Guineas are good little tick hunters, y’say?
Aren’t they sort of noisy birds, or am I getting them mixed up with something else?
I’ve been debating with myself as to whether I should raise my owm protein. Birds give both eggs and meat, but I’d like something tougher and sassier than plain ole yardbirds. (Umm, I love having the black snake(s) around the property, but I’m afraid of them finding an easy meal in the coop.)
And yeah, I just wanted to check in & see if Alice had decided to make nice with Mommy.
Great tick hunters, great watch “dogs”which is why some might consider them “noisy”.
They’re less prone to predation because thy can actually fly and roost in trees.
Totally cool birds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guineafowl
And no, Alice has not resurfaced.
Guineas are both good tick hunters and accomplished noise makers. The hens have a sweet, “come back, come back” or “buck wheat, buck wheat” call, but the BOYS. The boys cut loose with this machine gun “ACK ACK ACK ACK!!!” alarm yell that will rattle windows. Guineas are very aware of any change in their environment. They yell bloody murder if their people wear or carry anything of which they do not approve, like a floppy hat or umbrella. They easily recognize strange humans and are as quick as a dog to announce those strangers.
Guinea fowl are far closer to their wild african relatives than are most domestic chickens to the jungle fowl from which they developed. Therefore, guineas are far harder to catch or to treat for injuries or illness. If you catch one you will get bitten and/or flogged (quite painfully) with their wings if you don’t know what you’re doing.
On another note, I, too am wondering about the whereabouts of our missing snake, but I figure when Sal finds him she’ll let us know.
The sweet, soft calls of the guinea fowl < /evil laugh>:
The female: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5GnmSg0ct4&feature=fvwrel
And the males: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_B2lMEyBsk
Other than this little, er, trait, they’re great!