| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| vegetarian farmer |
Posted - Oct 22 2009 : 06:42:20 AM
I have never had this problem before but this group of ten Guineas will not stay on the farm. I have 75 acres and they still go through the woods and to the neighbors. And each time they go a little further. Soon they will be in yards with dogs that will eat them in one bite and if they make it past that mine field they will be on the road. Plus I hate to have my animals bothering the neighbors. I hate to keep them in the pen because it seems cruel they can't fly or free range, but is there any other solution? When the horses and cows get out they do not go this far. And these guineas are about 6 months old and until a few weeks ago they never did this. Anyone have this happen to them? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| vegetarian farmer |
Posted - Oct 26 2009 : 08:25:29 AM
Kathryn, I have done the penning for the first 12 weeks and the guineas do come home every night. The problem is during the day they take off and do not stop. I have acres of everything they could want but still make it to the neighbors everytime and that will be the death of them one way or another. At first they stayed very close to home but now all bets are off. Do yours stay on your property all day? How long do you let they free range per day? Thanks for your help.
Jane |
| magnoliakathy |
Posted - Oct 26 2009 : 05:39:26 AM
Your guineas need to be trained to stay home, start by penning them 24/7 for about 2 weeks, everytime you feed them, make the same noise, I use a small cow bell. I can ring that bell and all of my animlas come running because it is treat or food time. It is not cruel to pen them, to teach them where they are safe. They need enough room to move around, take dust baths, some place to hide (I put a small branch pile in the middle of the pen, and the rule of thumb is 3 sq feet outside and 1 square foot of roosting area inside. Put a net over your pen to keep them from flying out. After 2 weeks, let them out after noon or, as soon as, you get home from work, watch if they start to stray ring the bell, and pen them. I know this is time consuming, but they are still young enough to learn, older birds take longer. Good Luck, perseverance pays off.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
| kpaints |
Posted - Oct 23 2009 : 9:38:21 PM
Funny you should mention that they come from Africa because I saw them there in the wild. Lots of them, some that are called Helmets too. Really cool, very handsome.
Find your joy and live it. http://cheneybaglady.blogspot.com/http://www.kpaints.etsy.com http://www.thevintagebaglady.etsy.com FG #377 |
| kpaints |
Posted - Oct 23 2009 : 5:42:32 PM
Funny you should mention that they come from Africa because I saw them there in the wild. Lots of them, some that are called Helmets too. Really cool.
Find your joy and live it. http://cheneybaglady.blogspot.com/http://www.kpaints.etsy.com http://www.thevintagebaglady.etsy.com FG #377 |
| Autumn Leaves |
Posted - Oct 22 2009 : 08:27:11 AM
I love them! I had a set of lavender ones but, a bobcat got them :( Now hubby says no more, that's ok he'll go back to work in the spring and I'll be guinea shopping! Mine never wondered too far but, I didn't have them very long :(
Warm Wishes
Jennifer
Never let yesterday use up too much of today - Will Rogers
http://jenscountrylife.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Oct 22 2009 : 08:15:12 AM
If you lived closer I'd let you have all mine. I can't get mine to leave!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Oct 22 2009 : 08:06:24 AM
All Guineas are roamers, they come from Africa originaly. They , in a sense, migrate. They will travel great distances to forage, but usually come back home to roost, if they are not, I would suggest penning them 24/7 for awhile, they letting them loose again, and see if they stay closer to home.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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