Guinea Keets Arrive, and Deer for Dinner

     For some time Amber has been singing the praises of Guinea fowl.  They announce the arrival of visitors (or intruders) with their "goodle goodle" cry and they wander about the yard devouring insects and weed seeds, without doing significant damage to the flowers and plants.  We have enough ants, woodticks and other insects to keep them happy for a long time.  They also produce eggs at almost the rate of regular laying hens.  Though the eggs are about half the size of regular chicken eggs, they are edible and good for home use.

Guinea Keets about a week old

     A while back, Amber's friend Sharon told her that she had some excess guinea keets available.   Last Tuesday Amber, my grandson David and I made a field trip to Sharon and Earl's farm near Shevlin to pick up some week-old guinea keets.  We decided 6 was a good number to start with.

Compost sifter on top keeps them from jumping out

     Before we brought them home, I had fashioned a nursery for them out of a cardboard box, which I set on the porch.  We already had a feeder, waterer and a heat lamp, but were told we needed a cover because they can easily jump out of the box, even when they're that young.

     The cover shown in the picture is a homemade compost sifter; a wooden frame with chicken wire nailed to one side.

     In two or three weeks, they'll be moving out to their new home, a four by twelve foot section of the garden house, formerly used as a chicken house before we enlarged our chicken flock.  None too soon, as I understand the peacocks are about a week away from hatching on Sharon and Earl's farm.  Amber and I were both eyeing them longingly while we were there, and they'll be ready for transport about a week after hatching.

Our Dinner Guest

Sunflowers for Dinner

     We had Deer for dinner Friday night.  Not as a main course, but as a guest.  You can see from the pictures that he ate his fill, and then left his calling card, so I would know he was here.

With a Side Dish of Tomato Leaves

     Friday at dusk when I went out to close up the chicken coop, I saw a deer standing in our garden.  It was my own fault as I had left the garden gate wide open.  He left as soon as he saw me, without a thank you or a fare thee well.  Like some other unwelcome guests, he left a mess behind.  

Deer's "Business Card"

     I think these plants will recover as long as they don't get attacked again.  Last year the chickens ate almost all the leaves off my young cabbage, but they recovered and produced a fine crop of cabbages. I'll try to keep the gates closed, and may try some of the garlic,cayenne,soap mixture that I use as a spray for cabbage worms.  It sounds like something that might keep other unwanted guests away.

Skunk and Me

     I haven't seen any evidence of Skunk since we last met in the chicken house about a week ago.  Maybe he heard that I bought a 22, and decided to cross us off his nightly hunting route.  At any rate, I'll be watching for him.

     I don't know who our next guest may be, but let's remember in this hot weather to keep our animals watered and our powder dry.