Beachwood Civic Association

Does anyone know who would be keeping a flock of guinea hens in the Beachwood area? These type of birds are to be treated as chickens and are NOT ALLOWED in residential areas within the city limits.  They are LOUD  and squawk and squeal all day long and for some reason they seem to migrate to my lawn on Marina Drive.  I wouldn't mind it so much if they just pecked around but the noise is driving me crazy.  I've tried turning up the TV as loud as I can and I can't seem to drown them out.  I've tried contacting animal control about three times but can't seem to get much done. 

The guinea hens have been in Beachwood for approximately 10 yrs.  there was a house on Sail Ave. that had them plus other numerous animals.  When they moved out, they just let the animals loose, inc. the guinea hens.  Once they know you will do them no harm, they make no sqwaking noises.  You can walk right past them and they won't make a peep.  Now if you are new to the area, or mess with them, they make a racket.  They are actually good for the neighborhood because they eat numerous bugs.  a lot of people buy them for that reason.  Animal control knows they've been in the area for yrs. and they are considered a protected species.  If anyone is caught messing with them, it is a felony.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you on a few points.  I can be in the house and I will begin to hear the squawking. I look out the door and no one is around the birds disturbing them.  Sometimes it appears that one has gotten lost from the others and this appears to what may have triggered the vocalizations. I have never "messed" with them nor will I.  I already know that they are good about eating bugs, etc. but the noise overrides the any benefits that they may provide. I have been here for 21 years and have never noticed them or this problem up until April of this year so I don't know about the ten-year thing. I have actually had guests in my home who have heard them and asked "what are those things doing in this type of neighborhood?" and I actually don't know what to say. It is one of the most irritating sounds I have ever heard, like someone raking fingernails over a chalkboard.  I think it was very inconsiderate for someone to bring something like this in to a neighborhood like this and then just move out and just let them run loose for everyone else who lives her to have to deal with.  And believe it or not, I am an animal lover.

The guineas have always stayed on Sail Ave. and is just recently that they have been wondering off.  None of us know why they are roaming so much and I personally wish they wouldn't.  I know they bother a lot of people but they aren't doing it on purpose.  It was Asian people that had them in their backyard.  It started with 2 and at one time we had up to 7 or 8.  I saw one person purposely go up on someone's yard to run one over.   I called animal control on him and they came out and said about harming animals. Someone else ran 2 over and broke her windshield.  Someone called the police on her.  We've seen kids shooting at them from their car.  A neighbor on Sail went after those kids.  So if they are nervous birds, I really can't blame them.  They have been getting tortured for yrs. and it truly is 10 yrs.!!!!  Ask anyone on Sail Ave.  Also on Sail, a lady moved out and left 2 rabbits loose.  So at one time we've had up to 7 rabbits running our street.  We are now down to one.  Not sure what happened to all of them.  And have you ever noticed the black cats all over our neighborhood?  You can thank the house on Sands for that one.  I personally went there twice and told her about the free spay/neuter program and even offered to take her cats for her.  I got no where with her.  So it is frustrating all these people that get these animals and just let them loose.  But you have eased my mind about you being mean to them.  I was hoping you wouldn't do anything to them.  They know all of us now that if they start sqwaking, we can go out and talk to them for a minute and they calm down.  Very strange.