Birds of a Feather

Guineas hunting.

“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.”-Robert Lynd

There’s a different kind of silence on the mountainside. Nature’s always murmuring about something. The guinea fowls, especially, are not too keen on silence (especially if a bear sets off a motion sensor light and wakes them up. The sounds are enough to startle anything away). Before I came here, I had no idea what a guinea fowl was (pictured above), and I certainly wasn’t expecting to come across these almost prehistoric dinosaur type creatures to surround my car upon arrival. One on one a guinea isn’t too terrifying (a bit odd, yes, but you could probably take him), however, guineas pack together when they think they’re going to get fed and rumble down the mountain like a pack of storm troopers. THAT, is actually quite terrifying. Despite their odd looks, quirky demeanor, and very boisterous noises, they’re rather sweet (in a way a wild bird can be sweet, I wouldn’t try to pick one up and pet it like a dog. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED). They’re curious in some of their actions. On the farm they run all over the mountainside and feed in the grass, in doing this, they help get rid of the ticks (to keep them off dogs, cats, and humans). According to Norma, they have been very useful in this because this place used to be a hotbed of tic activity. Guineas are also quite fond of their reflection, for as odd looking as they are, they’re rather vain (I guess they’re similar to their human counter-parts in that respect). Upon my arrival, Norma told me that we should be expecting 36 keets (baby guineas) because a Mama guinea got upset when Norma was taking the eggs at night. The task of removing guinea eggs is actually pretty funny. You have to go when the Mama has set off into wilderness for the day and then you have to collect the eggs with a spoon (so all those church party games do come in handy, ha!). Guineas are very fierce in the protection of their eggs. They’ll watch them all day and all night, never leaving for food or water, and when faced with a threat will fight to the death. I suppose that’s rather admirable, however, it means this particular Guinea Mama gets all sorts of special treatment so she doesn’t die in the hen house (which might upset the hens…I’ll get to them later). After the eggs hatch, the Guinea Mama loses all motherly instinct and leaves them to fend for themselves, which doesn’t always turn out for good. Well recently, our Guinea Mama decided she no longer want to sit on her eggs. After sitting on her eggs for weeks, I suppose she just got bored with the idea of motherhood. We’re still trying to figure out why. Sometimes nature can be unpredictable (either way, it gets me out of cleaning out the chicken coop, at least for a while!). [FUN FACT: Guinea eggs are very rich and are the best in baking cakes. Good luck breaking them open though, tough as nails.]

Finn, the rooster about town. #poultryswag

 

Finn runs this hen house.

The chickens are a precious as you might presume (Also not to be picked up and cuddled). They make much more muffled sounds (EXCEPT FOR FINN. YES, I HEAR YOU), cooing until they lay an egg. The mother hens are rather proud of their eggs, and Finn is too (even though he has nothing to do with the process most of the time). Before I came here, I’ll admit, I knew nothing about chickens and the egg process. Apparently chickens don’t need roosters to lay eggs (unfertilized). But Finn is proud either way. He’s very sympathetic to the hens when they start laying the eggs. He howls and runs immediately to the hen house to root his hen along. It’s really rather sweet. For as much swagger as Finn has, he is surprisingly bullied by the hens (who often steal his food). Still, he proudly saunters through the tall grass and makes everyone aware of his presence. I appreciate his confidence (I don’t appreciate his wake up calls).

What always surprises me here, is how well the animals get along. They all go about and do their own thing. If only we could take a page from their book.

Goodnight, friends!

 

P.S. If you’re still listening, internet world, I’m currently coveting some SC peaches. I promise I’ll never leave the state during the summer again.

Omnomnom.