Murderous birds!

From: Kathleen (sbffalo_at_bbtel.com)
Date: 07/27/04 

Date: 27 Jul 2004 03:59:53 -0700

Hi, All!
I put the young guineas outside in the house and enclosure with the
ducklings that had been there for a couple of weeks. They spent the
first day inside for the most part, terrorizing the ducklings all
morning. Then they followed the ducklings out into the run. All
seemed well at last, with scratching and harmonious noises.
As I was preparing to leave for shopping, I heard a bird in distress.
Upon getting to the pen, I find the two adult guineas have flown in
and are murdering the young guineas! They did not chase out easily
and only left when I tried to get my hands on them to forcibly eject
them from the pen. Then the female returned when my back was turned!
I lost three youngsters immediately, four I threw back into the bird
house with the ducklings and closed the door. We found another one
outside the pen later.
Why?
I know she had several nests started under that same tree on the other
side of the fence corner and had just lost the latest one that morning
to some predator. But why would she murder young guineas? They were
about eight inches high, about 1/3 grown. She had never bothered the
ducklings and didn't this time.
Now I am even wondering if she destroyed her own nests when the babies
started pipping.
She and her hubby are free-range. There is another male on the
property, but they have nothing to do with him. The guineas have
access to supplemental feed.
Any takers?

Kathleen
Straw Barry Fields Farm
Beefalo
Kentucky, USA

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