Farm fowl and their classes.
Here on the farm we have three main types of fowl. Guinea fowl. ducks, and chickens.
Now the chickens are kept in a pen while the ducks and guineas run free. It's pretty funny how they all stay in their groups and how the groups interact with one another. It's like they are broken up into different classes.
The chickens make up 80% of the population here on the farm, and are the main labor force. They work day in and day out laying eggs for our breakfast each morning and our baking throughout the week.
They are kinda dumb but they work hard and actually provide us with something. The rooster is the leader of the chickens (obviously) and we have had to replace our rooster several times. They seem to start out nice but then get mean with time. I have more than once had a rooster sink it's 1 1/2 inch spurs into my leg. Chickens are very curious and will examine any new thing that comes into their pen with much interest, pecking at it and uttering confused balks and squawks. Some mother hens are protective over their eggs. giving your hand a little "no no peck" as you gather their eggs. Others seem almost happy for you to take the eggs right from under them. I have learned to not feed the chickens with flip flops on. you will get your toes pecked.The Ducks are like the aristocrats of the farm. They have a very superior attitude as the waddle around. They look down on the ducks and guineas and can easily show them who's boss if necessary.
There are six of them here on the farm and they all walk around in a single file line with their bills in the air acting like they own the place.
When disrupted in any way they will scatter and run away with much quacking
and wing flapping. and will then regroup and complain to each other in indignant quacks and murmurs about the nerve of the animal or person who disrupted them. They recently started laying eggs quite consistently so we are hoping to hatch some ducklings in a few weeks.The guineas are the wild yahoos of the group. Much like wild Indians or a tribe of African Nomads. Running around constantly picking fights amongst themselves and among the other fowl on the property. They try to fit in with the Chickens but usually end up fighting with them over food. When not in the pen with the chickens they are constantly chasing each other around the yard, running so fast and turning at such sharp angles that they look more like little feathery motorcycles flying around than birds. The only use that they serve (besides providing entertainment to anyone watching them run around) is to keep the tick and insect population down. And they do a very good job at this.
They are extremely dumb however and can't make up their minds as to weather they want to fight you or run away from you. They usually end up doing an awkward back and forth charge at your feet that does nothing but make them look silly.
The only time i have ever seen a guinea actually attack a human was when my mom tried to catch a baby guinea that had hatched and was following the mom around. At first it appeared that the guinea didn't even notice my mom. But as soon as she turned around and started walking towards the house with the little feathery blighter in her hands, the father of the chick took off landing in my mothers hair! It proceeded to do a little dance on my mothers head and make a terrible racket until my mom dropped the chick and threw the creature from her head. It then acted like nothing had happened and went on it's way.
So there you have it. The three types of fowl we have on the farm here. All living together. Yet very clear lines separate not only where they live and sleep, but also how they act and what they do for us on the farm.
I am hoping to do a Farm life post every few weeks or so along with my regular blog posts. Let me know if you think it's a good idea and would like to see more, or if it's boring and stupid and you would rather me not do any more farm posts. :)
God Bless.
