Guinea Fowl Parenting Fail

I spent several days trying to get pictures of our keets to announce the good news of their arrival.  It was nearly impossible to get close enough for a decent shot and this was as good as I could manage.  I am pretty sure we started out with seven or eight keets, but by the time the guinea hen would let us close enough to see them all, we counted five.  After a day or two, that turned into only three.  For a couple of days, there was only one.  Today, none. 

I'm pretty sad about this.  I was very excited about the increase of our guinea flock.  You would think with as protective as the momma was during the day, that she would have continued to care for her kiddos at night, but I am pretty sure she left them in a nest on the ground while she took to a tree, leaving them entirely unprotected. 

Next year, I hope to find her nest, take some of her eggs, and put them under a broody chicken.  The chicken should raise them as her own and the new guineas should take to the barn inside the fence and be generally better protected.  It's too late to do it this year, but hopefully we can work it next year and have some more guinea fowl. 

Protective Momma Hen

"Back off, crazy lady with the camera!"  I'm pretty sure that's what this momma hen is thinking.

Every time I come along with a camera, she rushes the chicks to safety.  It makes it hard to get good pictures!  Silly momma!

"Whatchya lookin' at, lady?"











It is wonderful to hear the little cheap cheaps of these babies as I try to milk Lulu the goat in the morning.  Baby goats and baby chicks!  We have it made!

Broody Hen - Confused?

This lovely buff girl has been sitting on a pile of eggs for about two weeks now.  She usually doesn't get off of the nest to come eat, but today she did and I got a picture of the eggs she's been sitting on.

I believe some of the other chickens have been crowding her and continuing to lay in the same box.  But now the poor thing is confused!  When she was done eating with the other chickens she returned to the nesting boxes, but not the one she's been sitting on!  The silly girl is sitting on the fresh eggs that need to be gathered!  I'm wondering if I should move her over.  I'm sure it won't make her happy.  She grumbles when we gather eggs from the other boxes and she grumbled at me when I took her picture.  She even grumbled at me when I dropped a handful of food in the box with her.

Poor confused chicken!

Update: 
Those eggs only have about a week to go, so I moved Ms. Broody back to her box.  Another chicken had popped in there to lay, so I had to move her first, and she was all like, "wha? I'm trying to lay here!".  Then I picked up Ms. Broody and she fluffed up like a feathered porcupine.  Too funny!!  She grumbled quite fiercely, but she didn't peck me.  I plopped her back in her box and she settled in quickly.  Then I plopped the other chicken in the other box and she was all like, "oh, ok, this is acceptable".  The broody hen turned her butt toward me and craned her neck around to give me the evil eye.  So funny!

Mr. Big, Camera Shy?

I have received request for a YouTube video of my bantam rooster, Mr. Big, "crowing" (squeak-a-doodle-squeaking!), but the little bugger just will not crow on camera for me! 

C'mon, Mr. Big, I just want to show everybody how big and manly you sound! 

Pleeeeeaaaaaase!

Why Bantam Chickens?

I'm the kind of person who believes that every animal on the farm needs to be practical and serve a purpose.  Chickens, in my view of my own farm, should be livestock (cared for livestock) and not pets.  We went to a chicken swap about a week ago with the intention of buying some new laying hens.  We did buy young hens; some pretty little Golden Comets (which are sex link chickens, so no more rooster surprise).  During our trip, I spotted a lovely little pair of Mille Fleur bantam ladies and an adorable, tiny little rooster.  I went nuts and bought pet chickens. For those who aren't aware, bantams are miniatures. 

Upon arriving home, I began to berate myself.  What had I been thinking?  Pet chickens??  Don't get me wrong, we love our chickens, but they are not pets.  What was I going to do with pet chickens?  They are pretty and their feathered legs are so dainty.  They don't exactly seem like hardy livestock.

I like to maximize my food to effort ratio and I like big, brown eggs.  The little bantam eggs seem silly in comparison, but an egg is an egg and they are tasty.  These bantam eggs are even amusing....

The egg on the right is a standard egg.

Most bantam eggs come out like the egg on the left; small, but relatively the same proportions.  This was the first egg little Millie Le Fleur laid for me.

Sometimes, though, bantams will produce a long, narrow egg like the one in the middle.  This was the first egg Minnie the Moocher laid for me.

So, eggs are good, and the little darlings are pretty, but there is another purpose this little trio serves.  Get a load of that adorable little rooster, Mr. Big.  Yes, he's going through a bit of a molt, but that's not what I'm getting at.  When this little guy crows, it is hilarious!  I get a good few laughs every day hearing his little "squeak-a-doodle-squeak"!  I had no idea how entertaining the little guy would be.  I'm sure he'd rather not be, but he is just sooo adorable!  And he works so hard to get that little crow out that I just can't help but laugh.

So, why bantams?  They are productive, they are sweet, they are pretty, and they provide some great entertainment value.  I'm really happy with my little pet chickens.