Guinea Fowl Bird Feeder

The chickens and guineas like to gather under the wild bird feeders because some of the little birds knock a lot of seed out. The house sparrows are especially bad at throwing out a bunch of seed when they’re getting something to eat.

Once in a while both the chickens and guineas are there, but more often they take turns.  Sometimes it’s the chickens. . .

And sometimes it’s the guineas.

And sometimes one of the guineas gets impatient, and wants more seed RIGHT NOW!!!  So he takes matters into his own … wings?  beak?
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If the seed isn’t falling fast enough, I guess you give the feeder a little bump and it spills out quicker.  Seed on demand as it were.

There’s always one smart aleck in the bunch.

Changing Weather

Yesterday was nice and sunny. The critters enjoyed the bright sunshine and warmth. The llamas, goat, and dogs stretched out on piles of hay while the chickens scratched around in other piles looking for seeds.

The llamas are getting absolutely decadent about having breakfast (or whatever meal) in bed.

Cinnamon, our little doe goat, stretched out in her pile of hay to enjoy a nap after she was full.

Keira evidently agreed with Cinnamon, because she decided to stretch out in the hay and enjoy the sunshine, too.

The wild birds, on the other hand, were a little more active and flying back and forth to the feeders.

Meanwhile, a Red-bellied Woodpecker peeked through some tree limbs to see if the way was clear to the suet feeder.

 But today is a different story, weather-wise.  It’s gray and gloomy again.  And if the weather predictions are correct, another winter storm is moving in.

I took advantage of the warmer weather this morning to refill all the heated water buckets, and pools of water.  If I’m lucky, it will get warm enough to use the hoses again before everything needs topped off once more.

Well golly, here it is March 1st, and I’m still looking for spring!

Sleeping through grazing guineas. . .

I guess when you’re tired, and it’s time for ewe to take a nap… a few guineas going by and pecking in the grass around ewe doesn’t make much difference.

At any rate, the old matriach of our little flock didn’t seem to notice when she had guineas all around her. And they can be LOUD.

I guess if ewe need a nap, ewe need a nap.

Huddle of Guinea Fowl

It was rainy this weekend.

When that happens, sometimes the guineas get into a huddle.  Usually while it is still raining, but sometimes they stay in a huddle after the sun comes out.

Looks like they’re having a Preening Fest.

Llama Bird Feeder Diner

So what in the world is a Llama Bird Feeder Diner?

Well, this week I looked out in the backyard and saw this:

Our male llama had discovered there were tasty treats in the bird feeder!

The other animals decided snacking from the bird feeder was a most excellent idea, so they wanted to get in on it.

The chickens got to enjoy some tasty treats because as Samson was eating from the bird feeder, he spilled some of the sunflower seeds and cracked corn onto the ground.

Our little goat, Cinnamon, and female llama, Keira, weren’t so lucky.

Samson shoved the little goat away from the feeder, and wouldn’t allow Keira to come near.

Keira hovered in the background, but Samson wasn’t sharing.  The guineas got in on the action, and in the background made more actions of their own by chasing each other around and spooking Keira.

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Llama Samson and the chickens and guinea fowl were all enjoying this extra treat.  Keira was all forlorn because Samson wouldn’t share.

I finally had to go outside and chase them away from the feeder and out of the back yard.  I put a bungee cord across the opening of the gate to keep them out.  Most days it allows farm collie Toby and the chickens to go under the bungee cord and through the gate, but the llamas stay out.

Not this time.

I looked out later and saw Keira standing by the gate, looking wistfully at the bird feeder.  I grabbed my camera, but before I could get it ready, she slipped UNDER the bungee cords!

Of course, there was no doubt if Keira made it, her partner in crime Cinnamon wouldn’t be far behind.

That didn’t mean she was going to get a share of the snacks however!  Kiera wasn’t in the sharing mood either, and threatened to spit at our poor little goat when she tried to get near.

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You will note that Keira one-upped Samson by learning to swing the feeder to shake more food down and out of the holes!

I let her enjoy her taboo treat for a while, then went outside where she could see me.   That’s when she knew she was BUSTED!

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Yes, the criminal was charged with Breaking and Entering, and stealing sustenance from the birds!

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She has been remanded to my custody.

And though it confuses the chickens no end to have one of their routine pathways closed. . .

 
. . . The gate has been slammed shut against further llama misadventures!