Why do you own guineas and can you post pics of yours?

[Guinea Goonie]

As far as a "gaurd bird" goes Guineas do not necessarily "watch" a flock of chickens. They do have their own agenda and many times they are away from the flock in their groups doing what Guinea Fowl do.

However, if you get enough of them, they usually will split up into different "groups" and most of the time they will be around your flock.

They are WONDERFUL watch dogs. They do alarm at danger and in time your flock WILL come to recognize that they are sounding off for a reason. Guineas will NOT attack a hawk, but they are are on constant look out for anything wrong on your property. They talk to each other on a constant basis and when one sees a problem they ALL go to alarm mode.

I have watched and heard mine sound off and I am out the door. Many times it is just something they did not like, but they have saved quite a few of my flock from hawks as they all run for cover.

Hope this helps.

 

[ninny]

Thanks!!

 

[quietheart]

Got mine cause they were such cute fuzzy butts and for tick control

 

[txchickie]

We love the tick and SNAKE control. When we moved here there were baby rattlesnakes everywhere, we suspect in a den beneath our garage. They eliminated them.
I love the lavenders and purples, I just think they're neat! I also like that they are so self sufficient.

This is about as close as you'll ever get to them, ours are super wild, but I make it a point to not handle them because I like them that way. They all get along but have their little cliques, which are the birds they were raised/brooded with.

 

[spud1035]

I'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so jealous, I want some so bad but my neighbors would kill me and stick me in the compost pile

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I wanted them because I like raising poultry and had them before. I wanted to eat a few to have a wider variety of meat. But then my husband started reading about them and learned about their gardening skills and we ordered a book on them and we are both largly curious about what they will do for us in the garden. It seems almost too good to be true. Our keets will ship on June 2nd. Then I will see for myself if they are really all that. But not only did we read a book but I also have testamonies from some BYC members that they will eat bugs off the vegetables, without touching the plants and will eat weeds.......like I said, too good to be true.

 

[Quadog]

What about the night predators? Will they be ok to roost in the trees & such ?

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I wouldn't trust it. If they could take a preditor, I guess I would still have guineas. I had them and then they were gone.....

 

[houndit]

They are incredible watchdogs! They have saved our other birds before. The keets are so adorable!

 

[happytxchick]

I was told they will roost in the coop with the chickens. Anyone had this experience?

OP: thanks for starting this thread...I've learned a lot...think I'll get some guineas.