Guineas and chickens for 2007

We are raising a new flock of Guineas and chickens for 2007. All we have left at this point is one old one-eyed guinea. He's a real survivor and pretty good natured. However, there is no way he can control the ticks on 2 1/2 acres. All three of us have had deer and dog ticks on us.


We purchased a mixed bunch of 4 Rhode Island Reds, 2 leghorns and a White Rock. Unfortunately we didn't get out early enough and something got a leghorn and the white rock. A couple of days later, I heard a commotion at dusk and there was a fox trying to force the birds out of the henhouse. I found one of the Rhodies on her back in shock. She didn't look like she had a lot of injury so I put her back in the henhouse. for the next day or so, I kept finding her on her back in what looked like shock. I'd put her back on her feet near the water or food. After two days she totally recovered.


We started out with 12 guinea keets. When I moved them outside, I put them in a portion of the chicken yard. Unfortunately, the wire was a bit week from rust and we lost 4 of them. One morning I saw a fox or coyote sitting there staring at the hens and guineas at about 5:30 in the morning. I had to double up on the chicken wire all around.


Anyway, the 4 chickens are now roaming the property pretty well. I'm letting out about 4 guineas each day. They will stay pretty close to the others that are still caged. The old one-eyed guy is working pretty well with them. I had some company over and they walked out to take a look at the birds. Old one eye herded the keets that were outside away from us.. I guess he was telling them that our friends were strangers.



chris