Guinea question for Guinea experts

[pascopol]

Will they destroy all vegetation turning a plot into Sahara dessert in one season like chickens?

I believe guineas do not scratch like chicken, I was raising them long time ago with other poultry on big pastured piece of land, but never had guineas only on smaller 1/3 acre lot I have available now.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I hardly ever see my guineas scratching. I believe the quail scratch the ground more than the guineas do!

 

[ShadyGlade]

It will depend on the size of the area you give them. If the area is of a good size they only seem to destroy the area(s) where they make their dust holes and right along the fence lines mine wear a path where they run along the fence. Sort of like the big cats at the zoo back & forth over and over.

 

[Katy]

Mine free range so about the only vegetation they ruin is where they make their dust baths....usually in my flower garden for some reason.

 

[maine chicks]

Mine wandered through the tomatoes, beans, pumpkins, squash, and peas without any problem. They even chased the chickens away from the garden. They dig make some pretty large dusting holes under my pole beans but did not tear up the garden the way chickens do. I would not trust them around baby lettuce or beginning sprouts of carrots. Some guinea owners just put the netting over the vegetable garden and let them roam the rest of the yard. They did not go after any of my flower plants and did a good job eating weeds and grass.

 

[crazedguinea]

yep they make dust bath areas and the holes can be big, but they really they aren't too bad with scratching all over the place-i guess it depends on how many guineas on the area you have planned. they seem to run around more than spend time scratching the ground up.

 

[feathersgalore]

Guineas are much better around my flower beds then the chickens. The chickens scratch everything. Guineas don't do as much scratching. They do love a dust bath though.