Can Guinea Fowls be left at a rural setting without people there all the time?

[malinois]

What about stocking a different type of bird at the property? Turkeys, or pheasants? Would the help control ticks and bugs, but are more able to survive in the "wild". Asking because i also would like to know. I feel that some of the tick problems are coming from our wild game birds being wiped out...but i do not know this as fact?

 

[ILuvsChicks]

They will become wild. Guineas will roost in trees much like a turkey. If you had the time to train them to the area, they might stay at least for a while. Most likely they will move on. You can read on here many post of peoples Guineas just up and leaving. And that's with daily care. They don't have the same nature as chickens. In general leaving them there like that is a bad idea unless you are getting them for free. They can survive with out you. Same as a wild turkey can. But you may never see them again. Or might have a sighting every now and then.

 

[ILuvsChicks]

Malinios, Didn't see you post till after I posted mine. Question would be, "How many birds you going to turn loose?" You going to stock the whole area? Hunters will love for it. Sounds like you are saying the area has been over hunted. That idea not going to do much to the tick population. Bout all you could really do is hire a Crop Duster to spray the area.

 

[malinois]

Iluvchicks- I am mostly asking because it just seems that the whole "world" seems to be over run with ticks. And if some repopulation of wild game birds will help balance things out....I dunno.... I was just asking. The ticks are just SO gross....I am successfully managing my home flock of 7 birds, with one little hen sitting on 3 eggs in the coop....and I have really seen the tick population just disappear. If someone wanted to put a flock of wild birds back into an area, with the hopes that a few survive and do their job....

 

[enola]

A 6 foot fence will not protect any type of poultry from raccoons, foxes, or coyotes since they are all adept climbers.

 

[JonM]

If they can all get past the fence, why is it recommended to have a tall fence with a landing board?

 

[enola]

My point is...... a tall fence must still be covered with a predator-proof top.

I am not sure what a landing board is.

 

[JonM]

The landing board is atop of the fence, so they can have a place to land before hopping down to the coop area

 

[ILuvsChicks]

Malinios you have your heart in the right place, Hope it didn't sound like i was trying to derate your idea.We all would like see more birds in our area. Here we have plenty of wild turkeys running around. We still have plenty of ticks too.. I'm from the Mississippi Delta. Crop dusting is big business. I've know people or groups of people hire them out to spray their area. Not cheap. But the price is not that bad conceding the results. If you can go in with a group it may not be bad at all. You will never get enough birds to give you the tick free land we all want.

 

[malinois]

Iluvchicks, thank you. That is much appreciated! As far as i am concerned, i am happy with what the guineas have provided for me, in entertainment, education, friendships on here and with other guinea fans, the eggs, their watchdog traits, and the bug control. It does help my little square corner of the world, and keep my dogs, cats and horses, along with myself, tick deficient. I know they are not for everyone, and the journey to this point, ( not a full year with them until july 17) has been a challenge to say the least, but i have enjoyed every step of the way. I am grateful for the BYC forum for a source of information that is accurate, and not judgemental like some other groups.....