benefits of guineas?

[damselfish]

Can I train them to only eat ticks?

Of course you can. Here's what you need to do:
- First, catch one hundred ticks.
- Second, catch one hundred bees or wasps.
- Third, catch your guineas and put them in an easily controlled area with no other food or distractions.
- Now alternate between:
1. Releasing one tick at a time and when the tick is eaten, give the correct guinea two black oil sunflower seeds.
2. Releasing one bee at a time and when the bee is eaten, tell the correct guinea NO in a strong and authoritative voice. Provide no treat.
- When you have used up all the ticks and bees/wasps, your guineas will be trained.

Let them all back out, go to the porch and have a nice glass of iced tea. You've definitely earned it.

 

[PeepsCA]

Smart @$$!

 

[PeepsCA]

When I first got Guineas my main purpose was tick control. But, you have to free range them to really get any benefit. Free ranging usually means losing many to predators. I free range my chickens in a controlled and strongly fenced area. The guineas are housed in the same area which means they don't come up around the house to eat ticks which is why I bought them to start with. They do fly out during the day then send the rest of the day trying to figure out how to get back in. Now I have discovered eating guinea eggs. WHAT A TREAT. Now I want more guineas than chickens. I believe there might be a niche market for the eggs. Right now they have 2 nesting areas in the barn, but they won't use them if I am in the barn. It was funny the other day I was working and these 3 guineas kept coming into the barn walking around talking to each other and then they would leave. I finally got the message and left. A few hours later I returned and there was 3 eggs in the nest. So my dilemma is how do I get it all.
1) Guineas free ranging outside of the chicken area so that I get the bug control.
2) Control of loss to predators
3) Control over nesting places so I can collect the eggs.

The first 2 are relatively easy, I am going to build a separate guinea house outside of the chicken area with an automatic door just like the chicken house. But I am not sure how I can control their nesting habits. The second 2 are relatively easy, I just enclose their range area with predator proof fencing and netting to prevent their flying out. But how do I get all three. I had thought of having 2 flocks of guineas one for laying and one for pest control, but I have heard the racket when one guinea is isolated from the others I can't imagine the noise the 2 flocks would make trying to get together.

Any ideas?

BTW, I don't want the guineas eating bees and wasp, both beneficial insects. Can I train them to only eat ticks?

You can't have it all, lol... there are just way too may variables when it pertains to Guineas (I have 5 separate flocks and i still don't have it all, lol). I have a couple suggestions that might help you more closely achieve your goals tho...

Once you have your new Guinea house built, keeping your flock in until the Hens have laid for the day, then letting them out to free range helps so you don't have to hunt nests/eggs. I'd destroy all nests anywhere else outside that you do not want them using. It's going to be a pain, and it puts a dent in the pest control aspect of having Guineas, but they only lay spring thru fall... so if you enjoy the eggs then you're going to have to make the sacrifice if you don't want to share eggs (or Hens) with the predators. Aside from fencing, livestock guarding dogs are helpful, but not always a guarantee that you won't lose any birds/eggs to predators.

Since your Guineas were raised/cooped with Chickens, they are going to stick closer to home and that most likely won't change with your current Guinea flock. When you let them out each day, it may help to let them out hungry; take away their feeders early AM, or only feed them in the PM, so they are more willing to go hunting for bugs. If they have access to food in the coop all day and can come and go to the feeder as they please... they are less likely to go bug/pest hunting. Aside from that, starting a 2nd flock, housed in the area you want them to range and trying to keep them disassociated from your other flock might help with pest control, but it's not that likely

Best of luck, let us know if/when you get it all, and how you did it!

 

[LaynaDon95]

Wow! They eat a lot of good (bad) stuff. My dad is concerned that they are loud. I know they have a loud alarm call, but as a general rule, are they loud? I really love the idea of fewer scorpions and snakes. We apparently have a feast out here just calling for guineas.
Thanks for all the info, guys. I appreciate it.

 

[Lollipop]

Wow! They eat a lot of good (bad) stuff. My dad is concerned that they are loud. I know they have a loud alarm call, but as a general rule, are they loud? I really love the idea of fewer scorpions and snakes. We apparently have a feast out here just calling for guineas.
Thanks for all the info, guys. I appreciate it.

Sure they're loud, especially about the time they stop peeping and find their voice. They stay loud, and quite obnoxious until they mature, at which time they quiet, somewhat. The females are crazy obnoxious. But, having said that, you get to ignoring it unless they are alarmed by an intruder, then you absolutely have to go see what the fuss is about. They are the comics of the yard and very endearing. They want to follow you around and especially when you mow the yard. Always under foot. Ya gotta love'm........Pop

By the way, neighbors are usually very tolerant of guineas because they eat so many pests and don't tear up the flower beds and gardens.

 

[RMBGKY]

Thanks PeepsCA. I will let you know.

 

[tomingreeneco]

Coyotes took out a lot of my free rangers my first 4yrs with Guineas (usually early AMs and right at dusk when some of the lollygaggers were slow about getting up in their roosting tree were the worst times)... and I had to replenish my flock each year to keep my numbers around 24-28 birds for tick and snake control. IMO, if you want to maintain a flock on your land, it's best to coop/pen the Guineas as soon as (or right before) the sun starts going down each night and let them out to free range in the mornings after the sun is well up. My 10 acres has been perimeter fenced for the past couple yrs now (and my breeding flocks are cooped/penned), the remaining dozen free rangers are a little more predator savvy now and the free range losses are down to a minimum. Owls are their worst enemy.

My guineas go in a lot later then the chickens, so I sit out by the coop every night reading a book with my rifle on my lap till they go in the coop. Have shot one coyote and 2 fox at twilight waiting for them to go in. But have not lost any guineas at dusk.

 

[tomingreeneco]

Sorry, forgot to answer the original question, what are guineas good for?

They are great at annoying any visitors or neighbors if they live close by!

 

[PeepsCA]

My guineas go in a lot later then the chickens, so I sit out by the coop every night reading a book with my rifle on my lap till they go in the coop. Have shot one coyote and 2 fox at twilight waiting for them to go in. But have not lost any guineas at dusk.

LOL your Guineas have you trained well Tom!

 

[PamalaC]

I am debating on buying Keets from my local Outdoor Feed/Supply store to help out with our tick/garden eating bug problem.
I live on 12 acres but do have neighbors on both sides of our property. One neighbor (through the woods) keeps bees for honey I am worried if this is going to be a problem. Will the Guinea wipe out the hives?