Introduction
Guinea fowl are native to Africa. There are many diverse types of guinea. They are often used to manage against being overrun with ticks, fleas, grasshoppers, and a host of other insects. Because of their independent and wild nature, guinea fowl are an easy addition to any farm. Free ranging guineas use most of their time foraging. They will seldom peck at a cultivated plant, they much rather eat insects, weeds, and weed seeds. They work as a group going through an area consuming any bug they stir up.
They are less trouble to have than other fowl. This is because guineas prefer freedom to being regimented. They are somewhat a natural semi wild bird and have not been commercially developed and “improved” as have chickens. As babies (keets) you should however handle them a lot upon receipt if you wish them to be calmer as they grow up.
There are several reasons to raise guinea. This includes:
1) Guineas do not bother the garden or flower bed like chickens do. Guinea Fowl do not scratch much like chickens do..
2) They are expert at searching out all kinds of insects and help control insect populations. They can help keep your property pretty much pest free without the use of harsh chemicals.
3) They generally do not eat the vegetation and it is OK to leave them in the garden. Guineas will eat grasshoppers, ticks and any other garden pest..
4) The guinea can be used like a watch dog in alerting the farm residents from intruders with its loud, ruthless, cry and its confrontational disposition. Guineas are extremely alert and suspicious birds. Nothing goes unobserved in their surroundings.
Using guinea fowl to control insects
Guinea fowl can help manage tick populations and eat other harmful insects. The Guinea fowl’s tick and bug exterminating abilities are one of the main reasons lots of people are now beginning to keep Guinea fowl. While no one can promise guinea fowl will eat every individual tick on the property, people who have them claim that they seldom find ticks.
Guinea fowl are guineas are very vocal and their loud cackling cries can make a loud serenade.They can be a pain in the neck as well as a source of entertainment but as for getting ticks that are potential carriers of Lyme disease as well as other insects they are hard to beat. They serenade with a resounding buckwheat call. It is generally worth putting up with their cackling and antics in exchange for helping control your property from ticks, fleas and other pest. Using guinea fowl to control ticks that may carry lime disease on the blueberry farm makes a lot of sense.
They are an invaluable source of chemical free pest control. While you cannot guarantee guinea fowl will eat all the ticks on the property they do significantly reduce their numbers.Guineas are a good non-chemical means to help rid your yard of ticks, fleas, grasshoppers, Japanese beetles and other insects. These birds are the definitive low-cost, chemical free insect control method.
They bond with where they are raised and it is important to keep them confined to this area while they are young. Let them roam free on the property after reaching maturity. This is especially true if guineas are being used for insect control. They will need a supply of clean drinking water. You will need to use supplemental laying turkey mash and seed if you want them to stay close to their residence. Usually this is given to them in the evening to help get them into the barn or other area where they can roost. You can train them to stay closer to their residence by as long as some feed is kept in a standard location.
They will seldom peck at a cultivated plant as they much prefer insects, weeds, and weed seeds.The guineas are reasonably well-behaved in a garden while chickens are often destructive to the flower beds and garden. Guineas are entertaining and much more intelligent than the domestic chicken and not as effortlessly restrained. They maintain some of their wild manners as they have never been commercially developed like chickens. Guinea fowl are superb insect hunters that provide a great alternative to spraying toxins. They are also amusing to watch and listen to. Allowing Guineas to wander through your blueberry patch and garden can be a huge help. Droppings will ultimately decompose and enrich the soil enrichment. Of superior service is the insect control they provide. Guineas will eat ticks and any other garden pest. They don’t usually eat the plants and are safe to have in the garden.
Guinea fowl for meat
There has been a growing demand for guinea fowl. A young guineas meat has a fine flavor and is tender. It resembles that of game birds. It has been use as a substitute for game birds such as pheasant, quail and partridge on the menus of some upscale restaurants. Their meat is all dark and highly prized by many restaurants. One variety the, Jumbo Pearl, is gray and bred to produce more meat and weighs 5 to 7 pounds. It will mate naturally and does not have to be artificially inseminated to get fertility.
Guinea is frequently called “poor man’s wild game” such as pheasant because it tastes similar to pheasant and at significantly less cost. Guinea fowl has a flavor that is similar to that of other game birds. The Guinea meat is lean and its nutritional characteristics make it a valuable addition to the diet.
Conclusion
Guinea fowl are a cost-effective way to have chemical free insect control while providing entertainment and gourmet food. They can serve as the properties sentinel
