Guinea Fowl

Not long after we got the goats, I received a phone call from a client of where I work. A few months earlier, we had purchased an incubator (more on that another day!) from him and whilst we were there to collect it we chatted about the birds he had. As well as chickens he also had guinea fowl which we were admiring. We all know where this is going, don't we?

He called to say that not long after that he had found a few guinea fowl eggs and had tried to hatch them. The female guinea fowl hadn't taken to the eggs so he had popped them under one of his chickens. When he called they were only 4 weeks old and he wondered with winter approaching if we would like to take them as he knew we had room and was worried about keeping them safe. He said we could have all of the guinea fowl and also keep the chicken. Well. It would have been rude not to, wouldn't it?

We were a little confused mind you, as when we were visiting he told us he wasn't keen on the guinea fowl so I'm not sure why he hatched the eggs when he found them. I think he (possibly) hatched them just for us. Regardless, I was really touched he had taken the time to do so and to ask me to take them.

So now we have another chicken (breed unknown) and 7 guinea fowl, sexes unknown.

They're getting bigger every day and I don't think I've seen them stand still for more than 10 seconds, hence the photos. They dart and fly about through the cage all day, whistling and chirping softly as they do. They love the mornings when my boyf climbs into the cafe, sits on the pallet and feeds them dried mealworms.

They are currently in one half of the cage we used to use for the chickens, which is where they'll stay until they're much bigger, although we'll increase it as necessary. Currently they are in a small boxed off/sheltered enclosure but as its getting colder they'll be moved into a new (to them!) hut.

So, just incase anyone has lost count, that's 10 chickens, 6 geese, 2 goats and 7 guinea fowl. Mad? Me?

PS: Does anyone have any thoughts on what breed the chicken is? I asked on Twitter, someone thought Silver Dorking (which were my thoughts, actually) but apparently the feathers are 'wrong'....