guineas and the garden

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Im trying for the best garden ever this year. I have two "butlers" that are free ranging alarm clocks. Will they destroy my attempt to garden? I hate to have to build fort knox around the garden cause of my favorite guys. ( I really would like to keep them, not eat em) any thoughts???

-- julie britt (jbritt@ceva.net), February 17, 2002

Answers

Guineas are the bug eating champions of the poultry world. They are pretty good in the garden, but they do like to pick a nice spot and burrow a depression and dust their feathers. Of all my poultry, guineas are the only ones I don't mind in my garden. They eat the bugs and don't destroy the plants.

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), February 17, 2002.

Julie, my guineas love to dig up freshly planted seeds and onion sets. When the plants get past this stage I have no problems. Just keep your seeds covered til they get established. Best of luck!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), February 17, 2002.

The only problem I have ever had with my guineas is with dust bath holes. After the garden plants come up, they only dust between the rows which doesn't hurt anything.

-- Mona Lea (monalea@hotmail.com), February 17, 2002.

I also put mine into the chicken coop come spring for a few weeks. I like to eat the newly planted plants and the seeds too. After a few weeks they have their freedom again.

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), February 17, 2002.

Everyone I know who has guineas, chooks, or both plus a garden, has the garden fenced and covered. Evidently, it's the only way the garden will survive!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), February 18, 2002.


The only problem I had with my guineas was they kept my lettuce ate down last year. Otherwise, I have had no problems with mine.

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), February 18, 2002.

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