My best friend during my freshman year of high school had me believing she didn't know what Band-Aids were. She NEVER cracked a smile or let on during the whole conversation as I was telling her what they were, and what they looked like, and was she SURE she'd never seen one? It was kinda funny looking back, but at the time, I was soooo frustrated. Then when I found out she was funnin' me, I wanted to smack her.
We have new babies today! One of the sitting guinea hens is right up against the outside of the cow barn wall, in a clump of tall weeds, and this morning I noticed half a shell lying a few inches away from her. Then a little stripey head poked out from under her. Then some more. I saw
three, and Rich said he counted four. By the time they're all done hatching, she could have between 12 and 18 little keets. She'll probably lose most or all of them in the first couple of days, though. Guineas are fierce protectors of their babies, but they can't count, and they don't wait if a baby gets hung up in long grass.
I gave up trying to rescue the little ones left behind a long time ago. As soon as I'd go pick up a straggler to put it closer to the family, one of the guineas (either the mama or whoever happens to be closest) would come at me all feet, claws, and beating wings. This summer has been very dry, so the keets have a better than average chance for survival, not that we need any more guineas, but you know... We are suckers.
