I had noticed that 1 of our guinea hens had hatched some eggs, I went back to the nest and heard some really loud cheeping. I didn't realize the noise was coming from an egg, I opened the egg up and this is what I found.
Look what I found in a cheeping egg!
Very adorable Lisa.
I just wish it was a little quieter
Is mama not taking care of it?
Guinea Hens are terrible mothers she had already left the nest. By the time I got this baby out of the egg and it was dried off the mom was long gone. I could still see her but couldn't get close enough. They just get up and expect the keets to keep up. I'm kinda glad because I don't see the other babies anymore.
Where are the other babies?
God only knows. Either they got left behind or they got eaten.
Well, that's no right.
Nature is cruel.
I didn't know that they would do that. Are chickens the same way?
The mother doesn't eat them, but some varmit (including housecats) would make a meal. Chickens are generally very good and protective mothers.
Yeah it was always fun collecting eggs from the mom chickens sitting!
Very sweet! Maybe one of your hens will adopt him?
The chickens (when they have chicks) are locked up. Guineas are "wild" and I can't get really close to them. The other babys have all disappeared so I'm glad I brought this one in the house, although "tiny" can be really loud. They are so brainless that they stand in the middle of our road and either the cars go around them or they get hit.
These were my xhusband's idea but even they wouldn't go with him. My kids are so use to some animal in the house they think its normal.
Hope it is drinking water on it's own and eating....or it will be history soon.
Well its been around a week so I think its OK. They are like chicks they are hatched like chicken where the can eat and drink by themselves. Because they aren't too bright, you need to but rocks in their water so they don't drowned.
Not as cute as baby squirrels
OK I think I found a solution for the noisy keet. I put it with the rabbit, that has the run of the kitchen. So now the rabbit is keeping it company and they both seem really happy.
Be big enough for dumplins by Thanksgiving .
We had to keep ours in a covered pen when I was on the farm .
Years later , I had a few run loose and when I sold out , there was no one on the property and the neighbors said one was there for several years .
You can never tame them down , I understand. True?
I don't think they can be tamed down, I wouldn't really want to. I'm just trying to get it large enough so it stands a chance outside. The adults will roost in the trees and leave the young on the ground to fend for themselves. So, for the moment, we are stuck with each other. This is the only keet left so it wouldn't even stand a chance outside, but iy seems happy with the rabbit.
Digger-By the time you get here I should have the house cleaned up. LOL I have tile and hardwood floors so that makes it a little easier.
I love tile . My son can lay tile . He worked with a group of guys when he first moved to Austin and learned several things in construction , tile included. Now , he thinks just because I've watched him , I can too . Probable could but can't get down on my knees anymore . I'll enjoy yours and hope for some of my own . You'll have to pick a good weekend to come to the coast . Have plenty of room .Cheap vacation
I need a Cheep Vacation : ). I have layed tile with my dad, the problem isn't getting down on the floor but getting back up.
I'm so old I had a senior moment and forgot the getting up .
Actually, guineas can be "trained" but not tamed. I have 40 and if I want them to come in I just yell "guinea guinea guinea" in a silly high voice and they come flying/running from all directions! It's quite a site. You have to start training them when they're a couple of weeks old - everytime you say (quietly, you wouldn't want to scare the poor thing) guinea guinea guinea you feed them some millett. They love the stuff. Anyway, after doing that for a few weeks (until they're big enough to go out and freerange) they've been trained to come when you call! It's real handy when bad weather's coming or you need them in the coop earlier than usual. Anyway, just a little info!
Deb
OK mine have trained me. We don't keep them in a coop they just do what they want but I can't seem to get rid of them.
My son might want some at his place . We'll talk about it . Will be there in about five weeks .
I can't catch them so I'm stuck with them. Besides they all know each other and I couldn't just move them. I know that sounds nuts but everything stays here until it decides to leave or dies. Right now the guinea is living in the kitchen, in 5 weeks it should be too big to be in the house. At least I hope so.. see you soon.
I just talked to my boy , He said the coyotes were on the prowl last night . Sounded like a large pack and all around his place .He tore down the chicken pen so would be hard to pen them up for a few days . He said someone down the road has some .
These have never been penned up except for this one we have in the kitchen. I'm hoping it makes an easy transition to outside but I'm beginning to have my doubts. I don't think I've even heard coyotes around here.
dstarr- I really wish I could hear you calling your guineas.. I could learn from you. LOL
I didn't pen mine either . They roosted in the trees and they kept the bugs down around my place . . I really enjoyed them . . I brought some banana plants home from Houston ,Tex one time and got them in the dirt . Woke up the next morning and they had been eaten down to the ground . Never did grow back . lol That was when I lived in southern Arkansas .
I need to post a picture I'm not sure if Chocolate, the rabbit, like his new job of "keet sitter".
1lisac - I know what you mean about them having you trained! LOL! Mine pretty much have run of the place - but it's too dangerous to let them stay out at night. We're about 65 miles west of Houston, just out of Sealy and our worst night predator is the owl! that and racoons. I also have lost one to the road. I'm lucky enough (sort of) to not be working at this time so I keep an eye out for them in front of the house where the street is. I go to the other side of the road and start throwing things at them! Another interesting site. They're actually not as stupid as folks think. They know when they're where they're not supposed to be and they know where home is. Actually, it all started with 2 that showed up at my window 2 years ago right after I lost my job. I
had to look them up - I'd never seen guineas before. They wouldn't leave and they roosted on the window a/c unit that was at our bedroom window. They made the neatest sounds at night. We have tons of trees around our house, but they would not roost anywhere else. Then winter was hard coming and my dh built a small coop of sorts that was raised up off the ground, but a little
ladder up to it and I'lln be danged if those guys didn't pretty much go right in! We'd let them out every day to go do whatever and they'd hang around the property and go bacck in their safe place at dark. There's alot to them. I guess I just got smitten. This year was the first year I hatched any and I have hens that lay alot of eggs. I keep my family in eggs! LOL!
I'll be glad to help answer any questions if you want. Some folks like letting them hang out and some folks worry about their safety.
I didn't mean to offend anyone! I just read that last bit and it sounded kind of "snooty". I know lots of folks that have them roosting in trees. I just lose mine to owls when they stay out. And I guess mine are spoilt, 'cause they really don't want to stay out, they just get busy chasing bugs and forget! LOL
dstarr-Thanks for the offer for advice, I've had these things for 10 yrs. it was kind of baptism by fire LOL but now my biggest challenge is to get Little Bit out of the house. ATM its cleaning the rabbit's cage.
I learn so much from this forum. I thought pretty much all birds were good parents, who knew? I have fond memories of trying to catch and play with baby chicks at my grandmothers in WV. I don't think I ever actually caught one as the hens were very protective and mean!
C