A real "bugger"

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Author Message   Stephie  Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 08:44 am EST :    I intend to buy some guinea fowl who will eat weeds, bugs, slugs, ticks and kill mice and rodents, and make enough noise to repell deer and other people they don't recognize. These little dinos won't eat your garden up! Fortunately, we "inherited" a beautiful pheasant coop on 30 acres in rural coastal B.C. so have the room for them and their noisey little chatter won't bother the neightbours. Stephie   Loretta  Supporting Member Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 02:51 pm EST :    We are not zoned for fowl but I wouldn't mind having some. The only thing is I would be afraid the neighborhood dogs would get them. 30 acres in B.C. sounds like Paradise. Let us know how effective they are. Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"   Stephie  Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 05:54 pm EST :    If one has enough guineas, I'd be afraid they'd get the dog! On Youtube they show how guineas "gang up" on an african wild cat and a dog. In Africa they are used against poisonous snakes.....they very much look like turkey vultures with designer "clothing" and are very much more wild than chickens..ie...smarter and more aggressive against predators. However, they do get killed so I have made a nice covered run for them when I'm not home and will let them home on the range when I am. Their eggs are prized in Europe, reportedly better than chicken eggs but I hope to sell them as pets in this area (lucky Americans..they are for sale EVERYWHERE while they are much rarer in Canada...boooo) Stephie   Loretta  Supporting Member Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 06:26 am EST :    We do have a poultry farm somewhat nearby where I can buy exotic eggs like these. Maybe I will have to try them. A friend of mine had a terrible time with neighborhood dogs. Not only did they kill all her chickens but even broke down the barn wall to get at her sheep. It was a few years back so the town was no help. She had to find new homes for the sheep. It would be different today, I think. Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"   Stephie  Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 11:07 am EST :    Here, we would be allowed to shoot the dog...I would prefer to shoot the owners...I know our SPCA would prefer an order that dogs be contained (they get deer too) because they are now open to being shot, but I guess the province prefers not to. Sometimes the dogs band together and then become quite dangerous. I am hoping our sturdy fences will do (my husband over-builds things...they'd survive a nuke attack I'm sure!)One of the reasons I decided against peacocks (boooo) is that they can fly OVER the fences, including the veggie garden and that would be a disaster. I really like them too...even their call...but too hard to control. Guineas must be kept contained for at least a month too. They are classified as a gamebird aka wild and will just disappear unless they KNOW where home is. I intend to get broody chickens to hatch guinea eggs as they will then "imprint" as a chicken and will be easier to follow the chickens home. I envy your close proximity to birds....we will have to take a trip over to Vancouver Island and into Port Alberni for ours. Stephie   Loretta  Supporting Member Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 03:13 pm EST :    The peacocks are beautiful but they have strong lungs - we had some quite a distance from our home and I could still hear them. But they would be great, wouldn't they? One other bird I would love is a Chinese Pheasant also known as a Golden Pheasant. A farm nearby had one and he had such a personality. He would race my children up and down the fence, like he was really playing with them. Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"   Stephie  Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 07:45 pm EST :    Now I want a golden pheasant! Actually, there are a few people on the island that have them also..mmmmmm...they are pretty, smart. compatible with other birds, and easy to care for...hey...thanx for another choice bird...it's getting as bad as my seeds..as I potted up two very nice lily-of-the-valley tree seedlings!!! So, I will put Golden Pheasant on my shopping list (but not the grocery one!LOL) Stephie

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