Animals
- Sunrise, Sunset
Yesterday was one of those days when I was lucky enough to be outsideboth at sunrise and at sunset.And let me tell you, both were spectacular!Sadly, I did not have my camera with me for sunrise.But yesterday evening.... The sun set with a promise of...
- 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...
- 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...
- Tales From The Dark Side
This post is rated: PG (poor guineas)....(some violence is implied) Sadly, today's tale is not as light hearted as usual. We have had a few days of trying times. It's bad enough that Thursday and Friday morning's snow turned into rain that...
- And Then There Were Five
It seems that so much of our life on the farm revolves around our feathered friends...and trying to keep them alive. This week I noticed that our guinea troup is dwindling. We now have only five of our lovely, tick-eating "farm alarms" remaining. This...
Animals
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 Academy
The time: 6:00 PM Saturday evening
The event: Guinea Graduation
The time has finally come to give our adolescent guineas their wings.
Birdbrain Academy has officially closed for the summer.
The guineas have donned their caps and gowns
and are preparing to march down the aisle to freedom!
It is time for a life of free ranging,
neighbor bothering,
tick eating,
and acting as guardians of the farm...
sounding the cacophonous alarm when anyone new arrives.
For the past several weeks, we have housed these teenagers in a small coop
beneath Sampson, our 200+ year old pine tree outside the barn.
Here, we hope, they have learned by example that roosting
high in the safety of Sampson's branches is the thing to do each night.
Hopefully, over the past several weeks, they have bonded to
Guido, Gus and Giuseppe.
Hopefully these elders will fulfill their duty to act as the "smart" leaders of this
inexperienced group of teens.
Getting the kids to leave the academy at first was difficult.
Some of them were hesitant... not sure if they were ready to accept the responsibilities
that lie outside the sheltering walls of Birdbrain Academy.
Eventually, though, they all left and headed out into the big world.
Up the driveway....
Through the woods...
On their very first adventure.
I am happy to report that with a little herding
(oh if we only had a video of that!)
from Hubbs and I,
all 15 of the youngsters returned home to the barn to roost for the evening.
Unable to yet fly up into the tree, they returned to the safety of the academy
for their first night of freedom.
The next morning, they were off and running again....
shrieking and chattering all over the neighborhood.
Welcome to the world, guineas!
Be safe!
Update on little Leo....
Leo is recuperating in the farmhouse basement.
It seems he has some sort of abcess on his chin...
(perhaps a bite, a sting???)
He is on antibiotics and getting a bit better each day.
His appetite has returned.
Thanks for all the healing energy sent his way!
- Sunrise, Sunset
Yesterday was one of those days when I was lucky enough to be outsideboth at sunrise and at sunset.And let me tell you, both were spectacular!Sadly, I did not have my camera with me for sunrise.But yesterday evening.... The sun set with a promise of...
- 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...
- 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...
- Tales From The Dark Side
This post is rated: PG (poor guineas)....(some violence is implied) Sadly, today's tale is not as light hearted as usual. We have had a few days of trying times. It's bad enough that Thursday and Friday morning's snow turned into rain that...
- And Then There Were Five
It seems that so much of our life on the farm revolves around our feathered friends...and trying to keep them alive. This week I noticed that our guinea troup is dwindling. We now have only five of our lovely, tick-eating "farm alarms" remaining. This...