[joyfull]

I received a phone call this lunchtime from Grannie Annie and Brian saying "Oh good you're in then, we have a surprise for you, don't worry you will like it".
In the 30 minutes it took for them to get here I wracked my brains as to what it could be.

It turned out to be 2 very noisy guinea fowl  Never in a month of Sundays would I have guessed this.

They (the guineas not Annie and Brian) are safely installed in a coup until tomorrow making the biggest racket you have heard. I will try and take some pictures when I let them out to show you in the morning.
Thank you so much Annie and Brian  xxx

[Hawkins]

What a nice surprise, I wish my friends would bring me surprises like that. They just bring there kids along to see all my animals

[joyfull]

Noise wise they are about on par with kids 

[Hawkins]

Thats true, they were everywhere in Africa so I know full well what they sound like.

Nice though, they will keep a beedy eye out for you and warn you if anything is coming.

[nicky d]

arh that is a great surprise, looking forward to the piccys          nickyx

[joyfull]

thats why I wanted them - it was either guineas or geese and guineas came out tops. I was waiting until I could get some where I was sure of the sex but now I don't care what sex they are I just want noisy alarm birds, good job I don't have close neighbours  

[joyfull]

Nicky if you could see me now I am beaming from ear to ear 
Will take some photos tomorrow 

[LittleRedHen]

Oh that's brilliant!  The only time I've seen those was in an episode of James Harriot's All Creatures Great and Small.  They really gave them a lively time!  So happy!

[dizzylizzie]

Ahhh, what a lovely surprise Joy....i cant wait for the photos . Have you got names yet?
Grannie, thats so lovely of you xxx

[joyfull]

no names yet I will wait until I get to know them (not even sure what sex they are - so may have to wait until I find out that as well  ).

[GrannieAnnie]

Well, not everyone's cup of tea I know, but we knew Joy wanted some, and we were up the other side of Boston buying some Plymouth Barred Rock chicks and I noticed these 2 guinea fowl.

Oh do you sell them too I asked?  No he said, a lady pulled up one day the other week in a car and said we are moving and I can't take these with us, would you like them?  Well the man liked them, but his wife didn't as they tend to creep up behind you at times and peck at your trousers.  This isn't good when you have families who bring their children round to see the chickens!

so he asked his wife and she said we could have them!!  Result!

[joyfull]

Jim still isn't home so not sure what he will make of them 

[dizzylizzie]

Just tell him its the chickens 'summer feathers'......we'll all back you up

[joyfull]

well he's home so I took him to have a little look and he said - oh what are they? They are pretty coloured 
Have stood next to the coup and I am sure at least one is a female as it is making the two toned call (apparently females make two toned and males a single tone), so hopefully guinea fowl eggs will soon be on the menu 

[GrannieAnnie]

He likes them!!!      I hope at least one of them is a girl Joy, then you can have babies as well as eggs!!!   MORE Guinea Fowl!!