Dixie Chicks

[perchie.girl]

Guinea Keets napping after a long trip from northern California.... The light colored ones were lavenders. the ones with dark bodies and white shrug sweaters are Royal purples the ones with all bacon stripes are Pearls. I didnt want any whites or pieds... The lavendars were the first to get picked off by predators.



Royal purple Guinea not mine just a good illustration of one.


Still bacon heads just about ready to go to the coop from the brooder. They were off the heat by now but the temps outside at that time were 95+-. When they get their first juvenile feathers in they all are pretty much the same color with the exception of the lavenders. You can only spot the royal Purples because their faces remain white.

Once the adult plumage comes in thats when you see polka dots. And the Casque begins to grow. the horn on top of their heads. First year guineas coming into sexual maturity will develop a rich blue hue to their white faces.... Their wattles turn bright red on the tips. This is when Guineas are the most wild....



deb

 

[perchie.girl]

My goodness keets are cute ( keets, is that the right word for guinea chick?)

Yep Keets.... My aim when I get back home is to breed them. They dont have the issues chickens have with diseases.... they dont get Mareks at all. And Coccidosis while it can happen is a non issue for me ..... I have never fed medicated feed. For any of them.

I think its the dry air... No moisture that lands on the ground stays damp for more than a minute. thouhg I have seen chickens seek out a cecal poo and nibble on it.

But I have never had a case of pasty butt or issues with adults.

deb

 

[hennible]

I could go for some dry air... It's terribly and unusually humid this winter, and I'm dang sure my BO roo has mild frost bite on his comb tips and waddles... Poor kid.

 

[perchie.girl]

Guineas are awesome! I love all the noise they make.

LOL.... you must like noise.... just ten Guineas can raise the decibal level to where you cant have a conversation.... I learned a trick from working in the petshop though. ALL Birds will shut up and look up if you make a soft whistle through your teeth. Even Guineas.

But they make several different noises.... A buzz like a bee, a Squeeky hinge noise, A soft Churup noise (food)... and of course ALAAARM ALAAARM... noise when you go outside in your pink bathrobe.... Then only the females make a noise that sounds like Buck Wheat or Come back.... over and over and over and over and over again....

If you listen closely that two syllable noise can be heard in the Keets too. Though sexing Guineas isnt an issue. They pair off in the wild so there is no issue with having lots of males. Oh there is some feather pulling but usually they just run and chase to show off for the girls.

deb

 

[Beer can]

I had the pearl gray guineas, would like to get some again, but they are not cheap.

 

[BriardChickens]

What do people keep guineas for? is it meat, eggs,...?

 

[hennible]

Both I think....

 

[perchie.girl]

I could go for some dry air... It's terribly and unusually humid this winter, and I'm dang sure my BO roo has mild frost bite on his comb tips and waddles... Poor kid.

Dry air has its drawbacks as well. Anything wood in the house has to be fed with a good oil base polish more often... I have had two chairs that have split in half now. Same goes for faces.... LOL

We are constantly at about 15 percent with dips down to single digets during the winter and summer....

deb

 

[hennible]

I just want say 30% this 80+ humidity is hard on the birds... But we can't have everything now can we...
Lol cracked faces

 

[perchie.girl]

What do people keep guineas for? is it meat, eggs,...?

Both I think....

Yep both.... I started out with another reason.... Burglar alarm. They will alarm at anything new or unexpected... I am two miles from the Mexican border. And have border patrol crossing through the property on a regular basis. That alarm tendancy helps keep the chickens safer too.

Another reason is they are excellent buggers Probably better than chickens. Here we have deer ticks. Even during the drought Ticks are known to be able to live without food or water for a full on year. When I used to ride horses through the chaparral the duty after the ride was to pick ticks off.... My record was 35 off my horse and about five off me.

Also I have personally witnessed my first flock of five males ESCORT a coyote off my property.... Screetching and lunging at him with their feathers raised and threatening to peck him if he slowed down. He kept looking back like... "This aint Right...."

My first flock of guineas I bought for five bucks a piece off craigs list. All males and at least five years old. The remnant of a much larger flock this woman had at one time. The Hens are the ones that get picked off sooner especially if the are down in the brush laying an egg.

deb