We're buying a house with 15 acres, mostly field, that has a gazillion ticks on the property. So: Guineas. I've been trying to find someone local selling adults, with no luck. I guess I'm ordering a batch.
What I hate about this is the whole "keep them cooped up for 6 weeks" thing. Can I at least let them out into a fenced run once they're a couple weeks old? Or am I doomed to never getting them back inside if I do that? 6 weeks just seems like a long time.
Also, I'm thinking of splitting an order of 30 with someone. Will 15 be a good number to patrol the fields?
I feel like by getting them now, it's going to be fall before they're old enough to do much with the ticks. True, or not? What about winter? Do they have to be cooped all winter? Gah.
And the colors. I wanted to get the classic dark spotted ones but the variety pack ships earlier. Will the lighter colored ones be much more prone to predation?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks in advance for answers!
What I hate about this is the whole "keep them cooped up for 6 weeks" thing. Can I at least let them out into a fenced run once they're a couple weeks old? Or am I doomed to never getting them back inside if I do that? 6 weeks just seems like a long time.
Also, I'm thinking of splitting an order of 30 with someone. Will 15 be a good number to patrol the fields?
I feel like by getting them now, it's going to be fall before they're old enough to do much with the ticks. True, or not? What about winter? Do they have to be cooped all winter? Gah.
And the colors. I wanted to get the classic dark spotted ones but the variety pack ships earlier. Will the lighter colored ones be much more prone to predation?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks in advance for answers!