Saturday was scary. More for the birds though.
The door had been open and the birds were approaching the door, but not going outside (as far as I could tell). I walked out to do something, and heard an aweful noise. I ran over to the noise and a hawk (sort unknown) flew up into a tree. Huddled in the undergrowth was Mambo, surrounded by feathers. I pulled him out, looked him over, and found he was physically fine. A moment later he was back in the coop, running around like nothing had happened. I have not determined what kind of hawk it is, even though I have a field guide. It was the same size as the guinea, so it's surprising the guinea got attacked in the first place. I doubt this will be the last time this happens.
Kiki also seems to have been injured -- she is not putting much weight on her left leg. Perhaps there was a mad scramble when the hawk attacked and she hurt herself.
Kittywhee is acting broody (as is Kiki) -- she's sitting in one of the hideouts I created for just that purpose. No eggs yet, but I bet she's getting ready.
2004/11/29
2004/11/21
16/7, The Great Escape
The elders are 16 weeks (maybe it's time to move to months now?) old. The girls (Kiki and Kittywhee, as far as I can tell) should be hitting puberty about now and dropping an egg for the first time. I'm checking the coop daily. On the other hand, in anyplace but California, egg laying ends in Fall and starts up again in Spring.
The babies have begun fighting. Kerrie saw them going at it, with the elders watching on the sidelines. Hope they don't lose toenails like the others.
The last few weekends I've been opening the coop door and letting the elders leave if they like, to explore the great outdoors. They didn't seem to take to it, but today they made it beyond the coop threshold for the first time. YT takes the prize as being the first to cross over. That took a lot of encouragement, food, and toys to play with to make that happen.
We went on a bike ride in the afternoon, and I left the coop door open, thinking nothing could go wrong, because it was such an effort getting them to get as far as they did. Wrong! I went into the coop just at sunset to close things up, and found 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 young guinees making quite a lot of noise, like something was bothering them. Sure enough, Kiki, the first out of the shell, was also the first up into a nearby douglass fir. She wasn't distressed though, just making the usual buckwheat, buckwheat noise as she always does. Kerrie somehow managed to coax her down, but not into the coop. We tried to corral her into the coop, but she took off and landed in the thick of the coyote brush. I gave chase, and eventually grabbed her. She seemed oddly calm, as though nothing was wrong. Considering she's never seen anything bigger than the 10x10 space she lives in, that's a bit strange.
They are still going to be confined during the week while I'm at the office. I need to spend more time with them while they get used to the great outdoors.
The babies have begun fighting. Kerrie saw them going at it, with the elders watching on the sidelines. Hope they don't lose toenails like the others.
The last few weekends I've been opening the coop door and letting the elders leave if they like, to explore the great outdoors. They didn't seem to take to it, but today they made it beyond the coop threshold for the first time. YT takes the prize as being the first to cross over. That took a lot of encouragement, food, and toys to play with to make that happen.
We went on a bike ride in the afternoon, and I left the coop door open, thinking nothing could go wrong, because it was such an effort getting them to get as far as they did. Wrong! I went into the coop just at sunset to close things up, and found 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 young guinees making quite a lot of noise, like something was bothering them. Sure enough, Kiki, the first out of the shell, was also the first up into a nearby douglass fir. She wasn't distressed though, just making the usual buckwheat, buckwheat noise as she always does. Kerrie somehow managed to coax her down, but not into the coop. We tried to corral her into the coop, but she took off and landed in the thick of the coyote brush. I gave chase, and eventually grabbed her. She seemed oddly calm, as though nothing was wrong. Considering she's never seen anything bigger than the 10x10 space she lives in, that's a bit strange.
They are still going to be confined during the week while I'm at the office. I need to spend more time with them while they get used to the great outdoors.
2004/11/08
14/5, I'm a Farmer
It has been 14 weeks since birth for the elders, 5 weeks for the youngsters.
The "food bell" is working. I walked up to the coop tonight, but waited before ringing it. They saw me. They made a bit more noise and moved around. Then I rang the bell... they went ape-shit crazy! They crowded all around the door where I feed them and screamed at me.
Over the weekend the door to the coop was left open. They ventured about 1 foot outside the coop, but still inside the building itself. I have read from other guinea owners that it may take several more days or weeks for them to become comfortable enough to explore outside the coop.
Got some straw this weekend and put it into the coop, to give the birds something to play on and amuse themselves with. First day was predictable. Second day was like it was there all along. The straw officially makes me a farmer, as I carried it in my truck and let it all blow over the road on the way home. And now I know the difference between straw and hay.
The "food bell" is working. I walked up to the coop tonight, but waited before ringing it. They saw me. They made a bit more noise and moved around. Then I rang the bell... they went ape-shit crazy! They crowded all around the door where I feed them and screamed at me.
Over the weekend the door to the coop was left open. They ventured about 1 foot outside the coop, but still inside the building itself. I have read from other guinea owners that it may take several more days or weeks for them to become comfortable enough to explore outside the coop.
Got some straw this weekend and put it into the coop, to give the birds something to play on and amuse themselves with. First day was predictable. Second day was like it was there all along. The straw officially makes me a farmer, as I carried it in my truck and let it all blow over the road on the way home. And now I know the difference between straw and hay.
2004/11/01
Coop done, 13/4
The new adult coop is finished, thanks to Kerrie for helping out. The door is especially well-built, after our having learned how not to make a door the first time around.
The 13-week olds took to it quickly in comparison to the last time they were moved. The screamed and buck-wheated right off, instead of cowered in a corner.
The babies didn't take to well to being moved into the baby coop, as expected. They cowered in the corner just like the first batch did. Tonight, 24 hours later, the food remains untouched. I try not to worry, as this was exactly like last time too. But I can't not worry!
The bell ringing seems to be working. When I ring it they come running to the doorway to get their treats (millett). But the true test will be after I've released them, scheduled for two weeks from now. I figure they need a bit more adjusting time because of yesterday's move.
On the gender front, Kerrie pointed out we may have 3 females, not 2 as we last thought. The wattles on the males are larger; both Kiki and Kittywhee have smaller wattles than the rest, as does the third: Mambo. Mambo hasn't vocalized, at all, so we haven't been able to say for sure what he/she is.
Rotisserie (the runt) is still being chased mercilessly about the cage, especially at treat time. I give him his own handfull, so he is not left out.
I've been wondering what is up with the mostly white color that the elders are sporting. I thought I had ordered Brown, not Grey/White. I have since been told that I need to wait until they are 6 months old for the adult colors to show. Patience.
The 13-week olds took to it quickly in comparison to the last time they were moved. The screamed and buck-wheated right off, instead of cowered in a corner.
The babies didn't take to well to being moved into the baby coop, as expected. They cowered in the corner just like the first batch did. Tonight, 24 hours later, the food remains untouched. I try not to worry, as this was exactly like last time too. But I can't not worry!
The bell ringing seems to be working. When I ring it they come running to the doorway to get their treats (millett). But the true test will be after I've released them, scheduled for two weeks from now. I figure they need a bit more adjusting time because of yesterday's move.
On the gender front, Kerrie pointed out we may have 3 females, not 2 as we last thought. The wattles on the males are larger; both Kiki and Kittywhee have smaller wattles than the rest, as does the third: Mambo. Mambo hasn't vocalized, at all, so we haven't been able to say for sure what he/she is.
Rotisserie (the runt) is still being chased mercilessly about the cage, especially at treat time. I give him his own handfull, so he is not left out.
I've been wondering what is up with the mostly white color that the elders are sporting. I thought I had ordered Brown, not Grey/White. I have since been told that I need to wait until they are 6 months old for the adult colors to show. Patience.
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