western australia

An eclectic mix of poultry

@JudyEv (381810)

Rockingham, Australia

January 4, 2024 5:22pm CST

I’ve added here another photo of some of the poultry we cared for at our house-sit. The speckled hen hatched some guinea fowl eggs and, while confined to a small pen, three small ducklings were put in with her to protect them from foxes. They bonded with the hen and now they mostly hang around together, except when the ducks go for a swim. However, I thought you might like to see the half-grown guinea fowl as some of you asked about them.

18 people like this

20 responses

@wolfgirl569 (135582)

• Marion, Ohio

5 Jan 24

The guinea is my favorite

4 people like this

show previous comments

@wolfgirl569 (135582)

• Marion, Ohio

5 Jan 24

@JudyEv They are amusing to watch

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

They look pretty running around the place.

2 people like this

Show more comments

@xFiacre (14784)

• Ireland

5 Jan 24

@judyev Maybe introduce a few quail into the mix? Just for the hell of it of course, not with any intention of eating them.

3 people like this

show previous comments

@xFiacre (14784)

• Ireland

5 Jan 24

@JudyEv I don’t like the way they’re confined to produce bigger eggs.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

@xFiacre I didn't know that. I have no idea about how commercial quail might be farmed but I'm sure it's not very nice.

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

Have you seen baby quail? They are the tiniest little things - just a little ball of fluff.

2 people like this

Show more comments

@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

4 Jan 24

They look like a bonded family.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

The ducks grew a lot just in the short time we were there but they still kept together with the hen and chicks.

2 people like this

@allknowing (153544)

• India

5 Jan 24

This bonding is so endearing We learn so much from the fauna.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

We do indeed.

2 people like this

@RasmaSandra (97908)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

4 Jan 24

What wonderful looking birds, The half-crown guinea fowl is so cute,

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

It looks like a teenager, doesn't it?

2 people like this

@RasmaSandra (97908)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

6 Jan 24

1 person likes this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

5 Jan 24

They are so cute, thanks for the photo.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

You're welcome. I love all farm animals - and others, of course, too.

2 people like this

@AmbiePam (120547)

• United States

5 Jan 24

What a great picture!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

All bar one are standing to attention, aren't they? lol

2 people like this

@popciclecold (40215)

• United States

5 Jan 24

Oh. Thank you. What a great photo. How do do ducklings protect from foxes. Interesting.. The photo is a keeper.. Thanks for sharing.

2 people like this

show previous comments

@popciclecold (40215)

• United States

5 Jan 24

@JudyEv Oh ok. Thank you.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

Sorry. I didn't explain myself very clearly. The hens and chicks were in a fox-proof pen and the ducklings were put in the same pen so they'd be safe.

2 people like this

Show more comments

@jstory07 (148720)

• Roseburg, Oregon

4 Jan 24

Nice looking hen and fowl.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

The hen is very colourful.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (502173)

• Italy

5 Jan 24

This hen is beautiful, but I love ducks!

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@LadyDuck (502173)

• Italy

6 Jan 24

@JudyEv I agree, ducks are very messy, someone should teach them good manners.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

Of course you do!! How could I have forgotten that? They are very messy though.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

5 Jan 24

That's an interesting group of foul flocking together.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

6 Jan 24

@JudyEv Yes, it is.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

Three different species all bonded together. It's pretty cute.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Dena91 (17029)

• United States

5 Jan 24

I think it is neat that they bonded with one another. What a sweet picture.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

I wonder what the hen thought about it all - but maybe she didn't really think anything! lol

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (222286)

• United States

5 Jan 24

What an adorable picture. I love ducks. Have a good weekend.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

We never had ducks on the farm as they would mess up the dams too much.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jan 24

@LindaOHio I don't remember you tellling me this but I've heard before that animals sometimes seem to say 'goodbye' before they fly away or otherwise leave.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222286)

• United States

6 Jan 24

@JudyEv We had two mallards for a year. Did I already tell you this? The guy who owned them clipped their wings. We let them grow out; and when spring came, one of them circled the house, quacked and flew away. We would see them sometimes in the swampy area next to our house. They had such distinct personalities. So cute.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@MarieCoyle (59107)

•

5 Jan 24

Birds so often have just beautiful, incredible coloring that people don't realize. I kept some guinea hens for several years, along with some banties. They all have their own personalities, for sure.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jan 24

Guinea fowl are popular here in orchards and vineyards. They keep the pests down but roost high at night away from predators.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

@MarieCoyle I'm sure it did. I don't think they scratch as much as chooks either.

1 person likes this

@MarieCoyle (59107)

•

5 Jan 24

@JudyEv I let the guineas loose in our garden to eat the bugs so the bugs wouldn't eat the garden plants. It worked very well!

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@GardenGerty (169406)

• United States

5 Jan 24

What, no turkeys? I have a cousin who lives a state away (about 300 miles) who is raising such a bunch of critters as well. She does have turkeys. I am not sure they would adapt to Australia.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

We raised turkeys on the farm and Mum would dress (shouldn't it be UNdress?) a lot every Christmas for her customers. When I first learnt that the wild turkeys in America looked/were the same as ours I was astonished! I'd never given it much thought before I guess. And now it seems you don't know how common they are here but mostly we don't have them in the wild.

@RebeccasFarm (91299)

• United States

5 Jan 24

Now they are loves.

Thanks Judy.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@RebeccasFarm (91299)

• United States

7 Jan 24

@JudyEv Yes amazing work you do Judy..

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

You're welcome. I didn't realise quite how nice a photo it was until I cropped it and touched it up a bit.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

6 Jan 24

They look quite happy together. I note that there is one rebel who turned in the wrong direction for a piece of grain or a tasty bug.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

That's the black guinea fowl - as in 'black sheep'.

@dgobucks226 (37621)

•

6 Jan 24

Cool photo! Mother hen has a new flock of friends and protectors, lol. That guinea fowl loud warning call should keep everyone on guard.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

Yes, they certainly let you know if there is anything amiss around the place.

1 person likes this

@dya80dya (36805)

•

5 Jan 24

They look like a family.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

They do, don't they? They certainly stuck together.

1 person likes this

@dya80dya (36805)

•

6 Jan 24

@JudyEv They are funny too.

1 person likes this

@Beestring (15373)

• Hong Kong

5 Jan 24

All of them look pretty.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381810)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jan 24

They do. The hen is very pretty and the little guinea chick is cute.

1 person likes this