Lucretia and Hannibal Lecter

I love my guinea's. A friend once asked my "WHY" would I ever want guinea's. They are soooo noisy. She was right. Guinea's make the most grating sound. They are the guard dogs of the fowl world.

Up on the roof

But they did warn me when a fox was making rounds on the property and when we had a six foot rat snake trying to get into the chicken coop. But boy can they be annoying when they are sitting outside an open window trying to compete with me when I am making an important phone call. I have even had to go after them with my broom.

Guinea's have a voracious appetite for insects and weed seeds. Even consuming the tick that causes Lyme's Disease.


They also aren't the prettiest of birds.
Looking like some prehistoric dinosaur with a cone head.

My male bird is Hannibal and his lady friend is Lucretia. Lucretia was hit by a car about 2 months ago. I found her laying in the middle of the road. She had a couple of feathers missing and walked with a bit of a limp but Hannibal found her irisistable. She's a tough bird. Guinea's also mate for life. No wonder Hannibal was frantic.

Lucretia has been sitting on a clutch of eggs for the past 2 weeks. They should be hatching in another 2 weeks. The baby Guinea's are called keets. I also put 2 of Lucretia's eggs under 1 of my broody hens. Boy will she be surprised when those eggs hatch!


14 eggs





Lucretia on her nest under the electric fence

 

Hannibal keeps a close eye on Lucretia