The Babies Have Arrived

At 5:30 this morning the phone rang. It was my friendly Postmaster calling to say that I had a package arrive....and it was "cheeping". I hopped in the car and drove to the Post Office...arriving at 5:45 AM and was handed my cheeping package. Carefully placing it on the front seat, I started my drive home...careful to not take any turns too fast....my precious cargo in need of a calm, smooth ride.
Upon arriving back at the farm, I opened my box and began removing the chicks...one at a time...and introducing them to their first drink of water (with a little sugar added for an extra energy boost).
My package contained 30 or 31 (hard to count) guinea hatchlings of two different varieties (one being Pearl and the other, I am not sure.) Happily all but one of them survived the trip.After exploring their water and food dishes, they migrated into their warming hut and promptly fell asleep....dead asleep. What a harsh life they have had so far. Hopefully over the next couple of days, they will eat and drink and sleep their way towards strong and healthy and happy lives.
I am trying something new with this flock of guineas. Once they are big enough to free range, I will turn them out to roam the farm freely. However, each evening they will be enticed back to their house with a tasty white millet treat. Hopefully, closing them up each night will keep them safe from their most prevalent predator....the great horned owl (who hunts by night.)

Here is their house and yard. This yard will be their first introduction to the great outdoors...when they are quite a bit bigger.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I hope they know how lucky they are...they'll be big before you know it
Kelly said…
SQUEAL! They are so cute. We are going to try the white millet seed with ours too. We can't wait till they get here.
Kelly
Stefunkc said…
I had guinea hens growing up! It was my job, as the youngest, to find them each night and put them up. Luring would have been smart. I just ran around screaming my head off and waving my arms!