Guinea talk.

[GlennLee]

Wow! You'll have to let us know how many you end up with. That will be a fun experience to watch as things progress. From what you have said about Mary Jane, she's just asserting herself and trying to convince Spider to follow along. Enjoy!

 

[pattyhen]

I took a pic of the egg and posted it on the guinea 101 sight and they thought it might be a little chicken egg. It wasn't the right color or shape for a guinea egg. I am glad it wasn't I hope she waits until spring to lay.

How are you guineas doing? Are they enjoying the extra space?

 

[charid]

I hope it all works out GlennLee. My birds were very aggressive when they started pairing off. Also just establish a pecking order is sloppy and cruel too. Once they free range they should hash it out amongst themselves. I have never had a prolonged bout of fighting except while pairing off and in new flocks of older birds.

I understand too that they had to get out of them crates regardless. At least now the ones being attacked have a greater chance of defending themself or avoiding conflict. Too bad the other old bird is so aggressive. Really hope it works out and no more birds get injured.

 

[GlennLee]

I guess it's a good thing you didn't have a Guinea egg, Patti. It seemed very early - I would have thought at least another month minimum, but then I had one female doing her buckwheat call at 5 weeks. I think she's interested in Henry and he is interested in her as well. Now they are separated, but maybe they'll be back together again in a few weeks. The keets are loving the extra space and I haven't noticed any more face pecking recently.

I let Henry out of the crates yesterday to free range a bit. He never left the area, just kept walking around the coop / run. After the keets were put into the coop, he was brought into the run (with the bell and meal worms) to spend the night. I'll toss him out this morning before I let the keets out again. I can keep this going for another month until I start free ranging the keets, then he'll have to be crated again. We can try reintroducing after a while and maybe it will work this time. Fingers crossed...

 

[pattyhen]

I'm glad their getting along. I hope by the time they free range Henry is adjusted to seeing them so much that he won't be mean to them. I'm glad he stayed around and went back in the pen last night. There is hope for him and your going threw a lot to let him adjust to the little ones.

I've noticed Spider teasing the ducks. He runs toward them and they run and he seems to enjoy them being afraid of him. He doesn't bite them. I hope he isn't turning mean. I want them to get along with the chickens and the ducks. He doesn't do the chickens that way because they don't run from him like the ducks.

Have a nice day.

 

[GlennLee]

Oh gosh! That's crazy that Spider is teasing the ducks. I've heard that there can be problems between the ducks and Guineas with that. It sounds like he's having fun playing a rough game of tag. I'll bet you're right - he loves watching them run. I know when Henry is out and I ring the bell with the meal worms, he will chase after me (not aggressively), running behind me back to the coop. I think they just like to run after things. They look like a roadrunner when they do that.

 

[pattyhen]

I can picture that you with a cow bell and a container of meal worms and George doing his best impression of a roadrunner trailing along behind you. They are funny little birds aren't they. I think Spider and Mary Jane have found that there is bugs in the grass now. They comb the yard looking for things to eat. Mary Jane tried to eat a lightening bug but I don't think she enjoyed the flavor.

 

[Turkey parents]

Finally getting some pictures of Mars to load for those who haven't seen her and how neat she was here you go

 

[pattyhen]

She was beautiful it almost looked like she posed for the camera. Thanks for sharing her pic with us.

 

[GlennLee]

Such a pretty sweet girl... thank you for taking the time to post it again, turkey parent.