Guinea Hen update

We have moved the guineas out of the brooder. A friend came over to help, and I'm so glad. There were three of us and one catching net and still two of the eight guineas got away, mainly my fault. It's hard to know how tightly to hold a live animal even when it is flogging you, as my friend graphically put it. I've never been much of an animal person, but I'm going to learn to live with them.

This is my guinea catching hero. He caught two with one hand! If you've never been around these fast little birds you just don't know how very impressive that is. He has guineas himself, and has advised me to keep them penned up for a week in the area I want them to stay at, as they have the tendency to wander off. Hopefully nothing eats them in that time (dogs, coyotes, our pet bobcat). I've left feed and water outside the pen in the hopes that the two who escaped while find it and hang around their life long friends. I spotted one of them a couple of times in the grass but it's impossible to catch them...which hopefully will keep them alive. And as long as they stay in the area, alive, and eat my ticks I don't care what they do. Speaking of ticks, if you get a tick bit, put some lavender oil on it as soon you pull it off. It takes away most of the itching...might work on other bites, I don't know. I used to be completely creeped out by ticks, not having grown up with them. But people around here just accept it as a part of life, and I have learned to do the same. Mosquitoes carry serious illnesses too and very few people freak over every mosquito bite. Who has the time?

This is the temporary shelter my very kind brother-in-law built for us. And as you can see guineas aren't the only thing growing fast around here. The girls seem to be growing and changing every day. The birds seem to be adjusting well though, and enjoying scratching in the grass and catching bugs. They were ready to get out!