I am curious about Guineas....

[BethieofVA]

I think they are lovely, but what purpose do they serve? Do you eat their eggs, do you raise them as meat birds, I don't know. One of my brother's neighbors has a huge flock that roams freely and I love to look at them. I know nothing about them. Thanks.

 

[kathydoolittle]

They eat bugs, and are good at telling you when something is wrong. People do eat them. I have 15 hatched this year, and I have people wanting to buy eggs already. I love to watch them.

 

[Katy]

They're very good tick and grasshopper control. You can eat their eggs....if you can find their nests, they're very good at hiding them. I never eat any of mine, but I grew up eating them. They're more like pheasant as far as taste.

 

[kathydoolittle]

http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/#pictures

HERE IS A SITE ABOUT THEM

 

[ChooksChick]

Bethie- they are loud.

Not loud like the egg song, or like a rooster- loud like a cruise ship with a vibrating steel drum on its horn.

They have an uncanny unearthly sound about them, and feel the need to make the noise when anything moves, much like a yappy dog.

That being said, you'll forget ticks exist if you get a few. They're unbelievable about bug control.

Just be earnestly aware your neighbors for LONG distance will hear them as they sit on your roof or fence raising the dead.

 

[crtrlovr]

The eggs are edible (and quite tasty!) and very hard-shelled. The guineas are fun to watch, but they can be ornery stinkers sometimes if they decide to chase/annoy the chickens. I have had to really watch my male guinea because he's decided to harass my buff orp roo and shows him NO mercy.

They're not the sharpest knives in the drawer... they have no logic at all. They function by instinct alone. They are the most primal animals I've ever seen! They can be 1' from the gate opening, see the other guineas / chickens on the other side of the fence, and will just throw themselves against the fence repeatedly, trying to get to the other side. When you finally give up and go usher the guinea to the gate opening, they'll rush through the gate like a rocket and act like they just made a jail break.

 

[zazouse]

Quote:

and very true

I love guinea TV

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Let me tell you this about our guineas that we call the Goonie Squad.

A little over a week ago, one of our Sebastopol ganders was killed by a Copperhead snake in our front yard. The guineas do a great job of snake hunting for us but this one they missed. The very next day, as I walked out my back door, there were 2 dead Copperheads and one 7 foot long rat snake.

They're also great at taking care of ticks. We were tick infested last year before our guineas grew up. Our dogs constantly had them and my grandson and husband was constanly covered in them. This year, we've only had one incident with ticks.

We have 25 adult guineas, 30 babies in a brooder, 30 eggs in an incubator and 2 guinea hens sitting on a nest. We love our guineas!!

Laurie

 

[noodleroo]

Quote:
X 2

 

[BethieofVA]

Great info!! I would love to have a "few". The snake story gives me the willies. LOL!!!