Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Guinea Fowl Husbandry 101

Graham, the Chook Guy, had told me that Ethel'd probably start nesting around October / November and he's a man who knows his chickens
... apparently the demise of her beloved wouldn't be enough to interfere with the demands of Mother Nature

I've noticed Ethel spending an unusual amount of time in the garden in front of my sewing room as opposed to her usual haunts in the carport, with the goats, and atop the cat-run.

Sure enough, a little gentle sleuthing uncovered her secret ...

Ms Ethel's been a busy girlie

a nest sheltered by all the lavender and tucked in under my David Austin 'Leander' rose - obviously a bird of taste and refinement.

So far she's laid ten.
These eggs are infertile because of Fred's premature demise, so I have [almost] no qualms about eating them and the other three are currently sitting in my fridge.

Apparently, so long as I leave her a few, she'll keep laying at the rate of one a day for the next month or so

11 comments:

Alice said...

Could say Ethel is worth a Guinea or two....lol

Nadie said...

I thought they were supposed to be blue?

crazyhaberdasher said...

I have to say to watch out for Mr. Brownsnake - wont he be interested in the eggs?

Sue said...

Are you planning to get her a new partner?

Robbyn said...

Hooray for the fresh eggs :)

Those iris are so beautiful.

I find that I like knowing that it's spring where you are. Here, things and shutting down and getting ready for winter. Knowing that things are coming back, blooming and showing new growth somewhere else in the world... Well, it lends a whole new feel to the cycle of the seasons :)

catsmum said...

Maz - the same thought occurred to me but not much I can do about it really
Nadie - I thought so too but it was PND that said that and Graham says he's confusing Guinea Fowl with Aracanas [ another breed of unusual fowl ]
Sue - yes - new friends are on order but it took ages to get the first pair so who knows when I'll manage to get them

Bernie said...

Good girl Ethel...and how nice for you. I do think she needs another "Fred" in her life.... so glad your feeling better.....Hugs

Alwen said...

Nothing so good as fresh eggs!

And what a treat to see your irises. I need to thin mine out, if it ever quits drizzling thin cold rain here.

SANDY said...

Goodness it sounds like there's never a dull moment there. How do you get any stitching done with all the wildlife?

Sandy

Lynne said...

Do they taste like chicken eggs or are they gamey-er like duck eggs?

catsmum said...

Well Lynne I'm not sure how to answer that question because I haven't been game to eat them yet - a day on from the post and there are now 4 eggs in the fridge.
I have a couple of dozen chicken eggs to get through first [ being older ] and even then , as I've never had a duck egg, I don't know how good a judge I'll be.
Graham says they are like chicken eggs ...
any South Africans out there who can answer the question for us ?