Monday, March 21, 2016

Fowl

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.

Guinea Hen

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.

Blog Signature

27 comments:

linda m said...

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.

Marty said...

Yes, 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.

DJan said...

They 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. :-)

Red said...

They sound like interesting birds. Now are they going to cross the road???

Mac n' Janet said...

My grandmother had guinea fowl and they were the meanest birds I ever met.

Tired Teacher said...

I'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.

Terry and Linda said...

Let us know what you decide! It will be an interesting project!

Linda

Jan said...

We had a stray come to our yard one time and adopt our dogs

Country Gal said...

They 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 !

Karen said...

With your tick issues, it might be worth giving them a try? Chance might try to herd them.

Unknown said...

Sounds like those guineas might be fun to have around and Chance might even like them. Love your new header as usual.

Shirley H.

Rita said...

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!

Linda Kay said...

Aren't they kind of noisy? That might be a consideration?

Cynthia said...

They 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.

Still the Lucky Few said...

I'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!

Sam I Am...... said...

I'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.

Linda said...

I 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.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I 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.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Thank you Nancy:)

Far Side of Fifty said...

We don't have close neighbors and the ones we have are relatives:)

Linda Reeder said...

Maybe 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.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. I've never seen one of those. Pretty bird, though.

Granny Marigold said...

The 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.

Love the new header.

LindaG said...

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.

thecrazysheeplady said...

I'm toying with some guineas here this year.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Oh, 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.

Shirley said...

Chance would probably love to have a flock to boss around. Love the header, Easter sure comes early this year.