We ran an errand and were entertained by the neighbors Guinea Fowl. They were languishing by the edge of the road so Chance got a good look at them. They talked to him and he talked right back to them.
Pretty little tick and bug eaters.
I think these are called Helmeted Guinea Fowl. It has a “thingy” on his/her head.
We had a long discussion “Would Chance eat baby fowl? Would they imprint on him and follow him around? Would it give him a job? They would eat ticks and bugs. We have an old wagon on a lawn mower chassis…could it be a movable coop?”
My Maternal Grandfather had Guineafowl, they followed him around and talked to him as he did his chores…I can still see him walking from the hen house to the grainery and then the pump house with the Guineas following him.
My daughter-in-law has 2 Guineas and boy are they ever noisy. I think they would scare Chance. Then again they could become best friends.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've also heard that they're pretty chatty. The farm up the road had them for a while, but their abilities as tick eaters was outweighed by their inability to avoid traffic, and soon they were no more.
ReplyDeleteThey are interesting looking creatures, at any rate. Can it already be Holy Week, with Easter next Sunday already? I noticed your Easter eggs in the header. :-)
ReplyDeleteThey sound like interesting birds. Now are they going to cross the road???
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother had guinea fowl and they were the meanest birds I ever met.
ReplyDeleteI've never been around Guinea fowl, but eating ticks is a bonus, and if Chance can bond with them and have a job, that would be an even bigger bonus.
ReplyDeleteLet us know what you decide! It will be an interesting project!
ReplyDeleteLinda
We had a stray come to our yard one time and adopt our dogs
ReplyDeleteThey are quiet intelligent birds to but can be nasty at time as well . The farm down the road from us has them I like hearing them . Miggs has chased them off a few times but she is getting better with them when they come over for a visit every now and then if the fox doesn't snap them up first . Hope Chance makes friends with them . Thanks for sharing , love your Easter header . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteWith your tick issues, it might be worth giving them a try? Chance might try to herd them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like those guineas might be fun to have around and Chance might even like them. Love your new header as usual.
ReplyDeleteShirley H.
The being eaters of ticks and bugs would be a plus. Sounds like they are noisy? I've never been around them. They won't be eating bugs all winter, though--and we do have winter six months of the year--LOL!
ReplyDeleteAren't they kind of noisy? That might be a consideration?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have close neighbors and the ones we have are relatives:)
DeleteThey are good "watch dogs" if Chance needs a little help. The least thing sets them off. We lived next door to a flock and enjoyed their bug-eating activities but their noise, not so much.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Chance didn't try to chase the hens and "round them up". I think that would fit in with nature, although I confess I know nothing about his breed!
ReplyDeleteI've seen them on people's roofs and they are better than dogs for setting up a "whoop and a holler" if anyone or anything enters your yard. Pretty ones they are but they can be noisy if you have a lot of visitors.
ReplyDeleteI worked for an old lady (90+) that always had them around...she called them her watchdogs...she could discern if it was a person or a coyote in the yard.
ReplyDeleteI have to comment on your header...the colors are such a wonderful reminder of Easter and spring! Actually, you always have a very carefully chosen color palette there and I always enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy:)
DeleteMaybe you could introduce your neighbor's guineas to Chance and see how he reacts. It might work out for Chance to have his own little flock of fowl.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I've never seen one of those. Pretty bird, though.
ReplyDeleteThe plant shop I like to go to ( its in the country)has a fenced area where kids can go and interact with goats and rabbits and guinea fowl as well as Bantams. These guineas are "talkative" but not at all nasty as some seem to have found. Maybe it depends on what they're exposed to as they grow up.
ReplyDeleteLove the new header.
From what I've read, you need to teach them to use a coop. They prefer trees, rooftops, rafters, etc. Good luck! We want to get some because they are, as you say, great tick, flea and bug eaters.
ReplyDeleteI'm toying with some guineas here this year.
ReplyDeleteOh, and when we got Kate, Vergil said it was pretty easy to break Border Collies of messing with chickens. Cats maybe not so much, but chickens were usually okay.
ReplyDeleteChance would probably love to have a flock to boss around. Love the header, Easter sure comes early this year.
ReplyDelete