I've even considered buying one of those enormous nets to completely enclose the garden, but that's not really in keeping with our scheme, and I need the guineas to help control ticks in the yard as well.
So after all that, I really don't even know what I'm asking, except, can you help me? I don't know what to do. I keep thinking and thinking, and every plan seems to have major drawbacks. I'm exhausted and extremely sore from running around unblazed paths flailing my arms to try to round up poultry, and I'm not sure I'm even thinking straight.
Thank you in advance.
About six weeks ago, our guinease decided they did not want to be cooped up with the chickens at night, thank you very much. No problem, they roosted on the privacy fence just outside our door. But they still ate and ranged with the chickens for much of the day, except when they went off to explore on their own.
Today when I let the chickens out of the coop, the guineas descended upon my Welsummer rooster and would not let up until I was finally able to snatch him. (His comb was bloody.) While I was attending to him, they went after a Polish Crested rooster. DH rescued him, and they went after the other Polish Crested rooster. It wqas like watching an urban street gang attack a tourist. I kept imagining them with tiny Glocks and bandanas.
After an hour and a half of running around our property with long sticks and a landing net, we finally got all of the roosters back into the coop, where they stayed most of the day. Everything was peaceful until about 5pm, when we decided to let the roosters out and see if it was a fluke event. No such luck, it started all over again, the same as this morning.
We have intended from day one to relocate the guineas to the garden to help with pest control after our frost free date, so we're prepared to provide a separate coop. The problem is, these guineas are footloose and fancy free, and they're obsessed with our chickens. They know their way all around our 3.5 acres, so even if we move them to the garden, they'll march right back up and find the chickens.
I'm guessing we'll need to contain the guineas in the garden area with a small run until they are acclimated, but I'm concerned about whether it's even possible to break them of this. When they can't get to the chickens, they just pace back and forth obsessively. I mean, it's like a "10 minutes 'til Wapner" thing. I've even considered buying one of those enormous nets to completely enclose the garden, but that's not really in keeping with our scheme, and I need the guineas to help control ticks in the yard as well.
So after all that, I really don't even know what I'm asking, except, can you help me? I don't know what to do. I keep thinking and thinking, and every plan seems to have major drawbacks. I'm exhausted and extremely sore from running around unblazed paths flailing my arms to try to round up poultry, and I'm not sure I'm even thinking straight.
Thank you in advance.