Guinea fowl aren’t for everyone, that’s just the straight truth. They are loud, annoying, funny looking and dumber then you can believe. However they have several redeeming qualities that make farmers and backyard poultry keepers alike big fans of this silly looking bird.
I started raising Guineas a few years back because of our tick problem, but since have found a whole bunch of reasons why I think everyone should get a few Guineas:
1) Tick control: Of course, chickens will eat ticks that are in your yard and so will Guineas. Guineas though will forgo personal safety and enter the brush and woods to hunt out these minute creatures and help keep your kids and pets safer from tick-borne illness like Lyme’s disease.
2) Watchdog: Ever hear a flock of Guineas ‘go off‘?’ It’s like someone tripped the alarm system! It’s pretty darn loud but it’s a good indication that someone drove down the driveway, the neighbors dog is in the yard, a hawk is overhead etc etc. When the Guineas start to freak out, it’s time to look out the window because something is wrong.
3) Predator alert: Your chickens will learn pretty fast that when the Guineas see a hawk and freak out, it’s time to run for cover.
4) They hate snakes: Guineas will kill small snakes. They will start hollering and alert you to the presence of larger snakes.
5) Garden bug control: They also like to eat bugs like fire ants, grasshoppers, grubs, earwigs, Japanese beetles and stinkbugs. They’ll eat pretty much everything but ladybugs and adult tent worms.
6) Eggs: Their tasty little eggs are triangular-shaped and very hard shelled. They break like porcelain when you crack them. Backpackers like to pack Guinea eggs since they’re so much harder to crack then chicken eggs.
7) They leave lovely spotted feathers everywhere!
8) Amusement value: They are absolutely hilarious! They are like tiny little roadrunners when they get started and the males will chase each other for hours. They’ll also run from one side of your yard to the other chasing a moth. Plus they are pretty funny looking. Kinda like miniature little helmet shaped clowns.
9) Cold hardy: For a bird that is originally from Africa, Guineas are incredibly cold hardy.
10) They don’t need much feed spring through fall. They would much rather eat the bugs they catch.
11) Dinner! Guinea fowl is delicious roasted. Guinea tastes like chicken only a bit gamey.
Guineas are about the same amount of work as chickens. They require the same type of housing and care, in fact they can also eat the same feed. It won’t be a stretch at all to add guineas to your flock and you just might find that you have a fondness for these funny looking noisy birds…I know I do
Source: BACKYARD POULTRY
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