Re: guinea disaster

[bee_pipes]

Yeah, at this point in time our hen house is not too baby friendly. We had two clutches that I brought inside and raised in a brooder. A guinea hen can be a force to contend with. Have no idea how much damage one could do, have not had the pleasure yet. Always saw them coming. Simplest was to chase them out of the house and close it until I got the babies into a small box for transport. You were definitely at a disadvantage out in the open.

We have one up on the hill, somewhere, hatching another clutch. I expect to see them come marching out any day now. Your post was a bit sobering though. Makes me wonder if she will get them into something they can't get out of....

Best of luck to you with the survivors!

Regards,
Pat

[bookwormom]

Our buff orpington momma did wonderful with the five guinea chicks my husband slipped under her. of course she was no match for the snake. but the one chick that survived is roosting with the chickens , it does not make much noise either, acts just like the others.

[Rae_Jean]

I have guineas too. They are quite the goofiest bunch on the farm. Some hens are great mothers but last season they lost them all :(
Next season I'll be catching and raising the chics myself.

[bookwormom]

our one survivor naturally is a rooster. I get a kick out of him when he starts to call, he sounds like a two cycle engine having trouble starting up.

[gardenfay]

My Dad raised alot of guineas in eastern Oklahoma when I was growing up - so many predators there that the chicks never made it out loose with their moms. So he had banty hens hatch them out in pens. If i remember right they would act more like regular chicks when they were little and then when they were a little older - off they would go with the guinea flock. But one time was really cute; he bought some guinea chicks and a pair of African(?) goslings at the same time and when they still all young the little tiny guinea chicks would sit on the back of the goslings.