Guinea Gone Wild

We have acquired a guinea on the farm.  How long she will stay is anyone's best guess, but she seems pretty comfortable at the moment, sleeping in the chicken coop and causing the hens (and the rooster) many issues by roosting along side them at night.  


Yesterday, I was talking to the neighbors at the farm store when I saw this strange turkey looking thing walk into the driveway, just like she knew where she was going.  I'd seen a guinea before, because we (randomly) had one invade our Louisiana property for a couple of hours at one time.  Basil (we like to call him the chicken whisperer because he really is so good with chickens....and only 3 years old) looks out the window and takes off toward the barn....following far enough behind the guinea so she wouldn't be startled by his presence.  He followed her until they found Dylan, and then started watching her together.



Kade (our 12 year old son) came to the farm store and told us the guinea had been captured and was now inside the chicken fence. I began to get a little worried, thinking things like "you can't just steal someone's guinea!" and accused Dylan of being a farm hoarder (ha).



When I got the actual story from Dylan and Basil a little later, it's even stranger than the fictional one Kade told. This guinea apparently walked right up and flew OVER the electricified chicken netting without even batting an eye. Like she knew exactly where she was going.



At dusk, she went into the coop and propped herself up on the roost, while all the other chicks huddled in the corner and squawked at her like crazy.



I did a little research. Guineas like to be free range. They're not a chicken. They lay only seasonally and very much dislike confinement. They will stay close and come home every night due to being fed, and are best used for pest control.



This guinea (now named Jellybean by the kids) is STILL here. She can leave just like she came, but has not.



Tonight at dusk all the other chickens were in the coop and Jellybean was walking around like she had all night out on the grass. This is a predicament because if she chooses to stay and NOT go inside, she would draw predators to the coop. So I had to get her in. I vaulted the fence, got my boot stuck in the netting and landed (hard) in a nice fresh area of chicken crap. At that moment, Jellybean ran for the door and hopped on the roost.



This may be the smartest bird I've encountered yet.



And.....I think we need about 10 more guineas. Pest control is always a good thing.



Let us know if your missing a guinea!!! You can come get her anytime. I'm sure our flock would be forever grateful.



--Harmony