Every evening towards dusk, the guinnea fowl all march, like a funny little disorganized army, from the back paddock into the garden. Yesterday, I was sitting at one of the picnic tables relaxing, after putting the gang away for the night, and I took some photos of them coming towards me. Unlike all of the other birds they are reluctant to take bread or lettuce from my hand; they’re far too shy. So they sometimes run right up to me but when I say, “Hi Guinneas” they get scared and run away again, or else get all confused. Once again, I will let the pictures speak for themselves! Oh, and the birds in the background are the peacocks/peafowl.
Of all our birds, the guinnea fowl are Husband’s absolute favourites!
jmgoyder 
I am unsure why, but I have visions of Monty Python and the Holy Grail “guinnea fowl” style in my head now… “Run Away!”
Actually that makes a lot of sense!!!
Hi – love how your photos are so seamlessly in a row. How do you do that?
I just upload them really close together, one after another. It takes forever and there must be a quicker way but I’m still a relative novice to this!
LOL – I’ve been doing this for a year or so and still have trouble with photos. They have a mind of their own at times and repostion themselves. I’ll have to give it a try next time & see what they do. Love the blog thing it gives me a place to document my brush with nature and my beloved crows. I bet you get the same thing from yours. 🙂
Yes and yes!
Just finished catching up with your blog. Is husband home yet or still away? And how is your son. I think of him often and his great birthday party. As always I love the birds and enjoyed each and every story I read.
Son is 5 weeks post-op. from spinal surgery and Husband is now in nursing home (which in blog I call nursing lodge because I can’t stand the term nursing home) – it’s been rough.
How are you – so sorry to hear you’ve been ill – are you ok now?
Yes I am definitely on the mend. So so sorry to hear about Husband. I have held you and your family in my prays for months now and will continue to do so.
What a lovely person you are!
These are what my honey wants us to think about when we do finally get chickens. I’ll probally still call them chickens cause I just love that, but ayway….. he said they are one of the more quiet birds and they are pretty good at defending themselves. We live in coyote country and I’m sure when we finally do have chickens/guinnea’s that the coyotes really won’t be able to stay away.
So we need pretty savy birds. Of course we will have extra strong coop and probably a pen to have them out but protected too, so they can free range.
I just really love the traditional chickens and not sure how it will all pan out.
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
thanks for all your support on my blog
I need to warn you that guinnea fowl are quite noisy (see some of comments on this post) so your honey might not like that. Also, they fly into the trees at night so you can’t pen them in. Chickens are quieter, easier and more ‘yardable’ – all best with your plans and can’t wait to know how it all pans out!
Love your birds! Guinea fowl are so entertaining.
Do you have them too?
A friend of mine had a flock of them when we lived in the Queen Charlotte Islands many years ago.
I love them because they are so funny but also so stupid – hehe!
They make the most incredible sound – first time I heard them I thought someone was dragging rusty tins along the ground. I’ve got to love that sound!
That is a perfect description of their sound – hahaha!
I love guinea fowl; such funny looking birds.
What do you mean funny looking? They’re gorgeous! (Just kidding around!)
Are these the Double-crested Guineafowl? You have so many! One day could you name a list of animals that you have in your farm? I’m sorry to be nosy but it’s so wonderful to have like a Noah’s Arc farm. Julie you’re a remarkable woman. I’m lucky to be your follower and friend. 🙂
I would love to list them if I can count them! I am lucky to have found you too – having a bad time tonight – can’t wait for morning!
I’m sorry Julie, I meant to ask: How many kinds of species do you have?
Tame birds – nine species and wild birds around the same I think although I keep seeing new ones!
Great images – can almost see the hesitation in their expression!!! Where I live these guinnea fowl are known for being natural Lyme Tick prevention! They often get loose and roam around the neighborhood, and some are not too thrilled – but yours are lovable for sure!
I’ve never heard of a Lyme Tick!
No Lyme Disease out your way?? Wow…. Huge epidemic infections disease issue here… deers carry these microscopic ticks that cause horrific and debilitating illness. If caught early can cure with antibiotic but often goes undetected – and once chronic, can be life-long pursuit to treat/remedy. I recently tested positive for antibodies – they estimated I got infected some 20 years ago. May be a cause of my define since then:( I’m glad one thing you do not have to worry about!!!
We don’t have deer – maybe that’s why we don’t have that tick? How awful that you may have been infected all those years ago but didn’t know – is that one of the reasons? Sorry to seem nosy!
Yes, deer ar main host for lyme disease but it’s now being found that other animals may also be culprits. Hoping it never comes your way. It’s huge deal in my neck of the woods (and should start avoiding the “woods” now that season is changing!). As for me, nobody is certain – I never had any pain or medical problems till 30 when my little one was 1 (she had diagnosed lyme that year and was treated promptly). Guess I’ll never know if I contracted it at the same time and ignored subtle symptoms (rash, virus type syndrome). Even she was difficult to diagnose and our pediatrician refused to believe it could be Lyme. Her blood titers (ordered by my husband who is an MD here) proved otherwise. It’s a tricky one. In any case…should get us a nice army of guinnea fowl to protect!! 🙂
Sounds horrible – yes you better get some guinneas!
There’s something about guinea hens that I just love. They’re not the most colorful or beautiful birds, but they’re so appealing.
They certainly are!
Yes, thats me who raised the guinea flock on the Charlottes. It was almost nessesary to have them since they were the police in our yard. We had a lot of predators and it was a constant warning and running into a sheltered place. Thanks to the guineas we seldom lost a bird (ducks, chickens, geese, turkeys – you name it, we had them all). I used to put the guinea-eggs under a chicken hen. The chickens made a mutch better mother than the guinea mothers. The guinea mothers are moving too fast and too far and on the Charlottes the grass was always wet so we lost a lot of guinea-chicks this way. They are the smartest birds I ever knew (and so sorry to say – they taste haevenly after they come out of the oven).
I hope there are not too many mistakes in my comment – I come from Switzerland.
Loved your pictures, thanks to Anneli I could visit your blog.
That’s so interesting – thank you!They are rather police-ish come to think of it!
What a comical series of photos!
It’s even funnier when they sprint – I need a video camera!
I wish I could say that about Bob. He detests them. Honestly, I often think of just ordering up some more and taking the comments when they arrive. My last little Weechu needs a friend or six… 😉
~ Lynda
Yeah, just get a couple and say they wandered in from somewhere?
I actually brought this up after dinner tonight…
He groaned…
Would you like me to have a word with him? Just kidding!
Of course, but I doubt it would help!!! I may have to just take matters into my own hands and order up. The poor Weechu stands at the back fence and calls for hours. Her cry sounds just like, “Come-back, Come-back, Come-back, Come-back, Come-back…” She misses her flock and it breaks my heart. 😦
Poor Weechu – yes, I agree, she needs a bird buddy of her own kind – go for it!
Well, OK! But I’m blaming it on you! (LOL!) 🙂
I will take the consequences!
I’ve heard guinea fowls are even worse than chickens in terms of eluding predators. I really want guineas for tick control but we had our chicken flock decimated a couple years ago by a fox who discovered them. Have you had any predator problems?
Yes, we have foxes too but because the guinneas can fly, they can usually get away and they roost in trees at night.
Another great set of photos.
So…….Guinea Fowl are shy are they – maybe that’s why I had so much trouble photographing them at Melbourne Zoo.
I can’t possibly hand feed them – that’s how shy they are – whereas all the others pretty much jump onto my lap for food!
I wish I had as much life around my place as you do. If you would like to adopt a 57-year-old man who loves dogs, cats, birds, etc., just let me know!
Thanks for letting me camp out in your blog tonight. I had a really good time.
Thanks for all the comments! You are funny re your adoption suggestion. Unfortunately we can’t have cats here because the dogs would eat them!!