I only have two ,Pearls, but they are absolutely hilarious! I couldnt tell them apart for a while but now I see subtle differences. The pair was raised with some of my Seramas, so they get along really well and the guineas actually run off any aggressive chickens that get near their Serama family! Here they are with CopperJack.
Copper Jack, love the name. I have never had those birds but lots of people seem to like them and they are very good at letting you know there are strangers around I hear. Interesting looking birds I must say...Hay
Only one will give the crazy noise that they are famous for making and the other is very quiet and reserved most of the time! I couldnt tell if I had a male and a female or what! Then one day I noticed "Buckwheat" running on top of the hen House going crazzzzzy with its TIK-tick-ticka-tic-tic noise. I couldnt find the other slightly smaller guinea" Cherpeak" for about 30 minutes. then I got the feeling that something was definitely up! The nest Day "Buckwheat " was doing it again and I noticed "Cherpeak" coming from behind the Hen House!
I investigated and sure enough.....just looky looky!!! I definitely have a pair!!! Looks as if we have about 7 eggs right now!
Hi there Hay! Yep they are very interesting and fun too, ugly little faces, but only a mama would love 'em!
Yep Copper jack is my Wild Serama! I wont him to pair off with one of the girls but he prefers to roost in the top of a birch tree with the Guineas!
This message was edited Apr 9, 2011 12:04 PM
Copper Jack is a very handsome guy! Look at that stance! NICE! :) He is smart to roost so high.
My father loved guineas so we usually had some. They are cute as little, bity chicks (the cute wears off fast)
ones he had free ranged and roosted in the trees...the local coyotes learned where they roosted and they would wait under the tree where they roosted and when they came down, all fuzzy from sleep, they would pick them off...they went from a large flock to just 3 roosters.
They were funny and would gather outside the window where my brother, who was visiting...napped...he was not a constant so they felt they had to alarm us, that he was there.
Mom used to use the eggs to cook with and the yolks were so orange, it made for some interesting looking cheesecake.
Our hens would lay eggs in a communal nest, there would be so many that it took several hens to cover the eggs.
My parents lived on a large piece of land and were surrounded by hay fields and the guineas would follow the mower feasting on the insects that would fly...
We never had a problem with ticks when the flock was large.
How Funny Melva! I bet your brother didnt think it was funny at all!
So far nothing has tried to get my Guineas. I would miss them and their crazy antics. the silly dance that the male does on top of the hen house ,when the Hen is on her nest, is truly hilarious.
No, he was not amused..I will always picture him, glaring at them from the couch.
I have gunieas also .I realy enjoy mine. I have a bout 15 they come out of the barn in lil short loud burst. I few feet at a time then run back in they will do this about 5 times a lil farther each time then they all come running out.We really love them and would never be with out them.We call them the guinnea brigade as they all follow in tight formation everywhere they go.They are a riot to watch.They are also awesome taisting lol
This message was edited Apr 11, 2011 10:10 PM
I hear they are good watch critters?? are they??
nothing gets by them....nothing!
yes they certanly are.We always know when something that doesent belog here is here.Sometimes even if you move something from its normal spot they will sound the alarm!
Can you keep them in with the chickens or do you let them free range?
When my parents had them, they free ranged, and they roosted in the trees. They had Pea Fowl too...I loved to make the call: "Here chick, chick, chick" every one came running! Their favorite thing to eat, seemed to be the dry cat food.
My two sillies were raised in the pen with Seramas. Now they wonder around freeranging with everybody. Its so funny because they are like primary school Hall guards.... if you missbehave they are gonna tell!! You all know the story behind "Shrapnel" the Demon Rooster, well every time he gets near one of the Hens, be it Maran Orpington or whichever, the Sillies will attack and run him ragged. It is soooo funny!
my Guinneas kept with chickens however they can be a little rough on the bantam breeds when they go in for the night.When they are out and about they dont mess with the chickens much.They were fine in with my rocks and americaunas.
They have an uncanny sense of who belongs where, and if somebody doesnt fit they let them know it!
As for the bantams , so far o problem, I only have 3 tiny Serama roos that free range and they were raised with the sillies.
I do however have 5 new LF girls, 3 barred rocks and 2 Ameraucaunas, the sillies are letting them know whos the boss and where they can and cannot go! So far its just running them no harsh bullying.
