Thinking of getting Guinea for tick control

[slippednfell]

We had free range guineas for years. Never more than 8. They circled around and around about a 2 acre area although they were free to go much further. They ranged thru our yard and around the buildings. I felt like it made a difference in ticks, but recently read that chickens eat just as many ticks. Now I have chickens and let them free range and they circle the same general areas.
Good luck!

Oh, good to know! That is kinda what I am hoping for! We just got chicks this spring but we may not free range them much. The guineas we would free range much or all of the day, so they would be better tick control for us, I think.

 

[slippednfell]

My guineas Gibby and Gibrella
Are the loudest creatures on earth!
Lol. They never ever stop screaming.

Mine have kept the ticks down though. Mine aren’t nice to my flock of chickens and if you have two boys they will most likely fight. I have one boy and one girl and they are good most of the time but they have their wild spells. Lol

They usually stay in groups of 15 or 20 and if there are more they will branch off.
Hope this helps you! The pics are of Gibby. The girl isn’t tame enough to pet

LOL... they can scream their heads off where they will be cooped and I shouldn't hear much of it, at least I hope not.

I was hoping to get 20 or so but I was hoping they would branch off into groups of 5 or so.

My husband is a tick magnet and they have been so bad this year and last!

Love the images! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Joev1973]

I am trying to get 2 or 3 guinea peeps to add to my week old flock. The hatchery I ordered my chicks from has a 30 chick minimum when you order guineas. I dont want 30 i want a couple or 3 at the most.

If anyone around middle TN has a few guinea peeps I would love to purchase a few

 

[slippednfell]

I am trying to get 2 or 3 guinea peeps to add to my week old flock. The hatchery I ordered my chicks from has a 30 chick minimum when you order guineas. I dont want 30 i want a couple or 3 at the most.

If anyone around middle TN has a few guinea peeps I would love to purchase a few

I have been checking out cackle hatchery. They are in MO. I think you can get smaller amounts depending on the type of guinea. (Minimum of 5)

Here is the link to them: https://www.cacklehatchery.com/guinea-peafowl/guinea-fowl.html

Good luck.

 

[Joev1973]

Thanks so much!

 

[slippednfell]

Thanks so much!

You're welcome. Good luck!

 

[Joev1973]

Well i went to cackle put 5 guineas in my cart, went to checkout they have $25.00 shipping and $20 small order fee. Minimum of 15 birds to get out of fee. Im thinking if getting 10 more hens but thinking i should wait as i already have 20 in the brooder box and 15 more would make 35. Maybe more than i could handle being this is my first larger flock.

 

[guineapeeps]

I am trying to get 2 or 3 guinea peeps to add to my week old flock. The hatchery I ordered my chicks from has a 30 chick minimum when you order guineas. I dont want 30 i want a couple or 3 at the most.

If anyone around middle TN has a few guinea peeps I would love to purchase a few

I would not get any less than 5 guineas and 10 is even better. My average was usually around 10, but I’ve had up to 30 before (that was a little too many for me!). The more guineas you have, the better they do as they are very much flock animals with a strong “herd” mentality. They are awesome for ticks. We were completely overrun with ticks and after the first year of having them, I rarely found a tick. They are also great for grasshoppers and crickets and are a good form of entertainment as well....such goofy birds! Much like chicken math, there is also guinea math; I started with 4 and was constantly giving their keets away or selling them and many times still had too many as they are prolific egg layer. Although many people say they are bad parents, I always found mine to be great at raising their own babies and are very protective and attentive parents. They are loud, as others mentioned, but they will always alert you to predators or anyone/anything new around their territory. I highly recommend guineas...I just love them!

 

[slippednfell]

Well i went to cackle put 5 guineas in my cart, went to checkout they have $25.00 shipping and $20 small order fee. Minimum of 15 birds to get out of fee. Im thinking if getting 10 more hens but thinking i should wait as i already have 20 in the brooder box and 15 more would make 35. Maybe more than i could handle being this is my first larger flock.

I haven't ordered from them, so I had no idea about the extra charges and how much they are... That stinks. I know our farm stores here either have keets now or will soon and there is no limits on them there. Maybe there is a feed/farm store that you can get a couple from?

 

[guineapeeps]

Well i went to cackle put 5 guineas in my cart, went to checkout they have $25.00 shipping and $20 small order fee. Minimum of 15 birds to get out of fee. Im thinking if getting 10 more hens but thinking i should wait as i already have 20 in the brooder box and 15 more would make 35. Maybe more than i could handle being this is my first larger flock.

Have you looked on Craigslist in your area? Just pulled up the Craigslist for some of TN and there were quite a few listed. Not sure what area you live in. Noticed that your profile listed Hohenwald? Not sure where that is exactly. I lived in Chattanooga for awhile, but not familiar with your town. Are you anywhere near there?