Guinea talk.

[GlennLee]

I am so enjoying these birds. They keep me VERY busy and I should say, my husband too and I roped him into this project as well. We're into the new system of Henry in the covered run for the night and the keets in the coop; during the day, the keets are in the run and Henry is free ranged, but just chooses to circle around the run and coop mooning and crooning at his harem.

Pattihen - I am glad that Spider and Mary Jane are finding bugs, because Henry doesn't seem to get it! I think he's just used to be fed and only wants ME to work for his meals!

I was also glad to hear that Mary Jane didn't like the taste of lightning bugs - we have a ton here and it would be good if they would leave them alone and eat the other nasty critters we do have. Let me know how their outdoor gourmet restaurant experience progresses.

We were at the 7 week period on Friday, so I finally got around to taking some pictures. They are getting so big and seem to be doing fairly well getting along - still some facial abrasions once in a while, but I'm wondering if it's being caused by them scratching themselves now. We have these tiny bugs that swarm and bite and they come after me; I'm thinking they are after the birds too. I've been checking on the outside chance we have mites or lice, but don't see any evidence. I sprinkled diatomaceous earth around and made sure they had easy access to sand and ash for dusting. I'll keep an eye out just in case. Any other evidence I should be looking for?

We should be getting a bit of a break with the heat the next couple of days. I think everyone will appreciate it.

 

[pattyhen]

I'm glad Henry is staying around now. He has a purpose now he has all those new friends he's going to hang out with.

The de and wood ash is good for any bugs they may have. Mary Jane and Spider take their dirt baths daily. The chickens dug up a place in the yard that we call dirt bath central that they all use. We use sevin dust to sprinkle around the edges of the coop when it's cleaned. You buy it in the garden section at Walmart. That is good for bugs too.

I loved the pics they are growing so fast. You sure have a a lot of guineas. Henry should be going after bugs I would think. Maybe just feed him at night when he goes in that might give him an incentive to start catching his own bugs.

Have a great day. Clay please let us know how your doing. I miss you.

 

[pattyhen]

Spider and Mary Jane eatting breakfast.

 

[GlennLee]

Absolutely beautiful picture! Thank you for posting.

 

[pattyhen]

Thanks, I hadn't held Spider in several days so yesterday when he walked by I grabbed him up. He sit on my lap for a half an hour being petted and rubbed. He has this white streak going down the back of his neck and it has long feathers growing out. It almost looks like hair. They look like they come from outer space their so different then other birds.

 

[GlennLee]

That's nice that he enjoys being on your lap. I think that's what's good about only having two - you get to pamper them and know them as individuals. With the flock, it's hard for me to tell one from the other and although they don't run away from me, they do move away when I walk toward them. That's okay though because I wouldn't want to train a flock to run toward me, especially when I'm opening a door. They come for their food and nightly meal worm treat with the bell to get them into the coop. That works for me. You are right that they look like they are from outer space. They act like it too. That's what I really enjoy about them. They are very unique - a bit like a turkey, a bit like a vulture, a painted face like a puffin, and sometimes they remind me of a peacock. So glad that we have the flock and look forward to watching them grow and change even more. Thanks for sharing your stories, descriptions and pictures. It helps me visualize what mine will be like a few weeks out.

 

[pattyhen]

The weather was nice today and I got to set out with the guineas. My husband left the coop light on last night and evidently Spider didn't get much sleep. He fell asleep on my lap and I noticed that he doesn't have a top eyelid it's on the bottom. It slides up his eye when he goes to sleep. It's yellow how wierd is that? I understand about having so many you can't really hold them that much. When we had a lot of ducklings I couldn't get near them. One would get scared and it would make the rest of them not trust us.

Have a nice evening.

 

[GlennLee]

Happy Saturday! So sorry to hear that Spider didn't get a good night's sleep, but it sounds like he made up for it with his nap on your lap. Very interesting about his eyelids. I wouldn't have known that, especially since mine don't get that close. They have a 2 foot rule - that's about as close as they come.

Yesterday marked our 8th week with them. I am going to try to start free ranging them later this afternoon. Henry will be crated just down the hill within sight of their run and I'll let just a few out for about 5 hours - short spurts and a few of them to start. Over the next month, my goal is to have all of them out free ranging and going DOWN the hill! We'll see if that's possible.

They were all on the big bird roosts when I went to open the doors this morning and then flew out from the roosts to the run. Very exciting to watch my babies fly! I'm going to try to get a video of it on my phone tomorrow. The only problem is I can't seem to get my phone to transfer videos to my computer, so I don't think I'll be able to share it here. I'll keep working on that. I think I can post to YouTube and maybe create a link. Haven't done that before, but I'll play with it.

My neighbor across the road is coming over this afternoon to show me how to best check a bird. She's so great and I don't think I would have gotten the flock or have been able to adequately maintain them if it weren't for her help. I so much appreciate her wisdom and willingness to share.

Happy 4th of July weekend to all of you at BYC and all of your feathered friends!

 

[GlennLee]

This was the 6 week old video. I am trying to figure out how to link to YouTube.

 

[GlennLee]

Not great quality, but if I can remember how I did it, I will try to do the same with the fly out tomorrow morning.