We have babies at the barn! Two so far, and hopefully more to come.
Nope, not foals – guinea hen babies. We have two hens nesting right now, and the one who’s been brooding in the bushes outside my horse Ben’s paddock showed up yesterday with young in tow.
I was picking manure from the paddock when I saw the pewter-colored hen puttering about along the fence line – nothing unusual about that. Then a bit of movement caught my eye – and there was a BABY!!! I screeched for others to come see, as the wee one bobbed in and out of view in the underbrush.
People came, and stood at the far fence line, watching intently. People squealed and cooed and got excited. Then we all went even more bonkers when a second fluffball appeared! And laughed when one of the keets found a fence post between it and mom and halted in confusion – where’d she go? – till the hen looked around the post and rescued it. Too soon, mom and babies disappeared back into the ground cover, to the nest.
Heaven only knows what color these babies will turn out. As I said, the hen is pewter. The dad is white. Looking at this color chart of guinea fowl, the only pictured keets that look like the babies I saw belong to the royal purple, and perhaps violet, colors.
Meanwhile, the other hen is what’s called pearl – black with white dots. She’s sitting on a nest up by the goats’ pen, with over a dozen eggs in it. So far no babies yet, but what her pearl/white cross babies will look like, hopefully we shall see. With foxes, coyotes, and barn cats about, the odds aren’t that great, but guinea fowl are fierce in protecting their turf. The ones we have have charged stalking cats and driven them into disordered retreat. So we have hopes.
Guineas are my favorite birds. There is no better intruder alert to be found. They also control the tick and snake population. And keets are just the cutest things ever.
As an Italian-American, I’m deeply offended at the use of the term ‘guinea’ and being called ‘foul’, even if you misspell it. You should be ashamed!
And I watch the Dave Chappelle show, so I know what ‘keet keet’ means (although I think Chapelle used the ‘skeet skeet’ variation). Must you be both racist and profane?
I agree, Homebrew. If I ever get my farm, I’m going to have so many guineas that they will be known as the “Noisy Flock of Death” ™. For backup protection, I plan on keeping an obstinate donkey and several large dogs.
Wait, it gets worse. The hen’s cry is described as sounding like “Buckwheat! Buckwheat!”
Hey, Gulo gulo – how about having some crested guinea fowl while you’re at it? Of course, keep in mind that they’re said to be a lot meaner and more aggressive than the helmeted guinea fowl.
Ugh! No! That crest just reminds me of a bad toupee. I would have to throw a few gold chains around their necks and let them loose at the local bar to strut their stuff.
I think you’re supposed to eat the eggs. But you probably could slaughter and eat the poor little things too. However, I don’t think we could do without the “guinea alarm” at our house. Anything out of the ordinary - car going by slowly, person stops by, strange animal on the property - and they go off like nobody’s business.
FWIW, I think their little call sounds like they’re saying, “Come back! Come back!” It’s kind of creepy.
Congratulations, EddyTeddyFreddy! I hope the rest of the little keets hatch and do well. It’s always interesting to see genetics in action as far as the mixing of different types of birds. We have ducks that intermix and mingle and we don’t know what color, size, or pattern the next duckling will be.
The eggs are delicious. I’ve not eaten the meat; but I’ve read it’s very good also. However, their alarm function and bug eating prowess makes them valuable alive.
When I read the title, I knew exactly what this thread was going to be about.
Congratulations on your keets. It’s amazing how LOUD such a tiny creature can be.
I miss my guinea flock. We had seventeen guineas that would kick up a huge ruckus each time a car pulled up the drive, when we lived in the country. We kept them for our amusement, and for tick control. In addition, we also kept chickens and two really ugly muscovy ducks.
We had lavenders, blues and pearls. We ordered a mixed group of keets, and some chicks at the same time. The Guineas and chickens learned to roost together, and when the guineas laid eggs, we slipped them under a broody hen, and she raised them. All of our surviving chicks were lavender. When the guineas sat on the eggs, we had less hatches than when we gave them to the hen. It was lots of fun.
Homebrew’s right about the eggs. I’ve had them hardboiled, and they were scrumptious. The shells are much thicker than chicken’s egg shells, and take a goodly amount of the white with them when you peel the suckers.
I haven’t had the meat, but I’ve heard it’s quite tasty. I’m not about to try our barn’s hens, though – the barn owner would wrting MY neck if I did. :surgo:
