People keep asking me how the guineas are doing and all is well in guinea land. The last I reported, the "Tribe of 10", became the tribe of 8 and they had moved into the chicken coop because an owl was picking them off at night. Poor stubborn Pearl #5 (who was frequently picked on in the chicken coop), stayed out one February night and was promptly taken out by the owl. It was around midnight when we heard the squawking and something brushed up against our bedroom window. Then came the silence, that dreadful (you know what happened) silence.
The new tribe, 7 mature guineas eventually moved out of the overcrowded chicken coop, going back to roosting in the white pines. The owl never returned, which confounded me, it seemed like it had a good deal (meal). Eventually we let out 4 adolescent guineas (from a previous incubation), to begin the process of mingling with the older ones. Never a smooth transition, the old ones pick on the newbies, particularly the roosters who act all asinine, standing on their tiptoes and charging the younger ones. Some males are so alpha, the perpetually stay in their own tribe. One particularly bossy guinea was named Paul because he danced (charged) so much that we named him after an American Idol contestant that danced just like him. He paired up with 2 females and became a tribe of 3 that never mingled with the rest. His 2 ladies included the one we have named our "old lady" because she has been with us from the beginning, which is 5 or 6 years. She actually lived alone for almost a year because everyone else had been killed off. She also survived "Snowmageddon" all by herself. Unfortunately a fox killed Paul and the younger lady, leaving our 'old lady' as a survivor once again. But things were different after that, she didn't get the respect she used to and Paul wasn't there to watch after her. She is one of the beta females now and I always know her by her black feet (all of the others have speckled feet).
Two of the new 4 adolescents are pearl colored so I have named them Pearl # 6 and 7. A male and female, they have paired off with darker colored tribe members, which is a good thing since the pearls always go first. Clearly their lighter color makes them stand out more. I always hope that a half pearl family is better than a whole pearl family. You know what I mean?
The loyalty between guineas is incredible. They mate for life, which brings me to Moxie, the 1 legged guinea that lives in her own little building. She does have 2 legs but one is deformed from sprattle leg as a chick, neither of us (husband and myself) had the heart to kill her, something a lot of people think is a little ridiculous (and I understand). One of the males fell in love with her (last year) and stays outside her pen, looking in and sitting on the other side of the mesh wire, all day long. If we let her out, someone (an adult) has to watch her because her bad leg catches on things, which puts her in danger because she can't get away from a predator. Her dutiful husband follows her everywhere, always within 5 feet of Moxie. He is there every morning and then joins the others to roost in the trees at night.
Lastly we have the little guineas that were hatched by a chicken. Eight successfully hatched but only 2 survived to the end. The chicken was an excellent mother, it was other things that reduced the numbers. Our Rhode Island Red mother eventually tired of the whole ordeal and moved back in with the other chickens. The 2 youngsters were kept penned up (separately) so we could integrate the adolescents first. When their time came they ran to their chicken mother, which was pretty cool because I can't tell one from the other. The older guineas tried bossing them around but they wouldn't have any of it, they think they're chickens. They eat with the chickens, go to bed early with the chickens (which can be an hour earlier than the guineas), just generally do chicken stuff.
So you see, all is well in guineafowl land. They are great bug eaters (especially ticks) and make loud noises when anyone or thing comes to the house. If something is amiss in the yard, they all have to investigate. On this day I was photographing a viola plant.
The bigger problems will begin soon as they nest and sit on eggs for 28 days. Their nests are hidden well but sitting on the ground just doesn't work. How many will be left by summers end? I have been told that 1 smarter, older guinea, will teach the younger ones the art of survival. I am sure that's true because our 'old lady' is proof that some are just better at it than others. Now if she would just get some respect.
