Flock protectors?

[DeepFriedBacon]

I've heard that guinea fowl make excellent flock protectors. Does anyone have any personal experience with these? I plan on having a full free range capability, as I have a 5 acre plot that's perfect for them, minus the predator threat.

 

[benisarooster]

I don't know about guinea fowl but my two roosters scare hawks away and warn the hens to hide.

 

[DeepFriedBacon]

I was just interested in finding something that could roost with the chickens, was larger, and thus could scare away smaller predators like raccoons,opossums, neighborhood cats, hawks etc. Looking farther, guineas aren't any bigger, but do chase things away, I'm willing to bet pretty much on par with what a rooster would do. Eventually, when the coop is rebuilt bigger, I was hoping maybe getting a few turkeys as well, I figure a mature tom should keep the smaller predators away.

 

[David R]

Used to keep a goat in pen w/ chickens, really just to maximize the space, but seem to keep predators away; Here in California's Central Valley that's dogs, cats and cayotes, mostly;

Chickens liked it, they would use the goat as a ladder to get over fence: up on the goat, pause, up to the fence top then into the yard; goat would normally hold still for as long as it took

 

[DeepFriedBacon]

Haha, that's awesome. I do have a mutt and a boxer, both of which are slowly being introduced to the chickens. I have perfect tempered dogs, they don't harm anything, unless it's not supposed to be there. After a few sniffs, they are done. It's just translating that to chicken speak is tough. They freak out pretty bad. The mutt doesn't care one bit, but the boxer...he doesn't have a mean bone in his body, he picks up toads he finds and prances them around the yard, gently setting them down when he's done giving them a ride. I know he wants to play with the chickens. I have to worry more about his paws and him slapping the chickens more than his bite. Hopefully after a week or so the dogs won't care and the chickens will tolerate them all together roaming the yard.

 

[DeepFriedBacon]

I also found something extremely interesting! IKm going to make a thread on it, as it's quite awesome.