Boarding School

Remember that early morning in May that I took a trip to the Post Office
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.)

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.

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.

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!