MY guinea fowl keets are growing fast. And about to be joined by some of their distant relatives from a friend who started a small flock of guinea fowl from eggs I gave her several years ago.

These birds, however, unlike their forbears who lie rigid, and frozen, I hope, in my freezer, are not destined for the cooking pot. No, these are to be the nucleus of a new flock.

I have learnt the lesson of dispatching all my flock to the great Aga in the sky, only to find there is nothing to lay me eggs for next year’s fine dining. No these little birds are going to be pampered and spoilt.

One of the reasons we culled the previous flock was because of our two month New Zealand trip in February and March. Our lovely house sitters had quite enough on without persuading them (the birds not John and Joyce) to go into a hen house at night.

Those birds were a recalcitrant crew. Preferring to fly up to the top of a huge lime tree in our paddock and mock anyone who tried to persuade them into secure night time quarters.

But these keets will not know the pleasures of wandering across the lane, causing traffic to squeal to a halt. They have been given a new hen house and a, very, enclosed run on grass for them to peck, scrat and generally have a good time in.

Next week, however, they are going to be joined by even more of their relatives as a friend who has surplus keets is bringing them to me. My dilemma, however, is whether two adult male guinea fowl, who we were gifted by the same friend, should join this little flock. After all keets are the equivalent of teenagers and these two cocks, who are currently terrorising our chickens, could traumatise our youngsters.

The chickens give as good as they get when the cocks try to bully them away from any extra feed. But my keets might be scarred for life emotionally if harassed and abused. And I would be culpable for allowing it to happen.

Domineering tactics at the grain hopper may not be a good long-term tactic. After all, both birds are now pleasantly plump, and I must admit, that both John and I are quite partial to a roast guinea fowl dinner.

Perhaps it is time for these birds to adopt a more conciliatory approach to the other birds in the hen run, more of a paternal approach to the keets than that of potential ravagers. The recipe book awaits for any miscreants.