Would you like a new pet that will keep your yard free of ticks, fleas and mosquitoes and lay eggs for you?
A 2009 study found that rodents eat more than 5,500 ticks per week. Therefore, it was confirmed that opossums may be our best defense against Lyme disease.
These guinea fowls, like rats, have not been formally studied for their tick control skills. But they’re also called tick-eating machines or “tick vacuums.”
Not much bigger than guinea fowl, but many popular backyard birds such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys are also excellent tick hunters.
An informal study by Mother Earth News in 2015 found that seabirds and/or chickens de-ticked about 80% of tick-infested yards within a few months.
Farmers estimate that a small flock of guinea hens can kill 4000-5000 ticks a day.
“We originally got five of them for tick control because my 82-year-old dad said it would work,” says Robin Buckin.
Waynesville, North Carolina told Mother Earth News.
“Within six weeks we stopped seeing ticks. Within a year the fleas were gone; Our three cats never need flea control.”
Similarly, Susan Jarrett of Dover, Arkansas, told the Journal that within a year or so of raising a herd of small guinea pigs, her 25-acre pasture was free of ticks.
Linda Stevens of Marshall, North Carolina, said her guineas, chickens and turkeys completely cleared 10 acres of ticks that “infested every bush and blade of grass.”
“The guineas were well behaved but the chickens were devastating to all my flower beds – gardening was impossible.”
“The best benefit of guinea fowl is eliminating ticks and other insects around our property,” says Jan of The Farm Girls Finds blog.
“Chickens also eat insects, but are said to be relentless in their pursuit of guinea ticks.”
Additionally, these guinea fowl are excellent at controlling mosquitoes and flies, and have even been known to eat snakes!
Their eggs are said to be as tasty and nutritious as chicken eggs. But because of their free, wild nature, they are small and hard to find.
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(Photo right to original owner)