Guinea fowl have been credited with a host of beneficial attributes, many of which don’t hold up to close scrutiny. The general rule is: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. So do guinea fowl really keep snakes away from your property?
Do Guinea Fowl Scare Snakes Away?
Guinea fowl are not just a great addition to your homestead, but they can also help keep snakes away! Many people have reported that their guinea fowl have been able to chase off a rattlesnake or two.
Rattlesnakes are afraid of loud noises, so when the guinea fowl start making noise, the snake will most likely retreat back into its hiding place. In fact, many farmers have reported that if you introduce guinea fowl to your property, it will help reduce the number of snakes living on your land.
Guinea Fowl Don’t Always Eat Snakes
Guinea fowl love bugs, worms, grubs, and other insects. They also enjoy grasses and seeds. If they can’t find any of these things, they will eat just about anything else they can find — including snakes. However, guinea fowl don’t always have the opportunity to hunt for food because they are domesticated animals that need to be fed by humans.
Snakes Are Not Guinea Fowl’s Only Prey
Guinea fowl are opportunists when it comes to finding food and will take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself regardless of whether or not it’s beneficial for their health or well-being.
For example, if there are too many snakes in an area, it could put them at risk of developing diseases from exposure to so many infectious agents like fecal matter or parasites. That’s why you should always make sure your guinea fowl have access to clean water so that they don’t get dehydrated from consuming too many non-nutritional items such as
Do Guinea Fowl Kill or Eat Snakes?
Guinea fowl are not known to kill or eat snakes. They have been known to attack and kill venomous snakes, but they do not eat them. Guinea fowl can be aggressive toward snakes, but this behavior is not instinctual. The birds will only attack a snake if it feels threatened by the reptile.
Because of their reputation for killing snakes, guinea fowl are often used as guard animals in farms and homes where there are many poisonous species of snakes. The birds have also been known to chase away other types of pests like rats, mice, and foxes from barns and chicken coops.
Will Snakes Eat Guinea Fowl Eggs?
Guinea fowl eggs are a favorite food of snakes. They can eat a large number of eggs in a short period of time, and they can easily detect the scent of the eggs from several feet away. If you want to keep snakes away from your guinea fowl’s nestbox, you need to take precautions.
If you want to keep snakes away from your guinea fowl’s nestbox, here are some tips:
Don’t use any kind of repellent or pesticide in your coop – This will only kill off beneficial insects and animals as well as pests. It will also pollute the soil and water supply. It will not keep the snakes away.
Make sure they have enough space – Guinea fowl need room to move around freely and stretch their wings. A large enclosure with plenty of room for them to fly is ideal for this purpose. You can also let them free range on grassy areas during the day if you have enough land available. A large space will allow room to attack the snake if it comes onto your property.
Use a snake guard over the entrance – Snake guards are devices that fit over the opening of your coop so that snakes can’t enter through there easily. They’re inexpensive and easy to install, but they don’t always work because snakes can still find other ways into your coop such as through gaps in walls or doors that are not secured tightly.
Pros and Cons of Keeping Guinea Fowl
General Pest Control
Guinea fowl are extremely useful for pest control. They are a great way to keep the local wildlife population down, and they can also be used as a food source.
Guinea fowl are very tough birds that can adapt to many different environments. They do well in both hot and cold climates, which makes them ideal for many parts of the world. Guinea fowl have also been known to live up to 15 years or more when properly cared for.
Easy and Inexpensive to Keep
Guinea fowl are a great alternative to chickens. They’re pretty easy to care for, and they don’t require much space or attention. If you’re interested in raising guinea fowl for eggs, meat, or both, here are some things you should know:
They’re Quiet
Guinea fowl produce very few sounds. You’re more likely to hear them clucking than crowing or screeching. They also tend not to be aggressive toward each other or toward humans, so they’re ideal for families with children who want to raise birds in their backyard.
They Eat Bugs And Weeds
Guinea fowl love insects and weed seeds, so they’ll keep your garden free from pests without any help from you. Many people who raise guinea fowl report that the birds keep their gardens free of ticks and fleas as well — but this isn’t guaranteed because not all types of guinea fowl eat bugs as readily as others do.
They Don’t Fly Away Easily
Guinea fowl aren’t known for being particularly flighty birds; they tend to stay close by even when they’re startled by something unexpected (such as an intruder). This means that if you have a predator problem on your property — such as dogs, cats, or even raccoons, you will need to provide them shelter to go to when escaping the predators.
They Lay Tasty Eggs
Guinea fowl eggs are small and white with a slight green tint. They’re similar to chicken eggs, but they’re larger and have a stronger flavor. Guinea fowl eggs are also more nutritious than chicken eggs because of the high levels of omega-6 fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E, and K2.
In addition to being eaten as is, guinea fowl eggs can be used in the same ways as chicken eggs: hard-boiled, scrambled, or fried. They make an excellent addition to baked goods such as cakes or cookies.
They Don’t Respect Boundaries
One thing you should know about guinea fowl is that they don’t respect boundaries. They will get into your garden and eat all of your plants if given half a chance, which is why many people like to keep them indoors as pets.
However, this isn’t always possible because guinea fowl are also very social animals who need regular contact with other guinea fowls to keep them happy and healthy. If you have an indoor pet guinea fowl who has no other birds for company, then it may start to display signs of stress such as depression or aggression towards humans or other pets in your home.
They Can Be Incredibly Noisy
Guinea fowl are not just beautiful birds. They can also be incredibly noisy, making them a bad choice for people who live in close proximity to their neighbors. These birds are known for their distinctive call, which is very loud and has been likened to the sound of a screeching car alarm.
In Summary – Guinea Fowl and Snakes
Yes, guinea fowl do scare away snakes. Why? These birds are native to Africa and have adapted to survive there by preying on snakes and other small animals. They possess an acute sense of smell and hearing that is more effective than humans’, so they can easily detect when a poisonous snake is nearby. Scurrying around like a young rabbit, the guinea fowl will release an alarm call that warns other nearby fowls to stay clear while the guinea fowl attacks the snake.
