help

[suez]

I recently got 6 guinea's. I have 3 males and 3 hens. Before I got them I read and read all about them and how they were great for gardens and bugs. Even bought the book that talks about how they gingerly pick bugs from the leaves. So far all they do is trample my garden and eat the plants.
We love having them but, this is why I did not get chickens. If this is how they are why do all the articles Say they wild not destroy the garden like chickens? What am I doing wrong. I have spent a lot of time and money on them. What do we do?



Edited by Staff

 

[BullChick]

Are the plants young? My understanding is with ducks, and the same information. That once the plants are large (about halfway grown IMO) the ducks can be in the garden safely.

 

[pattyhen]

I agree the plants need to be almost grown because they aren't going to pay any attention to what they are walking on. My two guineas were in a pen with a couple of tomato plants and they were small and a hosta. They trampled them down. I don't think they ate any of the leaves they just walked on them. I have also read don't feed them anything that you grow. They will then see it as food and pick it from the vine.

 

[suez]

My tomatoes are high enough now so I think they may be ok. I have not fed them anything but game food because I had read they would eat the plants. but they have eaten a lot of green tomatoes, kale, chard and peas. My corn is bald from about 3 ft down. They have destroyed my strawberries and hops.My beans they have trampled so I put a fence around. I love having them but at this point I have spent so much time building the garden I am not sure it is worth the effort.

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[suez]

My plants are big now but they ate all the green tomatoes. I think they are high enough now that I may get some tomatoes. The green beans are low so they got trampled. I put a fence around them so I am hoping for the best. My corn is bald from about 3ft down. They cannot reach the ears that are sprouting. I have never fed them anything but game food but they have eaten everything. Kale, strawberries, hops, peas, chard, carrots. It is hot now and they have decided to spend time in my asparagus. I am not sure I will keep them. This is sad because we love watching them but the garden is to much work to have it destroyed. We will wait and see what happens with the fall planting. I should have just gotten chickens.

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[BullChick]

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Did you get them as adults or keets?

 

[pattyhen]

I'm sorry you are having so many problems with them. I've read the same thing the guineas will gently pick the bug off the vine and not destroy the plant.