guineas and the garden

[bumpershoot]

Ok, I am almost sold on getting a bunch of guineas for fly control. My neighbor has 11 acres of horses and I have the dogs, the chickens and whatnot. So, we decided that we would range some turkeys (probably in pens) for fly patrol. This got me thinking that perhaps guineas might do well also as they could just roam free over the combined twenty or so acres. My one concern is that they will pillage my garden, which, quite frankly, feeds us at a very important level. How much risk am I putting my dinner at? From what I have read it seems that the guineas are more interested in bugs then plants, but I want a little clarity before I set some free. Thanks!

 

[lorad]

My guineas are much less destructive than chickens in the garden. I didn't notice them causing much of a problem since they don't scratch/dig much. Chickens love tomatoes (my to my husband's fury- they got the first tomato last year).

Lora

 

[bumpershoot]

Thanks! I feel better about them free ranging and eating all the darn flies.

 

[feathered fannies farm]

I'm considering guineas again.Due to the tick problem in our area. I used to have 6 but over the years they finally died off. The guineas that I had were very destructive to my garden. They would go along and peck every tomato that I had hanging on the vine. I told hubby I wouldn't mind so bad if they would just pick out one tomato and eat it but they didn't. They would go along and take one big peck out of each tomato and then it would ruin. Even year before last with only 1 guinea left , she ruined most of my tomatos. So I'm very leary of getting more guineas, even though I really liked them and they made great watchdogs. So I'm on the fence about getting them as of right now. Trying to think of some other way to get rid of the ticks.
Good luck with your decision.
Tammy

 

[goaltndr34]

We have 6 keets now and my neighbor has 15 or so adult birds and they seem to be alot more interested in the bugs and plants then the garden. These are all Pearl in type good luck we love our watch dogs LOL

 

[bumpershoot]

Ok, so I am mentally hopping from one foot to the other...yes. no...yes...no....I may just do turkeys penned this year and move the pens all over. Got so many darn fly though....dang!

 

[Friend2Fowl]

I just put a fence around my garden, if they get in it, they are more worried about getting out than they are eating anything. You can get some plastic garden netting at Walmart.

 

[bumpershoot]

Quote:
do they sell the netting by the acre? I will have three acres of garden...

 

[Friend2Fowl]

Uh no, probably not

But guineas are rather skittish birds, you could tie metal pie pans on posts around the perimeter of the garden, that might keep them out?

 

[bumpershoot]

pie pans sound like a very good idea! I think on that!