What are guineas for?

[froggie71]

We got them for pest control as well. Tons of ticks here. They are also very entertaining. My DS and MIL love to eat their eggs. I myself haven't tried them, but I've heard from others they are tasty. The have really cool feathers, and can be used for fly fishing (so I've been told).
My particular guineas have no idea they can roost in trees or on the roof or fly over the fence for that matter.
My neighbor has told me that the guineas alert her dog when the raccoon family that lives in the wood behind our houses is near, and then he comes to chase them off. Our guineas haven't killed any snakes, but have been seen playing with them.

Guineas aren't for everyone, but we like them. The only downside we've had so far was when we house the guineas with the ducks. When the guineas started laying, our guinea cock attack our drake. We ended up building them a small house of their own.

 

[Lollipop]

You know, I can`t remember why I decided to get my first guineas. I lived in south FL until last year and my passion is gamefowl. I ordered some guinea hatching eggs from Texas and put them under one of my game hens. As with most of my experience with shipped eggs, onlt 4 of 13 hatched. The hen did a fine job raising them and they were the clowns of the yard. I got to where I couldn`t stand the racket my lone female constantly made and gave her away. The 3 boys were a pure joy. They liked to fly up on the 6` chain link fence outside my family room and talk to us through the window as we watched tv. I had a couple acres and a riding lawnmower. They got a thrill everytime I mowed and had the bad habit of running in front of the mower, usually only a foot or so away and giving me near heart attacks at alarming intervals. They spent most of their time in or near the chicken yard, which was at the back of the propery, but whenever myself or anyone would drive in the driveway, they were greeted by 3 very noisey guinea cocks that were appearantly very glad to see them. During their tenure, I noticed a remarkable decrease in flies and mosquitoes. Alas, one was taken by a fox and just before moving the flock to GA a dog killed the last two. Very sad.

Now that I have settled, somewhat, and the dust is clearing from the move, I have purchased 20 keets from a local breeder. I now have 23 acres of mostly hardwoods and a huge deer herd. The land is overwrought with bugs of all kinds. Ticks, spiders, grasshoppers, bees, scorpions, etc, etc, etc. I have great hopes for these youngsters as they mature and are alowed to free range. All 20 are growing like weeds and are now six weeks old. Can`t wait.......Pop

 

[annaserv]

Mine like the lawnmower too. I think it's because of all the bugs that get stirred up with it. I use to have the tree swallow follow me when I mowed, now it's the guineas.

 

[JJMR794]

Mojo Chick'n :

target practice

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

 

[cw]

we eat em and they are good. we eat the eggs as well other then being thick shelled you cant tell a differnce

 

[LindseyM12]

Thanks all! Now to convince my Mom...

 

[sred98]

Quote:
If you have ticks then there should be no convincing! Our guy that comes and works on our fence is amazed. He always turned his loose and they either took off or got eaten. When he sees mine free-ranging with the chickens and going home at night tick-free, he is planning on getting some this spring. He is a definite convert!

If she's worried about the noise, mine really aren't that loud unless a strange dog wanders up, or we startle them while they are looking in our windows.

Yesterday was a downpour, and I had a full red coat on with a hood when I went in the barn to lock up for the night. They started screaming at the top of their lungs, and all I had to do was pull the hood back and say, "Guineas, hush. I didn't yell, and they quieted right down. I feed them everyday and give them special treats. They come when I call and follow me all over our 15 acres. Even way back in the woods with no trails. They will also fight each other over snakes. That might be a bonus for your mom!

Shelly

 

[TheCoopers]

We were told by an old farmer that guineas would get rid of fire ants,so we picked some up and sure enough they keep the fire ants in check as well as keep us entertained.
I must add they are not the brightest creatures around.

 

[sred98]

Quote:
I had not heard that about the fire ants, but that is a great bonus!

Maybe I should take a few up to the football practice fields and turn them loose??

Shelly

 

[gwennym]

Quote:
Wow, can't wait until Spring when my 5 babies are old enough to prowl the yard for those nasty Japanese beetles .... they even chewed my hostas, which I didn't thing anything other than slugs liked !

I also keep the keets in the chicken run and coop with the hens for now, since they are just babies. They have just started roosting next to the hens at night -- it's nice to know that they understand where 'home' is.

Gwen