WK #3

[Sydney65]

Oh no - that’s doesn’t sound good! What’s the roa???

Road.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Road.

Oh no! Bella was killed on the road? I’m so so sorry! I lost two to the road this past spring. My guineas do not seem to understand roads.

 

[Sydney65]

They've just started crossing it this past week. There must be different bugs in the cornfield vs the beanfield behind us.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

They've just started crossing it this past week. There must be different bugs in the cornfield vs the beanfield behind us.

Roads are so frustrating!!!! I’m down to only letting them out for a few hours a day, partly because of the road. No time or $$ now, but my long term plan is to get filed fencing up on sections of our property that border the road. At least that would stop a casual stumble from foraging to crossing the road. I lost one cock on one day and another the Very next day... that’s when I started locking them in. They didn’t seem to learn from watching their buddy/mate run down.

 

[Sydney65]

I think Bella must have flown into it. The neck was broke but the body was undamaged. The neighbor found Bella and called me crying.- that's something, considering all the times they've used her borders for dust baths in the past yr.
They're so jumpy abt sticks that are in their path, I can see Bella being in the ditch or side of road, startled by vehicle and taking flight. They even keep an eye cocked when they hear airplanes overhead.
It kills me that it was one of the RPs. You & I were talking abt training this a.m., those two are the easiest to work with. The others more take their cues from them.
I can't find anything abt them being able to mimic, other than the female mimicking the male. But just as I say "beep beep" to call them bc I always have, I always start saying "good morning" in a singy song voice before I get to the coop so I don't startle them. Over time, we realized that those 2 mimic the singy song. Not sure how "For Real" came abt, but same, singy song tone. Over time, even Nuggy picked up on it so we have sessions of "singing" "good morning" and "for real". Sounds crazy, I know, & if I didn't have lots of witnesses I wldnt have told you. Lol. That's actually how I got Blu calmed down tonight, standing in coop singing w/him.
Do I go rummaging and bring the nests in so I can minimize their excursions for awhile? I'm not sure how well that wld go, either. I did that the first time and she promptly abandoned them. Plus I'm worried about Blu,. Even after I stopped him running g around like crazy and put him in coop he panted and paced none stop.
DH commented that we need invisible fences for birds. I imagine the voltage used for dogs would be too much for a bird.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I think Bella must have flown into it. The neck was broke but the body was undamaged. The neighbor found Bella and called me crying.- that's something, considering all the times they've used her borders for dust baths in the past yr.
They're so jumpy abt sticks that are in their path, I can see Bella being in the ditch or side of road, startled by vehicle and taking flight. They even keep an eye cocked when they hear airplanes overhead.
It kills me that it was one of the RPs. You & I were talking abt training this a.m., those two are the easiest to work with. The others more take their cues from them.
I can't find anything abt them being able to mimic, other than the female mimicking the male. But just as I say "beep beep" to call them bc I always have, I always start saying "good morning" in a singy song voice before I get to the coop so I don't startle them. Over time, we realized that those 2 mimic the singy song. Not sure how "For Real" came abt, but same, singy song tone. Over time, even Nuggy picked up on it so we have sessions of "singing" "good morning" and "for real". Sounds crazy, I know, & if I didn't have lots of witnesses I wldnt have told you. Lol. That's actually how I got Blu calmed down tonight, standing in coop singing w/him.
Do I go rummaging and bring the nests in so I can minimize their excursions for awhile? I'm not sure how well that wld go, either. I did that the first time and she promptly abandoned them. Plus I'm worried about Blu,. Even after I stopped him running g around like crazy and put him in coop he panted and paced none stop.
DH commented that we need invisible fences for birds. I imagine the voltage used for dogs would be too much for a bird.

I really feel for Blu! We’ve had several lose their mates this spring and it’s been tough all the way around. That’s so sad to lose one of your precious, bonded birds! I’ve also mused about invisible fences, electric fences, and field fences. So far I’ve only put up this temporary silt fence...

 

[Sydney65]

So......I may have done something...impulsive....yeah, that's a good word....
I guess you cld say last week was a game changer. After Bella was hit I decided no more free ranging for the ladies for awhile. Regardless of Bella's gender, if the girls are locked up, the boys stay near by. So, I had a plan,all I needed was guinea compliance, right?
That was the night Lucy decided she was staying on the nest, & ofcourse, the next morning all I found was a mess of broken eggs strewn abt. No Lucy, no feathers, no blood. But there's been no sign of her since & the remaining 4 have closed in their ranks guarding Rosie. They seem perfectly content w/the slowed change of pace.
But now there are 4. 3 males, 1 female. SO..I started looking around at keets, but Lord knows I don't want 10-30 more birds, & I really don't want tons of jumbo grays.
Somethings one shldnt deliberate on into the wee hrs of the morning bc it leads to impulsive decisions that in the light of day don't seem nearly as logical-bc I ordered 6 eggs. - I'll just wait here until ya'll are done telling me what a dummy I am, & then mb you can help me wade through this.

 

[Sydney65]

OK, ready? Now, Rosie has gone abt laying hereggs inside the coop again,doesn't seem bothered by the change of plans. Before, she was staying on her nest all day,but coming in at night. So, my 1st question is, can I trick her by adding these eggs to her nest?
And if that's compounding the dumb ideas, can you direct me toward a reliable small incubator that won't require a big investment? Those little dome ones look sufficient for maybe boiling an egg, but not sustaining life.

 

[R2elk]

OK, ready? Now, Rosie has gone abt laying hereggs inside the coop again,doesn't seem bothered by the change of plans. Before, she was staying on her nest all day,but coming in at night. So, my 1st question is, can I trick her by adding these eggs to her nest?
And if that's compounding the dumb ideas, can you direct me toward a reliable small incubator that won't require a big investment? Those little dome ones look sufficient for maybe boiling an egg, but not sustaining life.

Unless she is already broody, adding the eggs to her nest will be a waste of the eggs.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

OK, ready? Now, Rosie has gone abt laying hereggs inside the coop again,doesn't seem bothered by the change of plans. Before, she was staying on her nest all day,but coming in at night. So, my 1st question is, can I trick her by adding these eggs to her nest?
And if that's compounding the dumb ideas, can you direct me toward a reliable small incubator that won't require a big investment? Those little dome ones look sufficient for maybe boiling an egg, but not sustaining life.

Geez, I’m sorry to hear about Lucy! When it rains it pours...

Ok, what’s your goal? Do you want the guineas to incubate and brood, or do you want to do that yourself? Have the shipped eggs arrived yet? How many birds would you like to add? I think that free range guineas do better in larger flocks...