Guinea talk.

[pattyhen]

Thanks they are pretty tame. I can pick them up and hold them on my lap. They still like to come in the house every now and then. Spiderman likes to admire hisself in the oven door. They love to sit on the back of the swing togeather.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

It's getting quite cold in the mornings here. Now I'm getting even more nervous about the keets hatching next week.

 

[pattyhen]

Maybe you can convince her to come into the coop when they all hatch. Good luck with her and the babies I'm excited for you.

 

[GlennLee]

Oh Patti! What a great video - they are amazing! I think you could train them to do anything. Kudos to you and thank you for posting; I'm glad you were finally able to capture it on the camera. What beautiful birds Spider and Mary Jane are - lots to be proud of there...

Sun - I was wondering about the cooler temperatures and how they impact nesting and hatching. I hope everything works out okay for you. At least she has a safe place within your watchful eye. How cool are your temperatures through the night now and is there a critical temperature that they can't go below for fear of losing the eggs? Will you have to gather them and use heat lamps for the first 6 weeks with the keets now that the weather is getting cooler?

The egg and brooding thing is a whole new experience for me. I'm averaging about one a day from different hens - at least those are the ones I find in the coop. There may be more outdoors. Everyone is still coming back in at night, but their behaviors are different. I have some couples, some small groups and lone males who act like they don't even know where they are. Since we'll be gone for a week early October, I'm hoping they just all wait before they get seriously into this until the spring. I would hate to have an issue happen while someone else is keeping an eye out and taking care of the flock.

Our electricity is in the barn and I'm hoping to get my work area settled today. Lots of odds and ends to finish up during this late summer time, but autumn is on the way and with that comes a whole new life flow with less produce in the garden. Good luck with all your chores and enjoy the day!

 

[pattyhen]

Thanks I'm not very experienced taking videos or pics as you can tell. My husband come running in the house saying their swinging get the phone.

I'm glad their all going in good for you and I hope they don't give your guinea sitter any problems. As long as I turn the coop light on Mary Jane and Spider will go in with no problems.

It was almost cool enough this morning when I fed everyone to wear a sweater. Fall is coming that's for sure. I don't mind fall but I'm looking forward to winter. I don't like trying to navigate in the snow and ice. When you have birds that depend on you, you have to go out no matter what the weather is. Rain, snow, sleet, hail I've been out in it.

I hope everyone has a nice day it's going to be up to 82 so that's a nice temp.

 

[guineapeeps]

It's getting quite cold in the mornings here. Now I'm getting even more nervous about the keets hatching next week.

I wouldn't worry too much about the weather, especially if it's mostly cold at night but warmer during the day. Your hen should lay on the keets at night and keep them warm. I would watch them during the day and somehow keep them inside during the day if it's raining or the grass is really wet (at least for a few weeks), as getting wet is probably the biggest danger to the little ones! Although my hens are fairly good mothers, a few of them will drag their 2 day old babies out in almost any weather, so I keep a close eye on them and the forecast for the first few weeks.

 

[pattyhen]

Rhonda congrats on winning the other poultry pic of the week. Great pics and a story.

 

[GlennLee]

Thanks, Patti! I didn't even know I had won until you posted here. All my peeps at BYC have been a constant presence riding that Guinea Fowl Roller Coaster.

You all are the best!

 

[pattyhen]

Your very welcome and it was a well deserved award.

 

[GlennLee]

Well, yesterday was the day ..... I finally got the 3 month old guineas sorted by sex and I'm pleased to announce - after a lot of dashing, elevated heart rate and trauma on their part and mine - I have 4 females! YAY! The two males went to my neighbors down below us, so that will make sure I have a female for every male and two extras, just in case.

Poor hop-a-long Helen is having trouble again. I soaked her foot in Epsom salts for as long as she would let me - she wasn't happy at all and even hissed and pinched me with her beak! She's hobbling along with the flock today - if she doesn't go - it's nonstop "come back" all day long. I checked for bumblefoot, but don't see a corn. One foot seems atrophied and the other is a bit puffy. She felt hot when I picked her up and I think she's been the target of some pecking - some missing feathers around the top of her wing. I doubt if she is making it up to the roost at night and I put a container with straw in it for her to bed, but I'm afraid she'll just hang out underneath and get pooped on all night....

Every evening, I wonder if she will be coming back home.... Not too much else to do, but wait and hope for the best. She's still feisty and that will keep her going for a while.

Hope all is well in the world of Guinea Talk. Have a good evening everyone.....