Animals
Gus is several years old.
- Some Advice On Raising Guineas
I am happy to report that all of our flock of guineasthat graduated from Birdbrain Academy in July have survivedfor the past two months.... almost unheard of in the world of raising guineas. Raising free ranging guineas is tough at best. If you have...
- Guinea Graduation
[Imagine, if you will, the familiar notes of "Pomp and Circumstance" in the background...that is, if you can hear it over all the guinea ruckus!] The place: Bee Haven Acres' Birdbrain AcademyThe time: 6:00 PM Saturday eveningThe event:...
- Bird Tales
If you follow my blog, you will know that Hubbs believes in the trainability of birds. I might add to that "in spite of the untrainable guineas, he still believes!" Last summer we started with 30 guinea keats.We had three old guineas in addition to the...
- Another Sad Tale
It is a good thing that the happy tales way outnumber the sad tales....or this farm life would be unbearable. As a result of too many unhappy guinea tales, I have come to a critical decision.....no more guineas. This past weekend was just too sad. The...
- Bear Attack
All summer long we have seen the evidence of a bear's frequent visits to our garden. Several times our birdfeeders have been destroyed and the iron shepherd's crooks that hold the birdfeeders have been bent down to the ground about 90 degrees....
Animals
Boarding School
Remember that early morning in May that I took a trip to the Post Office
to pick up my 30 baby guineas?
to pick up my 30 baby guineas?
Well, those guineas are adolescents now.
And are now attending Boarding School.
(Here is Gus, Headmaster of the BeeHaven Birdbrain Academy.)
(Here is Gus, Headmaster of the BeeHaven Birdbrain Academy.)
Yes, that's right...
On Sunday, they packed their bags and moved out of their coop
into their newly renovated "guinea tractor"
under the shade of the spreading boughs of Job, our 200+ year old pine tree by the barn.
This guinea tractor will serve as classroom and accommodations for the next several weeks.
This guinea tractor will serve as classroom and accommodations for the next several weeks.
It is here that the 16 remaining (long story) keets will complete their guinea education,
hopefully learning basic survival skills before being released into the "wild" of the farm.
hopefully learning basic survival skills before being released into the "wild" of the farm.
That education is rudimentary at best due to the minute size of their guinea brains!
It is our hopes that they learn from Guido, Gus and Giuseppe
that the old pine tree is the place to roost at night.
If guineas find a safe night time roost, they have a better chance of survival.
Otherwise, night predators can take a big toll on the flock.
In the past, we have tried to lure the birds back into a coop for the night...
not an easy (basically impossible!) task with guineas.
Gus is several years old.
Guido and Guiseppe are three years old.
So, you see, after raising 2 groups of 30 guineas each,
we only have 3 left.
We are assuming that these three are just "smart" enough to survive.
It is our hopes they can teach the youngsters.
Time will tell!
- Some Advice On Raising Guineas
I am happy to report that all of our flock of guineasthat graduated from Birdbrain Academy in July have survivedfor the past two months.... almost unheard of in the world of raising guineas. Raising free ranging guineas is tough at best. If you have...
- Guinea Graduation
[Imagine, if you will, the familiar notes of "Pomp and Circumstance" in the background...that is, if you can hear it over all the guinea ruckus!] The place: Bee Haven Acres' Birdbrain AcademyThe time: 6:00 PM Saturday eveningThe event:...
- Bird Tales
If you follow my blog, you will know that Hubbs believes in the trainability of birds. I might add to that "in spite of the untrainable guineas, he still believes!" Last summer we started with 30 guinea keats.We had three old guineas in addition to the...
- Another Sad Tale
It is a good thing that the happy tales way outnumber the sad tales....or this farm life would be unbearable. As a result of too many unhappy guinea tales, I have come to a critical decision.....no more guineas. This past weekend was just too sad. The...
- Bear Attack
All summer long we have seen the evidence of a bear's frequent visits to our garden. Several times our birdfeeders have been destroyed and the iron shepherd's crooks that hold the birdfeeders have been bent down to the ground about 90 degrees....