Re: You Mean They FLY!?

From: Ray (cosmicpam_at_comcast.net)
Date: 07/28/04 

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 12:46:20 -0400

"Jim" <jim@blue-pepper.com> wrote in message
news:410732ff$1_2@newsfeed.slurp.net...
> Here is evidence that I never grew up on a farm and until a year ago
never
> held a chicken. Tonight a shipment came in from Arkansas of a variety
of
> chickens with 2 French Guinea Fowl. As we worked on unloading the
chickens
> and getting everyone settled in, the 2 Guineas FLEW into the trees!
>
> Note to self - these things FLY!
>
> After diligently climbing 25 feet into a tree and getting just close
enough
> to touch the tail end of one of the birds, they are now spending the
night
> in the trees. Does anyone have a suggestion on getting them back? When
(and
> if) I get them, can I clip their wings like I do our cockatiel?
>
> This can only bring to mind the classic episode of WKRP when Herb
Tarlic
> dropped live turkeys from a helicopter on Thanksgiving because he
thought
> they could fly.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> Jim

ROFL

I bought some keets, and after some research, found that the adults are
going to fly. They are supposed to be free range birds anyhow, so
that's of little consequence. Still, it came as a bit of a surprise.

As far as getting yours down -- well, if you are already willing to
climb a tree after them, try doing it at night. They are a whole lot
easier to snatch off a limb in the dark. Watch out, though -- they have
sharp toenails. Ask me how I know ;-) They haven't managed to break
the skin yet, but they can cause some pain when struggling to get free.

The problem we were having with our crew is that they prefer to stay in
the cage rather than run around and eat bugs like they're supposed to.
Now, however, they run around just fine. So do the chickens. In the
evening, we bribe/chase the whole lot back to the main cage. The
chickens sleep in their usual house, and the guineas sleep in a tree.
Those little monsters can get out any time they please.

To answer your other question: Yes, you can clip the wings if you want.
That puts them at more of a disadvantage with predators, though.

Ray Drouillard