Happy Harvest Blog
Real snow, and one lucky keet
Real snow, and one lucky keet:After a long patient wait, finally all the birds were back enclosed. Until an hour later, just before dark, when I went in the yard to close the greenhouse door, disturbed them, and three guineas escaped again! And the keet. Good grief.This time I propped the fence open, waited until I saw the keet make its run out of the brush pile to reunite with the others, and they were all milling around by the open gate. I left them to it, confident they were fine.After dark I closed all the coops, and all the guineas were back in the greenhouse. No keet. You're kidding me. I rarely do see the keet at night, it tucks itself away somewhere, so I told myself it may be in there but it's hiding. Worst case scenario it didn't find its way back in, it's in the brush pile, but it will most likely be able to survive the night, since it's got a full suit of feathers now.
Livin' in the greenhouse
The two broody Silkie hens co-hatched two chicks. What with all the competition and apartment swapping, there is no apparent parentage of the two new chicks. Even the hens don't seem to be clear. I installed both of them in the chickery with a broody box and new eggs. This is for their comfort, for protection from the amorous roosters (How I have longed for you!), and the teenagers who pile in at night. No one wants teenagers around, even your own.Broody hens are so funny, they act like it's Christmas when you give them eggs. Eggs?! You shouldn't have! Cluck cluck cluck, and they settle right on, like they're slipping into a warm bath.
Guinea crisis II
I moved the pigs in another direction, after a long and laborious session cutting out alders and buckthorn. Then, of course, a pig slips out, right by the nest! The pig fence is about four feet from where she decided to brood.I kept the other pig in, but the free pig, not caring about togetherness for the moment, started romping around the field, and ran right over the nest.
Near tragedy
Anyhoo, he was driving around, mowing, and once, right when he came to a stop, I saw the weeds rustle directly in front of his front wheel. As he backed out, I ran to the spot, fearing that a bird had been hit (I'd been paranoid and been tramping through all the weeds in front of him trying to flush out frightened chickens that were used to the tall weeds being a safe zone).
Guinea growth
They're also lost their "chick immunity", and can and will get pecked for being rude, especially by the layer hens. One of the guinea cocks seemed to be being a real jerk, chasing and attacking the chicks all the time. But I have a theory that that's a developmental strategy, like play fighting or wrestling, that he's teaching them the art of escaping attack (try catching one). Especially since the hen is right there letting him do it.
Instagram.
I may not make a blog post every day, but at least I Insta.
Bite size.
