Why did the Guineas cross the road?

[SassyKat6181]

Not a joke...seriously? We have 7 acres of field, the neighbor has 10 acres of field and behind us there are about 40+ acres of woods. So why on earth do they choose to go across the road. Our road is fairly quiet except for commuting times. The problem is I live on a bend in the road about half way up a mountain. People coming up the hill around the bend cannot see where the birds are crossing. I bought and put up "Guinea Crossing" signs and put them at both ends of the property. I am afraid that I am going to find dead birds and feathers everywhere. Any suggestions? Maybe I should only let them out for a few afternoon hours rather than all day? They are stressing me out and what's the point of having them to eat the ticks in my fields when they head for the woods and across the street?

I do enjoy having the birds and their racket, but I am afraid to lose them. We have lost a lot of barn cats over the years to this road. I just don't understand the curiosity.

 

[livenwpeeps]

I know what you are going through. I live on a 900 acre farm with only one paved road through it and the guineas spend more time in the road or crossing the road to the corn field across the street than any where else. I also put up "Guinea Crossing" signs and traffic cones but someone stole the crossing signs then they stole the posts. The road is my worst preditor. I only let my guineas out around 3:00 in the afternoon to free range and put them back in right before dark. It kinda limits their time playing in the road. If I could do my coop and run all over again I would have moved it further back from the road and made it BIGGER!!!!

 

[zazouse]

Mine cross the road/easment but we own the property 0n both sides, i have some that spend all day on our easement and some are nesting in the fence rows,i am lucky that there is only one family that uses our easement to get to their property so not much traffic at all unless they are having something done like bailing hay and they all know the guineas are there after 6 years of seeing them.

This last hatch i kept are learning not to go to the road as i have my aussie herd em back into the pasture whenever i see them and so far so good they are now staying away from the road so they can be taught at an early age.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I've tried letting the dog out when the Guineas come in the front yard, even before they are near the road.......but the dog is a coward and runs the other way.

He will chase the barn cats and squirrels, but took one look at those birds and said "arf, I'm outta here!" I work from home, so I try to keep an eye on them, but with two small children I don't have much time to be a herding them back. I think I'll just let them out later in the day. They seem to run for the back fields first and make rounds, so maybe they will only get so far before they come in for dinner.

 

[froggie71]

Ours stay in our yard because we have put up a 2 x 4 welded wire fence. They just can't seem to see it. Only on occasion does one accidentally fly over it. Usually if they get scared. Then they will pace back and forth trying to figure out how to get back. Might be a possibility?

 

[SassyKat6181]

I've tried limiting their time outside, but now they run straight for the road. Apparently there is something on the other side that they like better than the 30+ acres behind the barn.

Today I heard a car honking shortly after I let them out and ran outside to see what was up.....of course they were next to the road. We live half way up a mountain and there is a steep incline just past the house. Then I see one of the large males go back into the road and two dumptrucks pulling trailers of landscape equipment are coming down the hill towards the guinea in the road.....

Fortunately no one was coming up and they swerved

I thought I was going to see a poof of feathers. Needless to say, the guinea was scared and ran back through the fence and the others followed. I know how dumb they are and will probably go back into the road again.

I love having them here, but I am starting to wonder if I should rehome them to keep them safe?

 

[amberflea]

I had to put up a inexpensive fence next to the road for about 100 yards, the only way they will stay in... and no, they do not fly over it, when they range they take the path of least resistance and rarely do I find one on the other side...