Guinea alarm system

[Suziers]

(I have cross posted this in predators and pests as I wasn't sure what was the best place for it) I apologize if I have broken any board rules. Please feel free to remove from one or the other thread as you see fit.


I've been reading up on guinea fowl over the last few days. I've read that they can be decent watch dogs in the chicken yard. I'm trying to figure out if it would make sense to have a few guinea fowl in our yard with the darn hawk swooping anytime I let the chickens range.

Can the guinea fowl free range without worrying about hawks (when they are adults)? Do they sound an alarm that helps warn the chickens? Or does the noise scare the hawks away? Do they physically try to chase off the hawk? Or is it all about the noise?

I'm just trying to see if their abilities are worth the extra time and energy that will be involved in bringing some new livestock into my urban farm.

Any input is appreciated.

 

[sred98]

How about yes to all of the above?

Mine sound the alarm, chase off the predators, and if one happened to grab them, beat them to death with their wings! They get a lot bigger than the chickens, so the hawks leave them alone.

I will say, though, that my geese (I have 2 Chinese) have the very best eyesight of any animal I've seen, and that I haven't had any problems with predators at all since they and the guineas (I have 5) have gotten big enough to watch out for everyone.


Good luck! You either love them or they hate them!

Shelly

 

[Sitka]

sred98 should confirm this, but I understand that guineas will also sound an alarm if they see a snake.

 

[sred98]

Quote:
LOL! I don't think my guineas have ever seen a live snake, between the chicken marauders and the killer cat!

But someone on here (sorry forget who right now) just had her guineas to alert her to a RATTLESNAKE just last week!!!

Guineas are the best!

Shelly

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I am raising "french" Guinea fowl as I type. I have ONE in the yard and this bird is pretty darn big, about 2 pounds bigger than a regular Guinea.

They only come in pearl and so far I have had to have them shipped as keets.

My plan is to incorporate them into the flock and hope for the best with the hawks.

These guys are pretty intimitating and the other Guinea give em plenty of room.

I do not know if they can reproduce naturally or not, some say they have to be crossed with Guinea and an other species.

They are growing VERY fast and are VERY wild.

I have had luck with the Guineas I have, but I have a butt load of them and they all seem to run in at least a 6 pack.

My loss with hawks has gone down dramatically.

 

[Paegglvr]

I also have 11 french guineas.... started with 15, but the foxes got 4 at once! I haven't lost any to hawks, but they really are no match for foxes... Around my yard the guineas seem to stay out of the wide open areas where a hawk might get them. They spend a lot of time in the shade under trees and in bushes to beat the heat.

My guineas alarm all the time! At anything and most often at nothing at all. So be very prepared for noisy birds... very very noisy birds. Did I say very noisy?

As long as you're neighbors aren't close, and bird noises don't bother you, its fine. They are very crazy & vocal birds, but get along very well with my chickens, ducks and turkeys.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
Guineas are worth the racket for the tick removal service alone. They spend all day roaming the property for bugs.
My Guineas have made the alarm racket for foxes, dogs, strange cats, cars driving up, change in the wind, change of mind, cloud over the sun, tractors starting up in the distance, where's my food bucket deliverer, and other things that I have no clue to.

 

[CityClucks]

My parents let their guineas into their garden plot. Unlike chickens, the guineas don't bother the plants, they just eat all the bugs. There is one exception...the guineas will eat onions into the ground...

 

[delia_peterson]

Quote:
I have a chance to get 2-4 guineas...are they that noisey? LOL!!! I do have a neighbor that works nights sometimes. But they do alot of good and I also have 6 laying hens and one roo...I am hoping to get them tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[sred98]

Mine are only noisy when there is something going on...new company they've never seen, strange dogs, cars coming up the drive, hawks, strange cats, etc. Anything that can be considered a threat.

You should get more than 2. I would go for all 4. They will form a little group and wander all over your property eating all the ticks! YAY!

Shelly