Guineas & More Chicks!

Today was pick-up-guinea day!  We ordered 5 from the feed store, where they just happened to have extra chicks to be had...so we got 5 Speckled Sussex!

The guineas are smaller than the chicks-and look like chipmunks.  The sussex are very pretty with the wide stripe down their backs.  Everyone was starving and ate like pigs.  They're all getting along great with the other "older" chicks-so all is well.  I'm trying to make sure I hold each one several times/day...but the problem is they still all look alike!

The whitest chick has been named Xena-she's sometimes dominant but today ran over to me every time I walked in the coop.  She has also decided she would like to get out of the brooder..and flies straight up and almost makes it out!!  So funny!!  We are thinking about some Indian names for the others.  So far we have: Poops-On-My-Pants, Sits-In-Grit and Runs-With-Clover.  ha.

The guineas are mostly ignoring their turkey starter and eating the chick starter instead.  :-(
Tried to separate them into their own brooder within the larger one, but they panicked and just kept hitting the side...so gave in and let them back with the others; they were much happier then.  Haven't quite decided what I'm going to do about that yet.

Anyway, it's all been a lot of fun for us-though the cats are a bit jealous of the time we spend with them. Check out the pictures!

Day 1 with the chicks, continued...

These girls are fun!!! lol    They get excited when I come into the coop and start peeping.  Picked some clover (one for each of course) but only one chick noticed it. She picked it up, turned around and the others began chasing her around in a circle forever!  Hilarious.  They couldn't be bothered with the other clover bits I provided them, they only wanted hers.  I don't think she ever got to eat it-but she sure did amuse me!

Stays pretty warm in there; had to move the heat lamp almost to the very top to keep it just at 95 degrees.  They were clustered on the other side of the brooder, but still eating and drinking and pooping...lol.  Moved it back down tonight as it's chilly here again.  Will check on them again before we go to bed to make sure it's still warm, but I think I've finally found the right spot for it.  The biggest problem is that Treebeard wants to come in and visit!  (he's one of our cats...)  He sits outside the door and cries until I come out.  Maybe next month, Treebeard.

They're HEEERRE!!!

Well, the phone rang at 7:14 this morning-the chicks were at the post office!  YAY!!  They all look healthy (no pasty-butt!) and were hungry and thirsty.  We've got them all settled down now with full bellies and most of them are napping.

Seems like it took forever for this day to come!  But we have 5 "Easter Eggers" and 2 Buckeyes; 1/2 of the guineas are due in 2 days, the rest of the guineas and the Blk Copper Maran's are due at the end of the month.  Lisa worked really hard to get the coop and yard ready.  One of the cats (Treebeard, naturally) spent his time crying at the coop door wanting in...I'm sure he had visions of chicken for breakfast!

Took about 25 pictures, then had to come in for coffee and a break.  Will be visiting with them most of the day I'm sure!  Luckily there are plenty of weeds in the yard they can begin eating-too busy with chicken plans to do any mowing!  lol