Now There are Two

Now there are two. . .

Our guinea population has been reduced in size yet again. A week ago today we lost our 4th guinea--the first to a vehicle rather than a predator.  At first the two remaining guineas seemed to be mourning, wandering around & aimlessly chirping for their flockmate, but they seem to settling down to be a flock of two. It has been quite an experience starting with six keets (the name for a baby guinea), watching them grow, and interact with the chickens. We haven't even had them a year yet; when we do acquire more keets, we'll begin with about twice as many and hope to have more survivors.  Maybe these two will still be here to instruct the young ones.

Not-so-Graceful Guineas

A while ago we let the guineas out of their pen to wander the property. Releasing them has confirmed our suspicion that they are not the brightest critters in the world, particularly when it comes to maneuvering around objects.  They are entertaining when they roost on top of various buildings on the farm. . .

Guineas on top of the brooder house

When it comes to the guineas being separated from one another, they cannot seem to figure out how to go around fences or doors in order to be together again!

 The guineas will spend hours running along fences making noises at one another and trying to figure out how to be reunited. Thus, not-so-graceful guineas!

Also, not so many guineas any more as we lost 2 (during the night) to predators the week before Christmas.  The remaining 3 must be the ones with survival skills because they have not returned to the tree from which the 2 dearly departed were taken and now sleep in the large hen-a-bago with the Rhode Island Reds and Partridge Rocks.  During the day they roam about the farm and, alas, the neighbor's yard.  As the sun begins to set they head back to the roosts inside hen-a-bago 2.  We haven't lost any more so it seems to be a plan that's working for them--and for us.  We like these goofy looking (and acting), noisy, tick-eating guys or gals--we still are not sure what we have.    

Feeding the Guineas

The guineas and their newfound excitement

 The guineas are getting larger and have finally picked up on us giving them insects, usually attached to pieces of a plant. They have been rather shy for some time, but because we have been tossing insects to them, they have come to like our visits to their pen.

 The grasses in our yard have started to seed, and since the guineas have not taken much of a liking to the fruits and rinds we give the chickens, we started giving them the tall grass blades with the seeds.

 They love it! They will thrash around in a pile of grass looking for the seeds immediately after it hits the ground!

It will not be long before the guineas will be ready to be let out during the day in order to free range for their food and explore the property.  See how bright orange their legs and feet are.  That is characteristic of keets or young guinea fowl.  As adults they will have dark legs and feet.