Winter predation?

[aart]

We're fortunate that our closest neighbor is a 1/2 mile away, so the only ones the noise would bother is the Mrs. And we have an enormous tick problem. But I want them to eat ticks, but stay away from my honeybees!

I don't know if they'd bother the bees, might have to fence them away from hives?
Guineas are a 'special' breed, the noise, keeping them 'safe', they tend to wander off or roost in the 'wild' and slowly flock numbers are reduced. Might give them a try tho.

 

[NHMountainMan]

So far we don't have a big tick problem, just some. Not that any are a good thing!
We had neighbors 1/2 mile away, and we could hear there guineas just fine...
Our chickens will just have to help with the ticks.
Mary

Wow- hearing them that far away means I'm not getting them as a predator alarm and tick killer

 

[aart]

Wow- hearing them that far away means I'm not getting them as a predator alarm and tick killer

..and they can tend to alarm at predators...or a leaf falling.

 

[Folly's place]

The banshee screaming, nothing pleasant about it! Roosters crowing is a good sound, not guineas, or peafowl.
Mary

 

[NHMountainMan]

Ok- y’all convinced me that my wife Is rrrr, rrrii,—- not wrong

 

[Smr]

Summer is bad for me. I lost 5 birds to fox last summer.

 

[Sydney65]

I'd add Guinea's in a second, if the Mrs would agree. Funny - when I typed this, somehow autocorrect replaced the word "second" with decibels - which is exactly her concern - how much noise they make.
I also read somewhere that they are smart and aggressive insect eaters- is it possible to keep bees with Guineas or will they learn to eat the bees as they leave or return to the hives?

They'll eat the bees. Read abt one person owing her neighbor for losses, and another said theirs stood right outside gobbling them up as they emerged.

 

[Sydney65]

We're fortunate that our closest neighbor is a 1/2 mile away, so the only ones the noise would bother is the Mrs. And we have an enormous tick problem. But I want them to eat ticks, but stay away from my honeybees!

I think ppl fig out how to keep the bees and guineas separate? Do a search in here- I'm *pretty sure* that's where I read abt it. I don't have chickens or other farm animals. The only close neighbor is a relative, and we all laugh at them-so far. Ticks was our reason. They slow down, but don't die or hybernate, so come spring time, trying to get out in the gardens is an at your own risk venture. Many relatives around the country have ended up w/lyme or Rocky Mtn. Fever, so - I can work along side most creatures, but not ticks. I don't pry their mouths open to see what they're munching on, but they're finding something even now.

 

[Sydney65]

Here ya go.! https://permies.com/t/26828/Guinea-Fowl-Ticks-Honey-Bees

 

[NHMountainMan]

Here ya go.! https://permies.com/t/26828/Guinea-Fowl-Ticks-Honey-Bees

Thank you for finding that. Gives me a lot to think about.