Let me tell you about guineas, from my perspective.
First off, I was asked by Paula if they are good watchdogs like people say.
Yes...and no.
Yes, if you want to get up ten times a day and go look and see if there is some impending doom befalling your flock..just to find out that it is a piece of plastic flying across the yard from the wind. Or maybe you go out in your jacket and the wind is cold so you put your hood on. Suddenly you are transformed into some strange boogie man and the gakkakkakkakkakkakkakkkking begins. Take your hood off, and they say Ohhhh...okay. Put it back on...and it starts all over again. Maybe out of the twenty or so times you hear them sound the alarm, you MIGHT have a predator...maybe, but probably not. They havent done a thing for me at night to let me know something is snatching chickens.
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When I first got the five guinea keets from the flea market in Alabama I was really excited. I was told not to let them out of captivity until they were at least 8 weeks old or they might fly away. They were cute, they followed one of my barred rock hens around like she was their mother.
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One day when the farrier was here for Derby he informed me that I would grow to hate them. I waved it off and told him I liked them a lot. He said I wouldnt...in time.
Well, he was right. I told him so on one of his recent visits.
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People will tell you tales...about how they remember when their grandparents had them, good childhood memories of them. How they would like to have some themselves.
They are neat to watch sometimes when they are foraging. They seem dumb as a bag of hammers. They pick on the chickens a lot at feeding time. Grabbing tails and pulling on them.
Mostly....
They never shut up. Ever. Ever Ever ever.
The ha honk ha honk of the two females...goes on all day...I wonder if they will ever lose their voice?
The male gackackackackack noises...that grow faster and louder and more intense...gets all the others going...it is unbelievable how loud they are.
AND THEY NEVER SHUT UP, did I mention that?
If I didnt have guineas...this place would be quiet. Even with all the roosters I have...it would be blissfully peaceful.
Whenever I put up the chickens at night, for fear of predators...I dont put up the guineas. Guineas can FLY, for real fly. If you try to grab one...big hunks of feathers come out like they are barely attached, thus making catching them that much more difficult. None of them has ever been eaten, grabbed, dragged, pulled, or anything since all the predation started. They may be annoying, and look funny, but they are no fools. They roost up high at night, and it seems like they are never really asleep.
I did give two away a while back...I had four males and one female. Gave two males away.
Anyone want roasted guinea for supper??? LOL
Just kidding. ;)
13 comments:
I used to have a whole flock of them. At one time I had 35. Unlike you I never got tired of listening to them doing that pop racking. Lucky me. You know how they follow each other in a row. Well a neighbor kid tried to see how many he could run over. Picked them off one by one. I never knew who was doing it but my son finally told me when the flock got down to two. What could I say, they were crossing the public dirt road in front of our house. Helen
I'll try some if you have a side of mash potatoes to go with it. LOL
I like to hear them too. how about guinea and dumplings?
They sound hilarious..I don't think I will be getting any of those ;) Pretty funny tho!
Kelly I loved learning about your "Guineas" ~ have never heard one and by what you tell us I don't think I ever want to ~ but they do sound intelligent roosting high up and out of the way of danger ~ Have you ever eaten one ??? what do they taste like ???? :o) ~ Ally x
I like the sound guineas make. And I like the way they'll roost up high and you don't have to mess with them. I've eaten guinea, by the way. They taste pretty much like chicken. I had to get rid of the last pair I had because they were going to a neighbor's garden and pecking holes in their tomatoes.
I like to hear them, but I wouldn't if I had to hear them all the time. LOL
Hollie
Thanks your info. very interesting. The only thing I can remember about guineas from my younger years is that my parents went to a country store all time and there were guineas in front of the store. Paula
Oh no! You poor thing! Linda
Alhough they look so cool, I had heard before that they wear out their welcome quite fast. I was doubtful about this but hearing your opinion has confirmed it for me since I KNOW you have a heart for foul and would be very forgiving.
I think you were hoping the fox (or what have you) would take a guinea and not a chicken. ;) It sounds cute at first but I think I would grow to want to chop their little heads off after two days or so. Bless your patience.
Jamie
Eeeek, that could get annoying after a while. Our geese are like that, honking all the time, they seem to never shut up either and they are soooooooo loud!!! Oh well.
xxx
Lisa
i said I would like a peacock but my dad said they were just like guineas...so I guess i will never have one.....lol
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