Friday, August 2, 2013

Guinea Update v1.0

Since some of y'all might want to see and hear how the guineas are doing, here's a picture made this morning.

Some are still camera shy!

All are doing fine.  They peck constantly, too often on the side of box and loud enough I sometimes think there's someone at the door.  Lately, the only time they are totally quiet is when they're asleep.  I've been taking them outside every day lately and putting them in a box with the bottom out.  From the moment their feet touch the ground they begin pecking and scratching the earth.  I think the days of the insects having their way around here are few.

I've been putting cat litter and shredded paper in the bottom of the box that I keep them in when inside.  While they are outside I change this out.  So far this has worked fine.  I'm not sure how long this will work but I'm taking Scarlett Ohara's view on what comes next - "I'll think about that tomorrow."

14 comments:

ADRIAN said...

They are beauties Dave. I'll have to get some, I'll limit myself to a couple of Banty chicks they'll hold their own with the dogs.
Is it safe to use cat litter? It's expanded clay and might block them up?

David Oliver said...

I thought about getting Banty chicks instead of guineas. They are beauties especially the ones with feathers all the way down to their feet. And they can fly! So yeah they should be fine with the dogs and probably do okay here. I just didn't think I could find any.

Your dogs might be like Leo about the fowl. He hasn't given me a bit of trouble.

I think I'll google the cat litter and see if I can find out anything...

Carol Kilgore said...

I have a friend in a rural area who had a guinea hen. She was a great guard. These babies are adorable!

Happy Weekend :)

David Oliver said...

Thanks Carol. The truth is I like them more than I thought I would. They are afraid of me but getting a little more tame.

Happy Weekend to you too! :)

Yorkshire Pudding said...

"I'll think about that tomorrow." is probably a good philosophy to have - not just in the raising of guinea fowl.

David Oliver said...

Yep. Sometimes you wake up and know just what to do about a situation. Maybe there's a solution spirit that visits you in the night or well, whenever you are sleeping.

I've got a couple things rolling around in my brain right now and I'm hoping for visit soon. :)

Should Fish More said...

There are some fly patterns that call for Guinea feathers as either the hackle or the tail. I have some of the tails and necks in the tying room. Quite pretty, an interesting pattern on the individual feathers.

Also good braised in red wine, I'm told.

I'm sure they're cute, enjoy. I won't ask for one.........

cheers,
Mike

David Oliver said...

As for color, until these, all I had ever seen were what I would call speckled. I'm curious what these will look like when grown.

About the wine and asking for one...
Well, if they begin reproducing at some point, I might have to take drastic measures. Just don't ever tell me what you do with them.

Gorilla Bananas said...

So do you think they'll become attached to you and sit on your shoulder?

David Oliver said...

*laughing* I don't think so. They still run to the other end of the box when I put in clean water and food. They have much more of a wild nature than chickens.

Truthfully, I don't want 12 full grown guineas landing on my shoulder, lap, wherever they can find a free space. It might seem too much like Hitchcock's "The Birds." Also I already have a cat who has laid claim to my lap. :(

Phillip Oliver said...

Do you have a place outside where they can roost at night (or do guineas roost?)

David Oliver said...

I believe they do. I'm not sure their sleeping is the same as chickens though. The preacher said when grown they would roost in the trees. I don't know if I'll like that. I'm not sure yet just what I'll do. My only plan is what I'll do when they get too big for the cardboard box and too small to set free outside. I'm going to put them in Mr. Buns' (the rabbit) old cage in a dry place at my out building.

I'll probably have a use for all those old newspapers and any kind of paper I can use for a liner in the bottom. All of this stuff can be composted. It just takes space and a long time. That is not a problem.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Excellent. You're having fun, and probably getting little sleep, over there. They look very cute and amusing.

xoRobyn

David Oliver said...

Yeah, its been interesting having them around and taking care of them. So far they've only woke me up or kept me awake maybe 3 or 4 times. They only get really rowdy if I let them run out of feed and they get hungry.

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