Cape Cod Chicken Wrangler

... not really, but I thought that might get your attention. LOL

My name is Sharon, I live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
We have a small[ish] 3/4 acre lot in town, we have a nice garden and raise a lot of our own produce, although we are limited to a shorter growing season because we live in new England.
We have 5 Barred Plymouth Rock hens. I get 5 eggs a day. My girls are happy and healthy. We converted an old shed into a coop with 5 nesting boxes, a heated waterer, feeder and roost. They have a nice fenced yard and eat everything that is cleared from my garden, as well as scraps from produce that we use. They LOVE tomatoes! And spinach and kale!
Our most common predators are raccoons. I have tree-d a few and scared them off, but they are persistent and usually return within a few days. We have to deal with mice, squirrels, chipmunks etc. who like to sneak in and feed on the chicken pellets. But we live in an area that is abundant with wildlife, so it is par for the course.
Once in a while we spot a fox or coyote, but so far they haven't bothered the girls.

I am interested in introducing a few guinea fowl to my yard. I hear they are very good at slug and tick control. I have an ongoing issue with slugs eating my squash plants and I do not like to use chemicals on my produce, so I am researching a natural approach to insect control.
Any thoughts you'd like to share are most welcome.

My partner John is a commercial shellfisherman [for 38 years now] while he is busy fishing and making a living, I am at home 'wrangling my chickens', tending my garden and I make gorgeous dichroic glass and sea glass jewelry. I am also a published author and have been considering writing a book on backyard gardening and small scale farming.

Thank you for letting me join your group, I am happy to be here. : )

~Sharon