Birds of Prey?

[iPiggy]

It's nice and warm outside and I really want to take my pigs outside. We have alot of chicken hawks and other birds of prey around my house; I can hear them calling all the time. If I was sitting right there, watching my piggies, would a hawk or another bird try to swoop down and grab a guinea, or are they not that brave when it comes to humans?

[Paula]

It's really not possible to predict the behavior of any wild bird. It's best to be safe, and if you're going to have your guinea pig outside and you know birds or other predators are nearby, put a cover on the outdoor enclosure, even if you're going to be close to the pig(s) at all times.

[SnowFlower]

Originally Posted by iPiggy

It's nice and warm outside and I really want to take my pigs outside. We have alot of chicken hawks and other birds of prey around my house; I can hear them calling all the time. If I was sitting right there, watching my piggies, would a hawk or another bird try to swoop down and grab a guinea, or are they not that brave when it comes to humans?

Edit: I agree with the previous poster

Origional: I would always play it safe and get a cover of some sort for your outside enclosure. Even with a cover never leave them outside alone. I wouldn't think a wild bird would swoop with a human there but you never know.

[iPiggy]

Ok Thanks I'm going to make a covered C&C cage (minus the coroplast of course).

[PiggieMom]

You may also want to use some tent stakes to secure the cage to the ground and some zipties to reinforce the cage. I know my grandmother has a horrible time with different birds of prey getting into her chicken pens. Never underestimate their strength and wit. Plus, it's better to be safe than sorry. Hope you all have fun outside!

[iPiggy]

Yes, my family has also had trouble with our chickens (that's when all the hawks started showing up). But I definately will use stakes and zipties. We may even make a pen out of chicken with with a wood cover over it... That has worked for the chickens... so far.

[blackarrow]

What's worked for me is to set up the piggie playpen under a low table. (Mine happens to be a dog agility table, but a picnic table or the like should work too.) The birds won't go after them if they can't see them, and of course it's good to keep piggies in the shade anyhow. You still have to stay with them to make sure that stray dogs, snakes, etc. don't come by, but it's a big help.

[Pollyerrington]

Def use a covered pen. The cheapest and easiest way is to get a large strip of chicken/mesh wire. About 2 metres minimum in length and as wide as you can buy it.

Curve it to make a long 'U' or half pipe. Buy about 4 bamboo sticks from a garden centre and weave it in and out of the edges of the mesh wire or use cable ties. This helps keeps the edges straight and weighs it down. (shape should look like this https://www.omlet.co.uk/images/emily_feld_eglu.gif )

Using wire cutters cut 2 semi circle shapes to fit either end of the run. You can use cable ties to fix the semi circles to the front and back of the main run. You can also cut a little door and fold back any metal bits that are sticking out. That way you have access to the piggies for putting them in and getting them out of the run.

Use about 6-8 tent pegs to secure to the ground.

This is such a cheap and very esay way to make a covered run (takes about 30 mins to make max)

See link to my rubbish illustration below:

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4069/runqdr.jpg

Hope this helps!