Guinea talk.

[pattyhen]

I heard about the stick as well, but then was trying to brainstorm something that would be lighter and I could use two instead of just one. The pool noodles (from Dollar General) were just the ticket. I can move my flock of 12 very easily by myself. Here's a close up of Ella (short for Cinderella) perching near the rose hips. She was my only gal who went broody this fall (5 months old). You can get the full effect of what kind of fruit the rose hips provide for the birds. I make a yummy jelly out of them too. Thanks for your kind works on the pic. I can't take credit for the snow, but you are right... it is beautiful!

Love this pic of Ella. I see her all white feet and that's why you called her Cinderella. She is so pretty and I hope she hatches you some babies in the spring. Your view is really spectacular. My view is the factory across the road.

I never wanted to live in the country until I started getting older. Now I would love to live in the country. Take care and have a great day. Aubree will be going home in about 45 minutes she was sick so she couldn't go to daycare today.

 

[guineapeeps]

Just getting some fresh air here in Central New York! They were interested in eating the rose hips off the bushes. You can see the red berry like fruit if you look really hard. I think they would have roosted here overnight on the fence if I hadn't gotten after them with the pool noodles and herded them back to the barn. Silly birds.....

My guineas would be jealous to see yours outside in the fresh air! Mine have been locked inside for the last 3 days. We have had snow here in Iowa with Temps in the negatives. Saturday night it was -15 (-30 with the wind chill!) so I've had heaters running in the coop. I thought of letting them out for a bit today but was worried they would fly into the trees and not come back down with the snow on the ground. I definitely don't want them out in this weather at night getting frotbit wattles! I think we are supposed to get a heat wave tomorrow and be in the +20's! I hope the weather is not too bad for all of you!

 

[guineapeeps]

Guinea fowl noodling....

Btw....love the pictures of your guineas on the fence and the one of Ella! Also really love your awesome coop! It looks really big and super nice!

 

[pattyhen]

Guineapeeps those temps are really bad. I'm glad you got the heaters running. My guineas haven't been out for 3 days now since our temps have been below freezing. Today it's suppose to get up to 40 so I am going to let them out of the coop when it warms up. I am really shocked that everyone is getting along being shut up in the coop. The guineas have their table by the window that they usually stay on. They have their food bowl and water so they don't have to get down and compete with the chickens.

I hope everyone has a nice day and Rhonda your coop is huge. We have houses around here smaller then your coop.

Those guineas don't know how lucky they have it.

 

[GlennLee]

My guineas would be jealous to see yours outside in the fresh air! Mine have been locked inside for the last 3 days. We have had snow here in Iowa with Temps in the negatives. Saturday night it was -15 (-30 with the wind chill!) so I've had heaters running in the coop. I thought of letting them out for a bit today but was worried they would fly into the trees and not come back down with the snow on the ground. I definitely don't want them out in this weather at night getting frotbit wattles! I think we are supposed to get a heat wave tomorrow and be in the +20's! I hope the weather is not too bad for all of you!

Holy cow! Those are cold temps, guineapeeps. We have been single digits at night, but not below zero. Good think you are able to provide an additional heat source - I'm sure they appreciated it. I think you're right about them flying up into the trees and staying there for the night. That wouldn't have been a good thing for them or you. Funny when you think of +20 as a heat wave.... just goes to show - all things are relative.

 

[GlennLee]

Love this pic of Ella. I see her all white feet and that's why you called her Cinderella. She is so pretty and I hope she hatches you some babies in the spring. Your view is really spectacular. My view is the factory across the road.

I never wanted to live in the country until I started getting older. Now I would love to live in the country. Take care and have a great day. Aubree will be going home in about 45 minutes she was sick so she couldn't go to daycare today.

You are right, Patty - Ella is short for Cinderella because of her white feet - like glass slippers. She's the only one in the flock that doesn't have a mix of black patterning on her feet. I am hopeful that she will be a good mama this spring since she gave it a good try in the fall. Three of my females are now regularly spending time in the straw bale caves I created in the barn. It would be great if they decided to lay and go broody in there this spring. We'll see....

As for the rose hips, they seem to be at least pecking at them now, but there isn't too much else for them to find. I would think they would like them; they're a bit leathery from the winter weather, and have big seeds that probably taste good to them.

I bought a high protein grain block for them yesterday at TSC. I figured it was their Christmas present and might give them something to pass their time on those days when they can't get out of the coop. They can peck at the grain block rather than at each other! I'm still going to try hanging an apple too. Maybe I can get to that tomorrow.

So sorry to hear about Aubree. That's not fun for her to be sick or for you either. I bet she just wanted to cuddle up and keep warm. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[guineapeeps]

You are right, Patty - Ella is short for Cinderella because of her white feet - like glass slippers.  She's the only one in the flock that doesn't have a mix of black patterning on her feet.  I am hopeful that she will be a good mama this spring since she gave it a good try in the fall.  Three of my females are now regularly spending time in the straw bale caves I created in the barn.  It would be great if they decided to lay and go broody in there this spring.  We'll see....

As for the rose hips, they seem to be at least pecking at them now, but there isn't too much else for them to find.  I would think they would like them; they're a bit leathery from the winter weather, and have big seeds that probably taste good to them. 

I bought a high protein grain block for them yesterday at TSC.  I figured it was their Christmas present and might give them something to pass their time on those days when they can't get out of the coop.   They can peck at the grain block rather than at each other!  I'm still going to try hanging an apple too.  Maybe I can get to that tomorrow.

So sorry to hear about Aubree.  That's not fun for her to be sick or for you either.  I bet she just wanted to cuddle up and keep warm.  Hope she feels better soon.

The straw bale cave is a great idea! I'm sure it stays nice and warm in there, especially when several of them get in the cave together. I would love to put something similar in my coop this winter for my Guineas but I'm afraid they would completely lose their mind if I put something new in there, especially when they spend most of their time in there with the cold winter weather here. Last time I put a new nesting box in their coop they refused to go inside for a few days (except for my crippled hen who seems to be smarter and braver than the rest!) Maybe I will try your straw cave idea when the weather gets warmer and they are spending more time outside. As you mentioned, it would be a great place to have a broody guinea nest and maybe it would encourage some of my hens to lay somewhere other than the crowded wheelbarrow where they all try to lay at the same time!

 

[GlennLee]

Birthday funny about new things? You would think anything new came from another planet. Then once they get it figured out it's like you can't get away from them. I hope that the hay bales do work for you. When I get back home, traveling now for the holidays, I will try to take a photo and send it to you. It sure is a lot of fun watching them jump around on them. Hope everyone is keeping warm in Iowa. It is much easier on them and us when they can get out and enjoy free ranging on a regular basis.

 

[GlennLee]

Aren't they funny... not BIRTHDAY FUNNY.... on my phone with voice activation and didn't proof.

 

[guineapeeps]

Aren't they funny... not BIRTHDAY FUNNY.... on my phone with voice activation and didn't proof.

I got a laugh out of your "birthday" funny because it reminded me of all the crazy stuff that I have accidentally texted to people because of my dumb autocorrect. My phone will just randomly change things I've typed. The other day, I made a mistake and sent if off so I sent another text and typed "oops" but my phone changed it to "poops". I sent it off before I caught it, so I'm sure the person that received it is really impressed with me now!
Have safe holiday travels!
Merry Christmas to everyone!