Well, the baby guinnea fowl (they’re called ‘keets’) are all gone. There is no sign that they ever existed in the first place – no little feathers or corpses, nothing – and our 12 adult guinneas are roaming around as if nothing ever happened. If Son and I had been away for a couple of days, we would never have known and would probably have assumed the broken eggs had been eaten by something. So we let nature take its course and nature swallowed them up into animal heaven I guess. I am more shocked than upset and wish I had at least rescued a few but most of the advice given to me suggested to let them be with the mother(s).
I only held one little lost one in my hands for a few moments before Son discovered the rest with the adults, so we put it back with them. I still have a tiny thread of hope we might find one or two but it’s a very thin thread. So, another lesson learned the hard way. I will be much more careful when Tapper’s eggs hatch (if they ever do!) although I think ducks are better mothers than guinneas.
I wanted to take a photo of them yesterday but I didn’t because I was afraid of this – afraid of taking a picture of something we might lose. But I trusted that mother guinnea, and the fox lights, and nature, and I knew it was just as much a risk to take the babies away and put them in a brooder in the house because they might be too shocked.
The image of them cheeping and running around with the adults in the back paddock is a good memory and I have decided to refuse to feel regret and remorse because there isn’t any point. They are gone.
jmgoyder 
I ‘m sorry about your birds, maybe you will have better luck next time.
Next time I will know better! Thank you very much.
So sad!!
Yeah and I’m getting really sick of sad – live and learn I guess.
You don’t need any more sad!! Maybe they’ll show up again…
You never know….
I’m sorry Julie.
Me too –
Me too
This is heart breaking. I can feel your pain.
I feel a bit numb – next time I will rescue them and keep them in the house until they get bigger – thank you so much for your comment!
Thank you!
J – you are such a sweet being. Don’t take this to heart. This was their little time on earth for this cycle. Next time they will be stronger and have built up more karma to stay longer. The circle of life goes on. And you are part of that circle in a blessed way r
What a generous comment – thank you!!!!
Guineas are very hard to raise. The chicks are so susceptible to just about anything you could name. Try not to think about it too much. They’ll have another batch. It’s just sad to see them not make it, especially if you’ve held one in your hands.
I have certainly learned this now – thanks so much anneli!
Unfortunately that is nature hon. Sometimes we have to let mother nature do her job as well and not interfere, but I do feel your loss. It is so hard sometimes to just stand back and watch. 🙂
*hugs* for you
I want to swear but this is a PG blog! Thanks Sonel..
Whahahahah! I think it’s one of my favourite swear words as well. I am with you there sweetie. 🙂
I’ll use your swear word – it’s more decent than mine!
Whahahahaha! You think? I don’t. You haven’t heard me yet! LOL!
I can imagine – hehe!
It makes me think about if we didn’t interfere and incubate sometimes where would we be? Damn foxes….are you missing mum as well? So sorry for the lose.
Thanks Katt! I think it might have been crows now because the mother is still around. Live and learn I guess – so lovely of you to comment! Juliex
We’ve heard about how bad a mother a guinnea fowl can be but to let their collective brood perish is high up there on the evolutionary scale no nos. What silly birds! Better luck next time and that will probably involve taking over as mother hen no doubt 😉
And you should see them all today, wandering around quite happily – all 12 – as if nothing had happened – totally thick!
Awww, Juli, same thing happened to me with guinea keets twice. I’m so sorry. Last year I was worried I’d jinxed myself because I had taken a photo, and published it, and then the next day they were all gone. So I understand and I’m so sorry. I would like to try again on our farm, but I’m afraid that it’s going to be unsuccessful because of their wild nature. So, captivity?
Anyway, really nice way to try to adjust your perspective and I wish you well and also some sort of redeeming lovely in the world of the fowl at your place.
Such a dilemma isn’t it. The guinneas have always roamed free but come back at night to the wattle tree to roost, so confining them was impossible.Argh!
Sad, Julie, but I think you did the right thing. It’s better not to interfere in the natural cycle. The only thing is that foxes are not indigenous to the area, so it might not have been a natural cycle of birth/death at all.
I think now it was crows or magpies – not sure.
How is your mouse?
Mended, thankyou. My friend Lisa said to check the laser light underneath wasn’t blocked. It had a tiny sticky smudge on the side of the light. I hadn’t noticed it in the dim night light.
Thank God for friends who are Computer Enlightened – I’m Technology Challenged.
Me too!
Well, at least you have lots of blog friends to help you through all this hard stuff all at once.
Hugs from Alabama
Lessons in loss I guess – thanks!
Nature sucks sometimes. Sorry.
Thanks – it was a bit of a shock!
I always say let nature handle it. Nature is not always gentle.
You got that right!
I’m not saying anything because I once cooked up a guinea fowl feast
I am appalled (kidding!)