As usual, one of our Guineas had been staying out at night instead of in the chicken coop. Not a safe thing to do in the country, but a common occurrence for this time of year. This meant that she was sitting on some eggs somewhere. My daughter usually tries to find the nest (which they make on the ground), liberate the eggs, and hatch them in the safety of the chicken coop or incubator.
By some miracle Pirijo (my daughter) found the Guinea in her nest. The mommy had chosen a spot on the farm, and in a relatively safe place - our large middle pasture. Since the nest was on the farm, she decided to let the mother keep her eggs as long as she did not neglect them, and checked on the Guinea every day, making sure not to get too close to disturb her.
Last weekend, Pirijo heard some peeping from under the mother hen and was sure that the eggs had hatched, but didn't dare to look. A few days later, all the adult Guineas flocked around the nest. So far, they had left the mother alone, but the commotion indicated now that the babies would be moved that day.
And so it was. That afternoon, all four grown-ups slowly herded the little keets (baby Guineas) to the safety of the coop. Pirijo followed behind to make sure that no stragglers were lost. After a dozen or more counts and re-counts, she finally came to the conclusion that we had eleven precious keets, one of them totally white.
The Guineas are good parents and babysitters. They lead those babies all around the farm, keeping them within their circle to ensure their safety.
It’s amazing to watch how the older birds protect these babies, corralling them in the middle and standing as sentinels around them.
By some miracle Pirijo (my daughter) found the Guinea in her nest. The mommy had chosen a spot on the farm, and in a relatively safe place - our large middle pasture. Since the nest was on the farm, she decided to let the mother keep her eggs as long as she did not neglect them, and checked on the Guinea every day, making sure not to get too close to disturb her.
Last weekend, Pirijo heard some peeping from under the mother hen and was sure that the eggs had hatched, but didn't dare to look. A few days later, all the adult Guineas flocked around the nest. So far, they had left the mother alone, but the commotion indicated now that the babies would be moved that day.
And so it was. That afternoon, all four grown-ups slowly herded the little keets (baby Guineas) to the safety of the coop. Pirijo followed behind to make sure that no stragglers were lost. After a dozen or more counts and re-counts, she finally came to the conclusion that we had eleven precious keets, one of them totally white.
The Guineas are good parents and babysitters. They lead those babies all around the farm, keeping them within their circle to ensure their safety.
It’s amazing to watch how the older birds protect these babies, corralling them in the middle and standing as sentinels around them.