bees and guinea hens

[kayakdg]

I purchaced 14 acers half open and half wooded there are lots of deer in the area. So there are no shortage of ticks. I have bees and garlic there now I was thinking of getting some guinea hens there for tick control. Will they just hang out by the hives and eat my bees?

[Lucus76]

They will most likely pass by the boxes once a day and gobble up the kicked out\dead , I don't see them eat live bees.

[Beorn]

Kayakdg,

I Am living in a similar situation. Lots of ticks and deer. We have bees and chickens. The bees are pretty far from the chicken coop and the chickens have never bothered the hives. That's not to say they haven't ever eaten their share of foragers.

In short, go for. And for what it's worth. Unless you're hellbent on guinea hens I'd look for something a bit quieter. We had some roaming my neighborhood when I was a wee lad. They we quite noisy. I know my chicken do a fair job with the ticks.

PS Have you joined the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Assoc. If not google it. I joined last year and never regretted it once.

[kayakdg]

Hi mike, thanks for the info. Yes I have joined SABA in fact im not just a member I the prez. Did you attend the confrence in albany yestorday Thanks Dan

[Jeffzhear]

I purchaced 14 acers half open and half wooded there are lots of deer in the area. So there are no shortage of ticks. I have bees and garlic there now I was thinking of getting some guinea hens there for tick control. Will they just hang out by the hives and eat my bees?

Dan,
out of curiosity, how do you know you have many ticks? I live along the NY/PA border and I haven't seen a deer tick in years, ever since I visited my folks down in Dutchess County. They were overrun with them. As a kid growing up along the Hudson River, I never saw a tick...when I returned 20 years ago to visit, my folks farm was overrun.

I have family in Warrensburg and haven't heard of a tick problem there...

Again, just curious and for what it's worth, my dad had chickens, and guinea hens on the farm and the honeybees were no worse for the wear from my recollection...The Barn Swallows we're a real nemesis though.

[kayakdg]

Hi I have a small jar on my nite stand with about 10 ticks in it that were removed from me or my spaniel last season Later Dan

[Jenn]

Is that only 10 for the whole year or ten in a day?
-Jenn

[beegee]

I will be getting guineas as soon as I can get a place for them to roost. I hop ethey will eat the fireants as well as the ticks and maybe even small hive beetle larvae.You have to get them as 1-day-olds or eggs and train them to roost in a coop from day 1, otherwise they will rooost and nest anywhere, especially in the woods. The advantage to guineas is that they will not scratch your grass and flowerbeds like chickens. They are noisy, but they make good "watchdogs" for us folks who live in the country.

[beegee]

Dan, why do you have a jar full of ticks on your nightstand?

[kayakdg]

Thats because the bedroom is were the wife does the tick inspections after a day with the bees. When she removes them they go in the jar. Mabe next year I can have the guines do the inspection. Dan

[FordGuy]

Dan, why do you have a jar full of ticks on your nightstand?whatever the answer, just make sure no one confuses them for big juicy muscadine grapes.

[kayakdg]

we useuly get them before they get that big