We have 6 guinea hens...not sure what's male or female here. One of the younger ones constantly calls out...I mean day and night. You can hear her or him at 2 AM in the morning. I know they do this as an alarm and we have had guinea hens for a few years now...Anyone have any ideas why ?? Maybe it just works the night shift ?? Thanks !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), December 18, 2001

Answers

Guineas just like to talk day and night. The females are the only ones that can make the "put-rock" sound. That is one way to tell them apart. They also have smaller, flatter wattles. Don't you just love them? I think they are so neat. Unfortunately a neighbor told me he saw a bobcat carrying a guinea across the road the other day so I need to be on the lookout for him.

-- Marlene Leiby (mleiby@caprock-spur.com), December 18, 2001.

Only one? Perhaps the others are retarded.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), December 18, 2001.

try a .22,, that usually shuts em up

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), December 18, 2001.

You can also duck-tape their lips together.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), December 18, 2001.

I always thought it was duct tape. Is this duck tape a new version for poultry?

-- David (scott@micronet.net), December 18, 2001.

Ours are quiet at night, unless something gets into the barn and startles them. Do you have lights on in their enclosure? Or are they camping out? They sure do like to talk a lot when we let them out in the mornings though!

They're so funny to watch. I love the way they just all take off running in one direction, then another, for no good reason whatsoever. It's hysterical! I never thought there could be a critter that made turkeys look smart.... then I got guineas!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), December 18, 2001.

Everyone asks me how I can stand the noise. Well, my geese put them to shame! I don't think the guineas are all that bad compared to the geese. ;-)

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), December 18, 2001.

Ours must know how to tell time--I was hanging out laundry one afternoon, and the 9 guineas we have left came up to me all squawking like mad--they sure let me know I was a little late feeding them that day! I'm sure they bother the neighbor to the South of us, who doesn't like ANY kind of animal or bird, and they go to the fence line and squawk at him when he's out in the yard. I've half expected to see him out plucking one for dinner.... Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), December 18, 2001.

Maybe she talks in her sleep! heehee! Or could it be a form of poultry snoring? ZZZZZZZZpeeeep ZZZZZZZZZpeeep! LOL! Sorry, I just couldn't resist. I know which one my husband would say was the female....but we won't tell him will we! heehee!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), December 18, 2001.

Christmas is coming, the goose (or in this case the guinea hen) is getting fat. Terminate with extreme breadcrumbs, sage and onion.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), December 19, 2001.