Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Guinea Hens

The guinea hens are currently making the aviary in the small barn their home before they are released to free range around the farm. They are pretty funny looking, cause a racket whenever they hear or see something strange (i.e. Megan, a squirrel, Mama the barn cat), but they are pretty fun to watch. They have been in the aviary for almost 3 weeks, according to "Gardening with Guineas", adults (these guys are 6 months old) should be kept "hostage" for 6 weeks so they know where "home" is and don't fly away somewhere else.

So far they like dandelions, apples, meal worms, and stripping the branches of any needles or leaves that I put in for cover. There is one female and the other three are male, which I know by the sounds they make, but have no idea looking at the picture who is who. Because they are pretty wild birds, they lay in odd places, so chances are we won't be hatching or finding guinea eggs any time soon (especially with only one female), unless we get really lucky and can find her nest.

For now, they're having a fine time looking out the window (the other "wall" that you can't see is all chicken wire so it's plenty ventilated), hopping on the ladders, and making a ruckus.


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