After 3 weeks of "house arrest", it is time to take a chance and release the guinea fowl. Will they fly away? Will they stay nearby? Will they come back to roost tonight? Only nature knows.
Well that was interesting. I thought they would come flying out after being cooped up for three weeks. They look similar to turkeys. My granddaughter and I watched together. Thank you for showing your farm and the surrounding area. The rock face is not what I expected. Have a good week Mike. Fran
Good morning Mike,an interesting video,I think they will be with you a long time,they look quite contented at the moment but if they do go off wandering I think its inevitable you will loose one or two to foxy.You are so lucky living in a place in such nice area,reminds me so much of my Grandparents cottage and garden right on top edge of Dartmoor overlooking Sticklepath near Okehampton,Devon.I spent some lovely school hols there,they had Ducks,geese and hens too.& only a pump & outside loo Ha.
Very interesting video Mike. The Guinea Fowl seem to be very content at your place. I can certainly understand why, for you are a wonderful caregiver to all your flock. I am looking forward to seeing the goats you mentioned. They are so playful and fun to watch. Keep us posted on the progress with the Guinea's. Your place is so beautiful and green.....=)
I appreciate so much, dear Mike, your interest for the nature and for these guineafowls (Italian language: Gallina Faraona) Video well done Take care Lillo
When I got mine, they did something new everyday!!! Even if it meant to do away with ones self. Anyway, still going after replacing 3. They do grow on you, quite sweet to have around.
So interesting, Mike. They look different than I thought, their necks and heads are so slender - actually quite similar to a bird that lives here at swamps. It's so beautiful there when the sun shines!
I had some that were raised by a chicken. Only had the eggs, so we put them in with the chicken eggs under the mother, once they hatched the mother raised them with the chicks and they acted a little different then normal ones. The way they looked for food was different (Scratching dirt instead of wide spread forreging) and they always stayed with the chicken flock, it was very rare for them to leave the chickens.
I have learned that having a whistle when you give them food or treats helps getting them to do what you want. The first time I released mine, they were hesitant just as yours were. But when I gave the treat whistle and sprinkled their millet outside where I wanted them to go, they forgot their fear and came running for their treats. They will go anywhere in the yard I want as long as I whistle to them. It really helps when I think they've wandered too far or want to put them up. I love your yard. It is beautifully green and rocky.
+ Heidi Rochon Hello Heidi - thank you for this information. Unfortunately, I no longer have any birds and I am so sad. In this beautiful area where I live, a new "neighbour" moved into the empty property about 1/4 mile away from us. She was not from Ireland and did not want to live in the way we do here in the country, especially in a farming community. She had 2 big dogs which she allowed to run unsupervised off the lead and had no control over them, or indeed, any interest in controlling them. They were often in my property running riot and have killed all the hens and geese, and caused the guinea's and ducks to scatter and fly off into the forest and we never saw them again. Myself and the local community insisted that this person compensate me for my loss and warned her that in a farming community, especially with new born lambs, if a farmer sees any dog roaming unsupervised on his property, he is legally entitled to shoot the dog. She never compensated me for the loss of the birds, but she left the area within 3 weeks and we were all so pleased. I dont think I will get any more birds, it broke my heart. Be wishes and have great fun with your flock :)
I am very sorry for what you went through with your neighbour. How inconsiderate! You are going through your mourning period and you may recover well from this and get more birds and enjoy your passion. Don't let this put you down. Good job! Love the greenery and birds.
Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately it was written that I contracted cancer a year and a half ago and this has put a stop to a lot of my activities, but I do not dwell on this or moan, I have my videos to look at and enjoy and to know that "I have done that" :)) My very best wishes to you.
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Depending on how advanced the cancer is, you might be able to turn it around by going on a plant-based diet, exercise in fresh air, fresh fruits and lots of water (no caffeine, soda, alcohol etc) with much prayer and rest. Give it a shot if you haven't already. Cancer is an indication that your body is fighting and you need to help your body recover. Thank you for sharing your passion with us. You're a blessing.
Hello :) Unfortunately the winter of 2012 was atrocious with severe gales. Just as the Guinea's had really settled in and decided that they wanted to roost up on the roof we had one of the fiercest gales Ireland has experienced in 30 years. In the morning, no Guinea's :( - they had all been blown away in the night. They were heard about 1/4 mile away by horse riding neighbour in the woods, but no chance of finding them. So sad, really miss them. Enjoy yours :)
so dissappointing to loose your sweet guineas after raising & loving them. I once lost 15 when a fox came in & killed my ducks & chicks. Neighbors would hear them in the forests nearby but i never saw them again.
Hi Ron. Yes they are all fine, have got a a lot bigger and are very interesting/amusing. I will do an update video of these soon. Glad we got them, they are so unique. Mike
Enjoyed the video Mike. I've often heard the term "guinea hen" but I've never seen them. I looked them up on google and they say they are related to the pheasant. I can see that they may distant relatives but the pheasant is quite a bit more colourful. I have one indoor bird as a pet and they can be quite demanding in terms of maintenance so I imagine your group keeps you busy. I hope they will stay around for you, or at least come back after winter. We'll be waiting to hear what happens. Neil
Ha, I was just dozing infront of the computer, the sun through the window is glorious, and it went buzzz,(the computer, not the window or the sun!!), and there was your message! Lovely to hear from you. Just when you think you have enough to cope with, Jules muttered something about peacocks ....... well, you never know!! Ha ha!!!
Hi Neil, thanks for watching. I hope that when they have free ranged for a while, their plumage will start to improve and get a nice sheen. Having been stuck inside for 3 weeks in the gloom cannot be altogether beneficial. Unfortunately, they did not go back that night, but we were lucky to quietly "round them up" at 9pm and herd them into the bottom of the hen house. Today's task will be to put them back in their "jail" for another couple of weeks, I am afraid to say. Mike
Hi Axel, thanks for watching :))What has the weather been like since the release I hear you ask - rain, rain and more rain. The day of release and day after were 2 nice days and that's your lot!!
Thank you Lillo! 5 years ago, I reluctantly agreed to having the hens - now we have so many birds!! The next ones will be Muscovey ducks, hopefully in the New Year. Thank you for watching these videos. Sincerely, Mike
Hello Mike, thanks for sharing this video. What a beautifull birds to see. I am not blaming them to take theirtime to fly out after 3 weeks of "house arrest" Why put them back for another couple of weeks?? How old/ young are the guinea fowls? So to see it was a lovely day , sun, blue sky, you can see the mountains:-) Well, will see the little farm soon. Have a good SUNday :-)
Hi Mike,ta for reply,yes I think you were lucky to find them and get em back in, they're not ready for parole yet are they ha.I seem to have read someone that like homing pigeons you need to keep them penned a bit longer than 3 weeks.I may be wrong,I haven't googled it.expect someone will come in on it. As for the loo paper you had luxury,all I remember is a wad of neatly torn newspaper squares hanging on a piece of string back of a very draughty door.Goats?peacocks?Llamas?Water buffalo?
What a lovely voice, and thoroughly enjoyed the guinea fowl. We are about to release ours....keep your fingers crossed for us that they don't just make a run for it.
+Wendy D'Orianno Hello Wendy - sorry I have not replied before, had to deal with cancer treatment. Anyway, that is no matter - I hope the release of your guinea fowl went ok. Best wishes from Ireland, Mike
Where I live many people have these birds. The problem I see is that the birds seem to react well to seeing legs / bipeds move however they are awfully slow to respond to automobiles as they don't understand that it is a moving object other than their ability to judge distance. I've seen people that live near main roads that might lose 5+ in a day to cars and even in country road, there are some people that don't bother to slow down as they think the bird is worthy of dying because it can't comprehend that the car will squash them if they don't get out of the way. I always slow down and stop to let them move - because once you have raised poultry, you understand they all have their own little lives and personalities - frankly I think some chickens would make better leaders than some of the leaders we have. Not necessarily in their ability to learn laws and such but they are far less selfish than some leaders we have and all leadership positions for government SHOULD be positions of service, not just thrones for ticks and other parasites to make themselves comfortable and steal from selfless people.
Hi Fran. Glad you enjoyed the rather long video. Unfortunately, they did not go back that night, but we were lucky to quietly "round them up" at 9pm and herd them into the bottom of the hen house. Today's task will be to put them back in their "jail" for another couple of weeks, I am afraid to say. The rock is a wonderful feature, but alas also a hindrance as it is rock just about 5" underfoot, so no digging deep for anything. Best wishes, Mike
Hello Kira, lovely to hear from you :)) The guinea's are still very young, when adult, they will be about 3 or 4 times this size - the bodies will grow but the head and neck will remain quite small and thin which is why some people do not like them :( Would you believe I am just breathing a sigh of relief that all went well and aren't the birds all nice, when Jules said to me "do you know, a couple of peacocks would be grand here!!" Well, you never know!! Mike
Hello Nora! Thanks for watching - they will have to be put in again for a couple of weeks because I do not think they are old enough to know how to go back home or roost in trees. Have a good day. Mike
I think Joan has that natural touch and would put the birds at ease, whereas I would probably traumatise them for life! Thanks for watching. Unfortunately, they did not go back that night, but we were lucky to quietly "round them up" at 9pm and herd them into the bottom of the hen house. Today's task will be to put them back in their "jail" for another couple of weeks, I am afraid to say.
I remember Gran's outside loo! And that horrible, rough paper - Jeyes?!! (or similar?) The birds had a lovely wander all day, and seemed very happy, grazing away on the grass, but unfortunately, they did not go back that night, but we were lucky to quietly "round them up" at 9pm and herd them into the bottom of the hen house. Today's task will be to put them back in their "jail" for another couple of weeks, I am afraid to say.
Awesome I love all farm animals of all kinds and not too eat either lol any ways when I move too my original home when i was a kid I totally am going too raise Geese chickens Pigeons are me fav and ducks and totally let them all live freely ofcourse with a pen and all but afterseeing this Guinea Fowls is going too add them cheers andthank you Sir much love from canada eh !
what I heard from the outset, and what we did, was to release one at a time. You let the first one out, leave it like that for a week, then a second, wait a week, etc. until they are all out. The first one won't want to leave because it'd be alone, and by the end of a week it has gotten used to staying in the area and won't want to change its habits so the second stays as well so it won't be alone. Did you raise them from keets or get them as adults? We've never bought a grown bird, so I don't know if the rules change or not. Ours wander all around during the day and come home to roost at night. In fact, just earlier they were visiting the neighbors. We never have to go find them. Of course, about half the flock is missing right now but I suspect this is due to brooding females.
Thanks for your interesting comment (you have a great channel name!). Some time after the release we also heard about the "release one bird" method. I bought these from a trusted breeder as keets and they all did very well. They were easily herded back into their home at night, endured their first winter and then, just as they were beginning to fly properly, started wanting to roost way up on the roof of our double story house at night - no problems. BUT - they chose to do this just as they were becoming strong and also just as the worst weather in 50 years hit West Cork. Hurricanes and floods, so much damage and the first night of this terrifying weather they were blown off the roof and carried way into the mountain and forest, never to be seen again! Sad. I now have another bird house set up within an enclosure, mainly for hospitalising birds, introducing new hens etc, but MAY get some more Guinea's one day and keep them there for about 3 months before letting them free range.
***** ugh, we had the whole polar vortex winter this year. No guineas died from it, but there are plenty of frostbitten toes and wattles. Then the foxes started showing up and carried one off. Another died of an aneurysm. But that was out of sixteen birds. Now the hens are nesting, but I am still worried because the fox has been spotted chasing the flock in broad daylight! I don't know where any of them are nesting, so I can't really do anything but wait and pen the broods up if they appear. Our first year we got a few and let them go too early, and all at once and they joined a wild flock that wanders this portion of the state.
Blender Eripex Good luck with the babies. Luckily, even though we are some way up a mountain with forest all around, we have had very little problems with foxes. Last year there was a big dog fox kept coming, so we bought a fox friendly trap, but the cunning thing ignored it and all the enticing (smelly) food we put in. So we called in the fox callers. The man or men usually work around lambing time, they come at night with infra red glasses, a mirror and a piece of plastic. They scrape the mirror and it sort of makes the sound of a female fox in heat (!), the fox appears to see what is going on and then, I am afraid, that is the end of him. Foxes are not hunted here at all, but in lambing season the farmers have to protect their main source of income. Anyway, they never got him but he has not been back since.
***** I've heard at least three of the suckers- at one time! Also I know there are sometimes coyotes around here. We have dogs to help deal with predators, but we are in an unfortunate period where our fence is down so we can redo it. So there are many places a fox can get in here. We don't bother with trying to keep things like that alive, there are just too many of them to be worth being nice to. Same with rabbits, the cats and dogs catch them from time to time. We lost a nesting duck to a fox last year, but fortunately her eggs were still alive, despite being very cold when I found them. I incubated them and hatched out six ducklings.
You are not only a great musician! You are a hard worker! I am from the village, I peasant. two questions: 1) Why is the grass in the yard? (bird rarely goes for a walk?) 2) In the forest there are no wild animals ?? bear, wolf, fox, marten ?? where the fence ???? Вы не только прекрасный музыкант! Вы труженик! Я из деревни, я крестьянин. два вопроса: 1) почему во дворе есть трава?( что птица редко выходит гулять?) 2) В лесу нет диких животных?? медведь, волк, лиса, куница?? где забор????
Привет, приятно познакомиться с вами на "RU-vid". Спасибо за ваши комментарии и вопросы :) Позвольте мне прежде всего сказать, что у вас есть очень хороший канал, это так приятно видеть молодых людей играющих на инструментах. Является ли это братья и сестры? Теперь, чтобы ответить на ваши вопросы: Птицы свободно перемещаться в любом месте, с 8 утра, пока не начинает темнеть. Мне повезло, что область, где я живу представляет собой смесь горы и леса, и птицы имеют более 4 гектаров земли, но также может войти в лесном хозяйстве, который составляет приблизительно 200 акров. Там нет заборов или провода и в лесу много оленей, которые часто приходят в дом, поскольку нет никаких границ. Там нет опасных животных в Республике Ирландия, только лисы и горностаи и ласки. Есть некоторые Белохвостый орлов рыбы и некоторые канюки, но они не являются проблемой. Есть никаких змей вообще, возможно человек не будет держать змею в качестве домашнего животного, если они покупают один от заводчика, но Ирландия не имеет диких или родные змей. Я надеюсь, что ответил на некоторые из ваших вопросов, спасибо за ваш интерес. С наилучшими пожеланиями, Майк Hello, it is nice to meet you on "RU-vid". Thank you for your comments and your questions :) May I first say that you have a very nice channel, it is so nice to see young people playing instruments. Is this brothers and sisters? Now, to answer your questions: The birds are free to roam anywhere, from 8am until it begins to get dark. I am lucky that the area where I live is a mixture of mountain and forest and the birds have over 4 acres of land, but COULD also enter into the forestry which is about 200 acres. There are no fences or wires and in the forest are many deer which often come up to the house, as there are no boundaries. There are no dangerous animals in Republic of Ireland, only foxes and stoats and weasels. There are some White tailed Fish Eagles and some buzzards, but they are no problem. There are no snakes at all, maybe a person will keep a snake as a pet if they buy one from a breeder, but Ireland has no wild or native snakes. I hope this answers some of your questions, thank you for your interest. Best wishes, Mike
+Anthony Aguilar They basically forage for themselves - all sorts of grubs, but i also give them ordinary hen layers pellets and the occasional tin of sweetcorn.
ha haa iv'e watched the whole thing and i liked it I am the type of person whoucould and does watchingmy animalsas they are I used toohave gandergeese strong birds for sure they chased and fought dogs bears yes bears but the only thing that they could not fight was THOSE BLOODY COYOTE's wehave here in canada they are soo sly and what not a coyote got one of my geese ithappened soo fast the poor goose had like 1 second too react I miss that Gander goose it wwas the male one he got hefought a blk bear once AND won plus the Reserve Dogs too sany way's thanks for the Up loads eh Cheers
Do bears eat your chickens, because I had a bear completely destroy our families chickens coop and eat every single chicken and duck we had( except for 1 chickens and 1 duck we saved). We are try everything we can to keep that bear off our property. We have baby guinea fowls and chicks, so we need to solve this bear problem before we put the guinea fowls and chicks back on our property. Help
orion kwon There are no ferocious predators in Ireland. There are not any snakes. The only animal we have which will kill chickens is the fox, but it is easy to protect poultry from foxes. We do not even have large birds of prey here, just hawks and kestrels but they are not very common. All we have is rain - lots of it!! I sorry to hear that you have problems with bear's - this must be very hard to prevent.
