art. house. mum.
Chewbacca is a character much loved by our four year-old girls, and known mostly through figurines, illustrations, and verbal descriptions by their Star Wars loving Papa. They have Chewy soft toys(thanks again, Matt), and they love it when Matt wears his Chewbacca t-shirt and does Chewy impersonations. Our girls love Star Wars because they know that their Dad does (which is fortunate because the boy uses the light sabres as vacum cleaners...).
Amy, well, there's a line in a song on the Juno soundtrack "I never met a Joshua that I didn't like". Insert Amy, and that's it for Hope and Miffy.
And so it was quickly decided that the two keets (baby Guinea Fowl) which we picked up on Friday would be named Chewbacca and Amy.
Guinea Fowl are native African birds often kept for their tick and flea eating habits. The lady who bred ours keeps around thrity in the paddock with her cattle to pick the ticks off the cattle. We decided to get them because we heard that they kill snakes. So far we've only laid eyes on baby snakes round our home, but babies mean mothers... and I don't let my thoughts go too much further than that!
The downside to Guinea Fowl is that the apparently don't domesticate too well. So, we are calling this an experiment, and we'll see how they go. They also like free-range eating, and as standard fences won't keep them in, we may see a rapid decline in the number of tomatoes which we are able to bring in to our table...
But there are nearly always ways to make things work , and we'll do our best to find a way to make this work... did I mention that they KILL SNAKES...
And besides, while they don't seem to want to bond with us at all, they are gorgeos little birds. All stripey and soft on the outside, but wirey and strong, showing promise of being smart independent birds. And charmingly non-aggressive. Those beaks just don't look dangerous, and they don't peck or attack as we pick them up and get them used to being handled.
The kids are simulataneously in raptures over them, and freaked out when they make any sudden move. Even our fearless lad has shown signs of respect for these wild but tiny creatures.
So, even as we subject them to the indignity of sleeping in a cardboard box that is moved between the laundry and the bathroom, we speak of them with respect and anticipation not so much for what they are, but for what they have the potential to be.
Sounds like fun! My parents and brother have LOTS of guinea fowl (he was actually breeding them), such funny birds! they're great guard birds too.... go nuts when a new car arrives & when there are about 30 birds they're VERY noisy - but 2 I reckon would be great. We are thinking about getting some when we go up to Bundy - to help keep snakes away! Have fun with your new little pets! =)
ReplyDeleteOh, it is so good to hear more stories of other families with them... I am falling in love with their cheep cheeping all day, and I kind of can't wait til we can let them run outside. I'll have to ask you for tips if we have troubles! Talk soon, g
ReplyDeleteWhat do you need to keep them?? Do you have a special yard/fence or do they just wonder around where ever they want? I really want a duck but not sure it would get on well with my dog! Maybe I should try these instead.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I am a bit worried about all those things, too, Ainsley. I'll keep you posted... I'm not too sure how our dog is going to take to these ! But I figure that we'll do the introductions in a very managed way. Apparently a fair-sized chicken coop is a good starting point, but people keep saying that they are not easily domesticated and unless you work at getting them in every night... good feed and training, then they are likely to find a tree and roost in it. So, we'll see! Tell me how you go with the ducks... I find them interesting, too... grace
ReplyDeleteMy parents & brother go and feed them before it starts to get dark & they come into their pen for the feed & they lock them in (they've done it since they were young)- but you have to get them before it starts to get dark - otherwise they'll be up in the trees and you never get them down!
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