Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[ScaredOfShadows]

Well, I have learned one thing today. Guineas aren't chickens. I thought they were a bit more like chickens, but after that story I know they is a differ'nt critter. They do sound amusing, though. Next year ... Guineas ... or geese.

Guineas are way different than chickens...While entertaining - they are dumber than a box of rocks. LOL My neighbor has 1 left from the 10 that he had last year, they kept going across the road, and you'd think that after seeing half the flock squished the others would learn...NO...Then the whole thing of them invading my pens, you'd think after a few dozen times of them flying into the fence and about killing themselves before finally flying over it, they'd just fly over it from the get go instead of running INTO it EVERY TIME. But they make for entertainment when you're bored. lol. Geese make great guard animals too, will chase off folks - guineas just sound the alarm and run away from people in my experience but will chase dogs and cats. X_x Geese will take on anything any size they feel threatened or upset by (again in my experience - been bit a number of times)

 

[coldupnorth]

Guineas are way different than chickens...While entertaining - they are dumber than a box of rocks. LOL My neighbor has 1 left from the 10 that he had last year, they kept going across the road, and you'd think that after seeing half the flock squished the others would learn...NO...Then the whole thing of them invading my pens, you'd think after a few dozen times of them flying into the fence and about killing themselves before finally flying over it, they'd just fly over it from the get go instead of running INTO it EVERY TIME. But they make for entertainment when you're bored. lol. Geese make great guard animals too, will chase off folks - guineas just sound the alarm and run away from people in my experience but will chase dogs and cats. X_x Geese will take on anything any size they feel threatened or upset by (again in my experience - been bit a number of times)

Yes, sound advice about Guineas. They love roads and do not look both ways. They range much farther than chickens and most do not like confinement. Yes, they do eat ticks and that is NICE! Loud, loud, loud - some people love their sounds others may not (your neighbors). I like their alarm, but we live too close to a fairly busy road for us to have them and our neighbors would not appreciate them. One of those animals to research before getting because they are not for everyone.

 

[crazypetlady]

more chix pix


Some day old Sizzles




Some brahamas I got at the feed store I think they are bantam



A little Americana from my roo Winston



Little mutts Americana roo x barred rock ?



A 2 week old little frizzle






There is an imposter in the hen house!!

 

[LarryPQ]

LOL. That first pic looks like you are panning for gold.

 

[Spangled]

Guineas are way different than chickens...While entertaining - they are dumber than a box of rocks. LOL My neighbor has 1 left from the 10 that he had last year, they kept going across the road, and you'd think that after seeing half the flock squished the others would learn...NO...Then the whole thing of them invading my pens, you'd think after a few dozen times of them flying into the fence and about killing themselves before finally flying over it, they'd just fly over it from the get go instead of running INTO it EVERY TIME. But they make for entertainment when you're bored. lol. Geese make great guard animals too, will chase off folks - guineas just sound the alarm and run away from people in my experience but will chase dogs and cats. X_x Geese will take on anything any size they feel threatened or upset by (again in my experience - been bit a number of times)

I think they sound Grrrrreat! Our neighbors love us and will love our guineas, too. They are the kind of folks that are game for anything and a bit hard of hearing. People drive awful slowly on our road, too. Not one chicken has ever been hit by a car, so I bet we're good to go with Guineas.

Wow ... I hate it when I get a hankering to buy something new, but know it will be much better to wait until next year. I want to go get on Craig's List now and see what's out there or go order some right now from a hatchery.

Yes, right now. But I won't.

 

[Spangled]

I guess I'll go make some popcorn (even though it's dinner time) and go wait for Java Girl 2 to check in and let us know which chicks she bought at the store.

 

[coldupnorth]

crazypetlady - love the imposter! Does he/she have friends? Or just the chicken friend variety?

Spangled - hard of hearing neighbors are the kind to have with Guineas and roosters for that matter - even barking dogs

Its awesome that you have great neighbors and I'm sure that the feathered creatures of yours give them a little entertainment too!

 

[BHep]

In 4-H, I'd always say you could tell the new kids from the long term kids by their response to a dead rabbit.

New kid - "My bunny died"

Older kid - "An empty cage!"

Deb

OMG.......... sounds like my kids !!

 

[BHep]

My 2 cents on Guineas.
I raised mine in the house just like my chicks. They are tolerant of me. I can feed some by hand, only if it is "crack".

They are obnoxiously loud, but good watchdogs. Slightly dumbish.....example: can fly over the fence to get out of the barnyard, cannot figure out how to fly back over to get back in the barnyard. They pace back and forth along the fence wearing out the grass, waiting for me to open the gate and then practically knock me over to get back in.

But they are beautiful in their own strange way and after a while you hardly hear them anymore.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
Hopefully someone else can chime in here. Mine is used as a backup for my electronic thermostat. I wasn't crazy about the time spent adjusting it the first time you fire the bator up. I have heard many folks complain about them "going bad". The construction doesn't look extremely delicate but it doesn't look like a hard fall would be good for them either. I have a spare in the closet as well but haven't needed it in 4 years. It doesn't get bumped around though.
Since they are cheap I would keep a couple of spares around just in case I needed one. Better safe than sorry. Anyone else want to add info here? Maybe some of you rely on the wafers alone and have used them a lot longer than I have?