How to tame a guinea for show?

Funny question? Only to those who do not have guineas.
I have a guinea here that I was planning on entering into the show (just so Steve has some competition), but they go into a cage and go CRAZY. Bumping their heads, running at the doors, etc...
I thought maybe caging a week or so before hand would help, but not so sure, He might just be a beat up mess by the show day?

Maybe some happy pills?

mirycreek wrote:Maybe some happy pills?

I might need those happy pills for the ride up and the cooping of said bird...

A blindfold and a cigarette!

I will bring the fireing squad.

Sue

I have heard that taxidermists have quite a bit of success in that department.

Arcticsun wrote:I have heard that taxidermists have quite a bit of success in that department.

Will the judge give extra points if it is a stuffed guinea?

On a serious note though, how do I stop him from beating himself up against the metal cage?

I think you are going to have a problem with that, they don't like to be in small areas and as for tame I have only seen a couple and they were human raised with out any other around till 8 weeks and they still were very flighty

Hidden River wrote:

Arcticsun wrote:I have heard that taxidermists have quite a bit of success in that department.

Will the judge give extra points if it is a stuffed guinea?

On a serious note though, how do I stop him from beating himself up against the metal cage?

Stuffed Guinea? Sounds delish!

I am intensely sorry. I am having A DAY and a lot of difficulty being serious.

Sue

I would think that it might be calmer if it is in a dark box. What about putting it in a bodysock of some sort, like they do for geese and turkeys?
Then in a dark box.
Full of happy gas.


What about a padded box to go with that straight jacket? Maybe a flake on all 4 sides.

I think this problem could be the reason why they are fairly new to the show world. I have never seen "Show quality" Guinea's, but some are definitely better quality than others.

Getting a Guinea tame before the show would be impossible. I think your best bet would be to take an old towel and once you get the bird in the show cage, wrap the towel around the cage. Try to keep it as calm as possible; therefor in the best feather condition for the judge.

This should also keep em' a bit more quiet!

Cant think of anything else..

I know that if it did not stress them out so much I would bring a few to the show, I have some that are 8 pounds and perfict feather and some that are 1round 4 pounds in 4 or 5 different colors that i think would do very well but once again stress.

You could bring them to the banquet, Pops!

Sue

TysExotics wrote:I think this problem could be the reason why they are fairly new to the show world. I have never seen "Show quality" Guinea's, but some are definitely better quality than others.

Getting a Guinea tame before the show would be impossible. I think your best bet would be to take an old towel and once you get the bird in the show cage, wrap the towel around the cage. Try to keep it as calm as possible; therefor in the best feather condition for the judge.

This should also keep em' a bit more quiet!

Cant think of anything else..

Well I wont tame him before the show then, he is going to be in better condition free ranging with his friends, will put him in a solid dog crate for the journey and hope for the best once he is in his cage at the show.

Schipperkesue wrote:You could bring them to the banquet, Pops!

Sue

I had Guinea for the first time a few days ago and it is very very good, all dark meat and super tasty

pops coops wrote:

Schipperkesue wrote:You could bring them to the banquet, Pops!

Sue

I had Guinea for the first time a few days ago and it is very very good, all dark meat and super tasty

Well there you go! Lets disinvite all guineas to the show and owners can bring them to dinner instead. Yum!

Sue

I can't beleive Liz, the queen of the pet chicken hasn't found this thread yet. Just wait until she does, I am sure she will be able to help you.

(Although I have never seen a calm guinea, in a showroom or out.)

I think if the cage thing is going to be an issue we will drape the cage top with some type of material to make them more comfortable. We will not have a bird injuring it self.
Guinea showing is more common in the U.S. Dave Anderson put a Guinea up for best in show once, so you never know what will happen.

Liz is right! that sounds like the best thing we can do, just put a sheet over the guinea cages to keep them comfortable!

Sounds like a good idea.

So who is all bringing guineas? I want to see Liz bath one...

Just like many birds that run in the open range are flightier then birds kept in pens. I had Sumatras that were as wild as guinea fowl or pheasants. I would wash them a couple of time before a show and handle them lots and they get a lot tamer and calm down. Also when you are training them for the show first put them a very small cage where they cannot jump around. Once in the cage put the cage where you would constantly be walking past it so the bird gets used to having people around it. Then move it to a large cage, show cage size, once it's starts to settle down.

,

I was at the Loydminster show on Nov 12 and touch my Reeves Male, and any body that has had Reeves pheasants know they are one of the flightiest and mine is one of the worst I have had yet. He traveled to the show in a card board box that was completly covered and when I first let him go he flew up a couple times and after that it was like he was a totaly different bird, people were walking around looking at the birds and he hardly even jumped up for the 2 days he was at the show. Now that he is back in his normal pen just as flighty as ever. So I dont know why he was less flighty at the show but all the pheasants for that matter seemed less flighty than usual. I know this doesnt help but just take it to the show it might surprise you, I know my pheasants did.

Time and patience anything can be accomplished it takes perseverance I have one with no feet that loves to be carried also have a clutch of Americanas that love to be carried every were but hard to carry 9 hens around.