Pages

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Men! and the Guinea

It sure is hard to find time to get on the computer. Here it is almost bedtime again!

We were up at 5:00 am and by the time Poppy left at 6:00 to work at the deer processing plant, I had made the bed, folded and put away two loads of laundry, emptied the dish drain, cleaned the litter boxes, and swept the floors.

At 7:30, after feeding the animals, I raked leaves for one whole hour. Hardly made a dent, but at least the three king size sheet loads I hauled off won't be back.

I stood the rake by a tree and came inside, picked up what was left of my cup of cold coffee, and my camera, and ambled over here to the computer, thinking I would load a few pictures and attempt to halfway write a post. Anyhow, that's when Poppy walked in the front door. He was at work for two hours. Not many deer, he said.

The rest of this day has been spent making pies, wrapping packages to mail, addressing a few cards, cooking supper, and washing a huge pile of dishes.

This picture is from last December. The guineas were watching as I made a huge wreath for the yard. Predators had killed all but two of this group...



Good gosh, is there time to tell you about the guinea? By the time I back up to explain the whole story, well, lets see...

It was just before daylight Monday when the owl flew in and killed one of our last two grown guineas, the female. He grabbed her her right out of the big cedar tree. It was awful. 


The light colored female guinea was killed. Their baby was killed a few months ago by a neighbor's dog.

I worried all day about the one male guinea, left alone. Last spring we had thirteen guineas and one by one, predators have killed them.

We do have three young guineas that I raised over the summer. These three young guineas are tame. They stay in the chicken lot all day and roost safely in an enclosed pen at night.


sweet babies

It was getting dark Monday evening and I watched as the one lonely male guinea paced back and forth looking up into the cedar tree. He knew what had happened to his mate and he was afraid. He wandered into the woods and back a couple of times looking lost and hopeless. It was sad to watch.

That's when I started calling...having never called a guinea before, I was saying, come on little guinea, come with me. I coaxed him into the chicken lot, then into the enclosed guinea pen by throwing a few pieces of lettuce into the pen. The young guineas love lettuce so when they started eating, he joined them and I quickly shut the door. By this time it was pretty dark outside.

I still don't believe this guinea listened to me and followed me. It was the best feeling knowing he was safe inside the pen with three other guineas. Later, I slipped outside with the flashlight to check on them and to my surprise all four were huddled safely together. It was the happiest feeling.

Okay, I should delete this and start over but Poppy needs the computer...men! So, please overlook my "Dick and Jane" writing style. :) 

Love, 
Henny














21 comments:

  1. You always know the sensible thing to do. That's what I love about following along as you care for your little homestead. I'm happy for him, too. It can't be easy losing these little critters to predators. Around here it is coyotes that everyone watches for.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aww that is so sweet! I am glad that the male guinea listen to you and will be safe. Maybe Santa will bring poppy a tablet or something so that you don't have to give the computer up to him.
    Love you to the moon and back!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I guess the only way to keep guineas is to have them in a safe enclosure. They probably would prefer to be free to go wherever but what can you do if they keep getting killed by predators.
    Please don't overdo the leaf raking!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are just like the Pied Piper!! Way to go saving the Guinea, hope it becomes a routine for him to stay safe:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I sure hope you can keep the remaining ones safe....hate to hear that the owl got that one. So sad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Of course animals would follow you. You have magic powers when it comes to your furry and feathered friends.
    Really glad the kids adopted the old man.

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are indeed just like the pied piper when it comes to little creatures. Lovely to know they were safe. Take care, be careful with the leaves it can't be doing you back any good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. A lovely finish to a sad story, Guineas are such characters. We had them when I was a child along with Geese as guard dogs, it takes a very brave or foolish dog to stand up to a Goose.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Henny, you certainly did the right thing. You know the male Guinea is safe and sound now. So sorry you have lost the others. As Deb mentions coyotes are a real problem in my area.
    The days Chuck works we are up just after 5:00 too. I am a morning person so I tend to do my housework then.
    Have a good day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The wreath you made is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good that you managed to lure the male guinea into the pen. Will you try or be able to get him in every night? How nice for the young ones to have him there with them, if only as a heat source.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad you saved him, hope the other guineas adopt him.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mama, you do not have a "Dick and Jane" writing style! If you only knew how the voice of your writing draws people in! Love you, mama! I am so glad Mr. Guinea was safe. That's so sweet. Makes me sad how the others were killed, but I know that is part of living a country/farm lifestyle. Love, Your Girl...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ooh Henny, it's so sad to know you have lost so many birds to the predators...
    I hope your last Guineas, stay cooped up and safe, it's such a worry.
    My daughter started out with a flock of chickens, and between coyotes, raccoons, possums, and who knows what else, they were all gone except one lone hen. She has a whole new flock now, and has taken more precautions than before, but they are still vulnerable.
    *Sigh*.
    You are a good and caring mama to all :)
    ~Jo

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love your writing style. ^_^
    Your guinea needed company, so he followed you. So sorry you lost your female. Perhaps you can let them out in the day, to eat the bad bugs they so love, and then pen them up at night.
    Merry Christmas to you all!

    ReplyDelete
  16. How sad about the guineas but I'm happy with you that the male is safe with the others. We have hawks here at times and I'm always watchful when I take Mandy out. I do love to hear about your adventures. You make a good story teller.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm so glad you were able to call the last guinea in with the babies and I hope he will be content to stay there. And about hr writing style ... It's always very conversational and fun to read!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm glad the guinea had the sense to follow you and is now nice and safe. It's a good feeling when your animals are all tucked in at night!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love your straight-forward way of telling your tales. It's your charm! Please be proud of what you write and the way you write it. You should know by now that we return often to hear what you have to say. Isn't that the very best critique of all?

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm so sorry about the guineas, I know that it breaks your heart. You do so much to keep your animals healthy and safe. Around here we worry about hawks, eagles and coyotes. Our little Butchy is small enough that when we see at hawk or eagle fly over, we rush him into the house.

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from you. Thank you for your comment.