Unknown predator. Guineas locked up again

[Speckled01]

We have lost 13 guineas in the past two months. They free range a 40 acre farm inside a National Forest. They return to the coop each night. This is a daytime predator. We don't know what is getting them. We have found feathers once and one body left in a field. We have locked them up first for a few days. Next it was for two weeks. They are locked up again. I have seen a young hawk flying around in the past few days. So now I have a portable scare crow with shiny CD's on him and other CD's hanging from trees.

I don't have a run for them so they stay in a large coop all day and night. Now they seem to have diarreaha. I have been giving them apple cider vinegar in their water. I am also looking for a vet that will do a fecal float. I put in poop boards and drop clothes during the last big clean out to keep it cleaner in there. It was just cleaned out Friday. I use lots of cider vinegar to wipe things down.

There are still quite a few roosters in the flock. The biggest bully was taken out by the predator and the rest are not as aggressive with one another. However, there is still a good deal of pecking that is going on.

So three questions are what to do about an unknown predator. What to do about diarrhea. And what to do to help them from being bored.

 

[iwiw60]

Sounds like you need to get a trail cam so you can determine which type of scumbag is getting your flock.

 

[Speckled01]

We have had a trail cam and a video camera set up in a variety of locations. Thus far all we have seen are crows and us going around the property doing our daily business. This morning I found they have been eating their own eggs. Even the ones the one broody hen was sitting on. I assume it is them because the coop is very secure and if it was a snake it couldn't eat 10 in one night. If it tried it couldn't get out with a belly full of eggs.

 

[iwiw60]

You say you found they have been eating their own eggs...are you absolutely sure??? Have you seen them doing this? Have you found eggs with pecking marks on them? As for your trail cam I think you need to reposition them as it is obvious you're not catching them on film. They must be coming in at a different angle, etc.

It almost sounds to me like you will have to stop allowing them to free-range altogether and build them a run attached to your coop. Me personally? I never allow my flock to free-range...not worth the headaches and heartaches...best of luck and let us know if you catch the scumbag! Speaking of which, I always use the S-S-S rule:

SHOOT - SHOVEL -- SHUT UP

 

[enola]

What are you feeding them? Are you sure they have enough room?

The worst daytime predator we have this time of year is the fox. Last year foxes wiped out all the chickens in our neighborhood, except mine