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.

Guineas and Chickens

The guineas and Dottie the chicken roosting together

The three guineas that remain from our original six have taken to living with the various groups of chickens on the farm. They spend their nights in Hen-a-Bago II and their days generally wandering with the group of chickens free ranging near our house. We have had a few close calls with the road being nearby, but no accidents thus far.

Guineas poking their heads out of the Hen-a-Bago II

Guineas in the chicken roost

They still haphazardly wander around the farm making lots of noise, but, until recently, always found their way back to the chicken coop for the night.  For some reason they've decided to roost outside again.  At first they alternated between a large cedar tree and the fence-top around the coop.  Now they choose to stay in the vicinity of the stationary coop near the tool shed and, so far, they're surviving.

Guineas wandering the lane

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.    

Before and After-- Looking Back at our Animals!

We were looking through our photographs the other day and realizing just how much our animals (or farm staff) have grown over the last season! In this post we share some photos of the "before and after" of the no-longer-babies so you can see how much they have grown! 

GOATS

Baby

Charlie with baby Simon, still at breeder's facility before the kid is old enough to come to the farm.

Adolescent

Getting there, not quite adult yet, but growing larger! 

CHICKENS

Babies, our first run of chicks--a straight run mixed variety of heavy, dual-purpose breeds.

Adolescent Rhode Island Reds and Partridge Rocks

Adult

GUINEAS

Babies aka keets

Adolescent

Getting there, not quite adults, but we are starting to see more of their adult features! 

Unfortunately, we are also seeing fewer guineas as 3 have been taken by predators.  Apparently guineas are especially enjoyed by hungry wild critters such as raccoon and owls who hunt at night when guineas are vulnerable due to their natural desire to roost in trees. We have three surviving guineas who seem to be smart enough to keep themselves alive by sleeping each night in the large hen-a-bago with the Rhode Island Reds and Partridge Rocks. 

Photo, courtesy of Jami Ansell

SOFIE

Our guardian livestock dog

The day she arrived at the farm in June 2011.

Adolescent, she still has some growing up to do! 

Photo, courtesy of Jami Ansell

Photo, courtesy of Jami Ansell

Our first year with our hard-working staff of animals has been both an adventure and a learning experience! 

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.