In the beginning... Before there was a Jesse, an egg was laid in CT, traveled with a friend to Tennessee, and was given, along with 17 other eggs, to me. It then traveled back North, this time as far as MD. Of the 18 eggs, only one (special from the start) hatched. It was my very first incubator hatch and Jesse's egg was the very first egg I ever hatched. I remember the thrill I felt when I heard his first robust "chirps" even before he had pipped his egg--a chirping egg! My granddaughter, Sylvia, and I hovered over the 'bator and watched as he emerged from his egg. Sylvia excitedly proclaimed, "Grandma Hedy.... he's coming out! Can I hold him?! Can I name him?!" And she named him Jesse.
I was new to guineas and not up to giving a lone keet the attention it would need. Also, I was reluctant to become attached to a special pet, knowing how it hurts when those extra special ones are lost. Bill was my guinea "mentor" and friend; and, at the age of 2 wks, Jesse was adopted by Bill. And that was how Jesse and Bill began....
~ Hedy
I'll add that initially I did not make a special effort to bond with Jesse, however it was he that moved to being extra friendly. I'm sure glad I reinforced his advances. He was a very easy subject. I provided little more than patience, understanding, conversation, and a readiness to share my world with him. He chose to go along with me. He got along well with the flock but was often "charged" by other males. His reaction when it got past a point he was happy with was to run to me and fly onto my arm or shoulder, knowing I was a welcoming safe place. If I worked in the shop or yard he'd tag along. Even if I was grinding, hammering, or sawing he had no fears around me. I did often have some whole corn or millet in my pockets, but whether I did or not, he just stuck with me.
I'll forever remember the day you, Hedy, met me here and we (Jesse, yourself, and myself) traveled to Lewes, Delaware, and awaited the arrival of Dan and his wife. Although Jesse had a cage at window level to ride in, I opened the cage after reaching the ferry terminal and summoned him onto my arm. You were so alarmed that he might run away, yet I was confident if he did jump down he would just run in a full circle right back and hop onto my arm. He didn't jump down, however, just rode my arm into the terminal where he met and observed all the passengers coming off the exit ramp and steps. Some stopped to talk and stroke Jesse, and although they were complete strangers in a strange place, he was a perfect gentleman guinea. Shortly, the MacNeices came along, and back out we all went to the parking lot. Jesse had a very proud look that day. Another day he went to Wilmington, DE, and spent the day at the Delaware Art Museum and the New Castle Farmers Market.
Among the photos, he is seen roosting with his mate Jessica inside my shop. The shop was his night roost, not in the coop with all others. He did try that for a while but preferred to stay with me in the shop. After he and Jessica "fell" for each other, he spent less time at my feet, but with her. She was a gentle shy guinea, usually ostracized by others in the flock. Yet he would see her off to roost in the coop before then exiting again to "assist" me in closing the coops for the night, then follow me in the near dark to the shop. One night I decided to try moving Jessica from the coop into the shop by Jesse's side. After two such moves, she agreed to join him in the shop each evening. She was not yet firm on where to roost. The shop had lots of good looking roost spots, but only the one I endorsed. Jesse would fly up to the right place and call her, then jump down and run a few circles and fly back up. In few days, Jessica had the program perfect. Of course Jesse was "as proud as a peacock" with this. I did pen them together that summer to be sure they crossed without any "help" from other guineas. Now most of my flock is Coral Blues including many Pied Coral Blues, which I credit to Jesse and Jessica. I'm not sure, but I think Jessica is still in my flock; but dear Jesse took a deadly hit one evening as he had watched all the flock go in, and he waited on the pen gate. I arrived in time to see the culprit, a Great Horned Owl; but it was too late for dear Jesse. He was a bit more than 1.5 years old but left a memorable experience with me.
Long live all other Jesses of the world! Celebrate what's good today as tomorrow may not be like today. ~ Bee-yole
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