Thursday, December 16, 2010

Fowl that are foul


Why raise guinea fowl? There are many reasons. The guinea has been used in protecting the farm flock from intruders because of its loud, harsh, cry and its pugnacious disposition. Since one of the main sources of food for wild guineas is insects, they have gained popularity for use in reducing insect populations in gardens and around the home, especially because, unlike chickens, they do not scratch the dirt much and do very little damage to the garden. Recently, guineas have been used to reduce the deer tick population, associated with Lyme disease. Other people raise them for their unique ornamental value.
When I turned the guineas out this morning for flying lessons they flew on top of the house and yelled at every thing that moved. They are a loud bird and there is the possibility that I will not be able to keep them but I hope when the spring arrives they will take to the brush and not spent all their time trying to make the neighbors go crazy.

Guineas were first introduced to the United States from Africa during pre-Civil War days and have since been raised on small farms, usually alongside chickens and other domestic fowl. They're popular birds on farms because of the way they call loudly in alarm whenever intruders approach, be they four-legged or two-legged. More recently, they have become valued farm birds because they eat ticks that carry Lyme Disease.

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