Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Guinea Kind of Father's Day














Those of you that have these crazy critters will know of what I speak.
I purchased these 2 males and one female last year and have had them penned up all winter and finally this spring let them loose hoping that they would return to the coop at night.  Well it worked out better than I expected.  The female even sat on a clutch of about 20 eggs which hatched out 4 chicks and she excepted 2 more from the incubator.  So now I have one very protective hen with a group of unruly keets. Both males try their best to help teach the young, but they cannot seem to get them to understand how to get back into the coop. 

They get a good start at it but then the keets just go crazy,  jumping off the ramp or running underneath it.  If the parents go inside, the little buggers squeeze through the chicken wire and escape the confines of the pen.  This really drives the adults nuts. (The chickens gather to watch the festivities and get a chance to see the babies close up.) They will attack anything that gets close to the fence, which makes herding the babies back in a dangerous venture for them and me.  I have felt mom's wrath 3 times already for being a good samaritan and bare the scratches and bite marks to prove it on my hands, face and head.















The males get vocal and make feint charges but stop short of attacking, (we have gotten pretty close over the last month) and look at her like she's crazy after her attacks.  They even squawk at her as if to warn her not to bite the hand that feeds her, and can't she see I am only helping.



After the reunion all is right with the world....until next time or when it is time to get them in for the night!


My daughter Angie was sick, but Eric brought Aden & Ethan over.
















They also brought over Eric's prototype of his recumbent bike for two.  He made the rear pedals adjustable so Aden could ride too.



Aden wanted to show off her steering abilities so her and dad switched places.  Eric was a little uncomfortable in back but managed to pedal them around.



















Ethan wanted to show off his first missing tooth.  He pulled it out all by himself.


We let the goat girls out  to browse in the orchard...


Fern noticed the kindling bin and dedided to climb it to try to reach some leaves.















Peaches had to join the fun. 
Finally the day was ending and it was time to bed the animals down and go in for a much deserved rest.....

But WAIT..........



what was that????????????


For ME ???  
No Abbey,  these are going to the farmers market for sale.  36 of the 40 eggs from my hens hatched in the incubator.  I made an improvised brooder and added a heat lamp.  But the peeping noise on the porch was driving the cats and dogs crazy, everyone wanted to see the cute chicks.  My geriatric cat even left the back steps to sleep next to them.   Even though I didn't condone her actions then, I hope that she had pleasant dreams from her younger, bird nest raiding days. 
Say goodnight Gracie....

2 comments:

warren said...

That bike is AWESOME!

GreyWolf said...

Just send all of your unwanted bike parts to Mr.Z and maybe he will make you one.