Free range guineas

Oh, I just don't know if this venture is going to work out or not.  Free ranging guinea hens in Alaska is a risky situation.

Of the eight guinea eggs that were hatched beneath a broody Ameracauna last July, I have four remaining birds.  And I still can't tell the differences between the hens and roos.

These guys are adventurous and fly as well as spruce grouse, if not better.  And they like to roost high in trees and on rooftops where you can't catch them.

I wouldn't worry about them if the weather were warm, but these winter nights are icy, and guineas don't have much protection in the way of feathers.

A couple weeks ago, one didn't come in at night and I never saw it again.  I assume it froze.  The ones that are left have figured out how to come in at night, I hope.  At least they've made it this far.

I want to hatch a big clutch of keets this spring... but I'll likely have to lock them up for breeding and then steal their eggs to make that work.  If they survive that long.

I love their free range spirit- but its so strong that they don't stay safe in winter, and who knows if they'll stick around in summer as adults.

I guess we'll see what happens...

Comments

[Clare]

why do you want these kinds of chickens if the other kinds come home? What do guineas have/do that makes you want them?

[[Lisa Rae]]

Good questions Clare. I like the idea of raising game birds (guineas aren't actually a chicken at all) because they fly well and are excellent foragers. The idea of free ranging birds doesn't work out very well with some domesticated breeds of chickens... Plus, its good for the body to be eating things that are more exotic than the standard farmers fare.