Re: trees vs perfect roosting shed

[K M Edgar]

Peeps,

Don't be too sure until you've tried a shed. Your birds may prefer a
shed to a tree. I have an oak tree here...not 50ft from the
implement shed...its 3 times the size of your California Live Oaks.
So...it is possible your birds will prefer a shed to a tree.
Remember...my birds are free ranged and the implement shed and the
tree are both inside the perimeter fence. The birds have had an equal
choice of one place vs the other and have chosen the shed. My belief
is if you build a better mousetrap...they go for it.

If they end up roosting in a shed...you'll not need a run...because
they not get soaked. I've never had a wet bird problem unless you
extend it to ducks.

Kelly

--
a Message from "Guinea Fowl Assn of America" your personal guinea friends group

[Stormie]

I have a file for this list, and I'm seeing so many interesting subjects stacking up in it . . .  but I haven't had time to sit and read them.   : (   I didn't just disappear off the planet, but RL is getting in my way right now.  I hope to be a better contributor in the future, but for now just know:  if you sense someone reading over your shoulder, that would be me. 

Stormie 

[K M Edgar]

Stormie,

Nice to hear from you.

Kelly

[Peeps]

I'll most likely be MIA all weekend, my Mom and Brother are coming
tomorrow to stay the whole weekend here. The BLM burro delivery got
postponed til tomorrow and I have a keet sale scheduled for tomorrow
afternoon too. Busy Busy. See you guys Sunday night... if I survive
the weekend, lol.

[moxeeguy]

I'm gonna hammer away at this topic further. Most who understand
Guinea Fowl realize they have been roosting in trees in Africa for
millions of years...and they actually have survived out in the open.
Gosh imagine that. If poultry folks were polled....more than 95% of
them with guinea fowl have them in locked up enclosures at night. Is
it necessary for them to be locked up to live. Not one chance in a
million. They're locked up because the people who have
guineas....also have chickens. Most chickens are roosting 4-5ft off
the ground and so are their guineas. We've all known people who are
involved in herding their guineas into a structure. Has anyone
wondered why the guineas have to be herded to go to roost at night in
these locked up structures? The answer is....guineas don't like being
locked up. They'd go in voluntarily if the structure were perfect to
their taste. Trees are the natural habitat of guineas. A poultry
shed could emulate a tree. A shed can provide better protection from
raptors at night and from the elements. If a shed were correctly
constructed to the "taste" of guinea fowl....we'd certainly find they
would be delighted to roost in the shed and not have to be herded.
Clearly a shed can be superior than trees in providing protection for
guinea fowl...if done right. My birds roost in a shed...I do nothing
to get them to go to roost in the evenings.

I know this is not rocket science....but so much is made of the need
to lock up the flocks. The way most people discuss this topic...the
suggestion to allow the flocks to free range day and night is treated
like heresy. Of course...the reasoning again is clear. Most people
lock up their poultry because they're on postage stamp lots...90% of
the guinea owners in the USA are along the Eastern seaboard where real
estate costs simply makes having 10+ acres an impossiblity to 99.99%
of the potentential guinea fowl owners.

If the birds are safe at night...why lock them up? The answer...I
believe is many people keep their birds on "postage stamp lots" and as
a result..they're forced to house the flocks in tiny structures.
Those on property greater than 10 acres....are fine and are not forced
to use tiny poultry housing or forced to house their guineas with
chickens.

What do you think...open for discussion.

Kelly