Joan and Kevin Adolf moved to Missouri 13 years ago from California, and the ever-changing weather of the Show-Me State wasn't Joan's only surprise.

"After moving here, I saw these strange little birds," Joan said. "I was told they were guineas, and they were so ugly I thought they were cute. It's like their heads were too small for their bodies."

But six years ago, when the Adolfs bought a brand new home a few acres outside of town, the strange little birds made their way back into Joan's life.

"Once we were living in our new house, grasshoppers kept feeding on our window screens," said Joan. "I decided that getting a few guineas would be a great idea to keep them away."

After asking around and talking to different people about the birds, Joan was given eight "fuzz balls" that she put in a cage in her laundry room.

After about three weeks and a big mess, it dawned on Joan that the birds would soon need a new home, as they were quickly growing larger. So the Adolfs put up a building with a fenced in area. Within a few months of moving out to their new home, it was finally time to let the guineas roam and eat bugs. It was then that Joan found out that guineas hate being locked up.

"The 'home' was empty 90 percent of the time!" said Joan.

Joan began talking to people again about birds and was offered 20 chickens to fill her empty coop.

"I only took eight because I was scared," Joan said. "Scared, because I'm a transplanted city person. I knew nothing about chickens, and I was afraid they would all end up dead on me. It wasn't fair to the birds to be placed with me."

Well that was three years ago, and since then, Joan has even added chickens to her flock. She now has three crested Polish chickens, four Bantams, four Welsummers, a couple of Ameraucanas and about four Plymouth Rocks, plus a couple of black chickens and white chickens.

"That's what happens when you put a city girl into the country and give her chickens. She can't remember which are which," Joan said. "But, I found out that having chickens isn't that hard and neither are guineas. Just make sure they have plenty of food and water at all times."

Joan feeds her chickens Purina® Layena® SunFresh® Recipe pellets that she gets from Northside Feed, in Warrensburg, Missouri. She also gives them Purina® SunFresh® Recipe Scratch Grains, which encourage natural pecking and feeding instincts. Once her chickens are locked up for the night, Joan throws out the wild bird seed for her guineas.

"It bribes the guineas inside the wired area so they are protected overnight," said Joan. "And they think the millet that is mixed in with the other seed is like fudge."

Joan has fully embraced being a chicken owner and now sells eggs to her neighbors and even brings her Mom and Dad eggs when she comes to visit.

"My cousin who was raised on a farm cannot believe that I have chickens," Joan said. "He once said to me, 'Tell me the truth, they are pets right?' I told him, 'Only three of them have names, Penguin, Pigeon and Fuzzy,' and he laughed and said 'I knew it!'"

People also get a laugh at Joan's expense when they hear about her rooster attack.

"I had an Orpington rooster that kept attacking me," Joan said. "One day I saw him coming after me again, so I kicked and yes, broke the big toe on my right foot. I've been told I should have made chicken and dumplings, but I still cannot bring myself to do that."

Joan did end up finding him a new home, one that said they wouldn't eat him, and now she can sit back and enjoy her flock.

"My yard needed some life in it and why not get some eggs," said Joan. "Sitting on my back deck on a summer morning having my coffee listening to the rooster crow is the most peaceful place I can think of."

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You never know when one of your chickens might have some type of minor accident. Having a first aid kit on hand and will make providing care to your flock easier and faster. Listed below are items to help you create a basic avian first aid kit.

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