One lazy chicken in the bunch

[Lannis]

Oh, don't ever get Guinea hens, loud, annoying birds. Tasted great, though...
Be well,
Larry

They ARE loud, and can be annoying ... HOWEVER:

1) They make great watchbirds.   Anything that isn't usually there (car, dog, coyote, person, etc) comes into their view, they make a lot of noise.   That can be a GOOD thing, or it could be too much of a good thing.

2) They eat bugs and don't destroy landscaping and gardens.    In a yard with guineas, you won't find a tick, or an ant, or a yellow-jacket, or a stinkbug, they'll eat them all up.   They don't mess with pollinators (I don't think).

3) They taste good.

Not for everyone, but useful in their place.

Lannis

[LowRyter]

Larry, I forgot about the light trick.  Keep the lights on late in the evening in the winter.

And as Lannis mentions guinas, my old maid sister great aunts used to raise them, chickens and ducks.  My goodness, a duck for Sunday family dinner was marvelous. 

[kirby1923]

Guinea hens!

Yes, best alarms ever. We had a flock in the TX outback, nothing comes close, and a couple of long neck honkers.

One time we  also had a rooster that would take on anything two leg or four...

:-)

[Guzzi Gal]

Needed edit- at end, cooking pan should have some very nice browned bits (not black & scorched) clinging to the bottom.  This is called fond.  Drain most of the fat.  Leave a little.  Add some flour.  Stir into a paste and cook a little until color changes.  This is called a roux.  Then add some liquid to the pan- water, stock, milk, etc- and simmer.  The fat encapsulates the individual granuales of flour, allowing them to gelatinize separately after liquid is added without clumping if stirred while cooking.  Done properly, the fond will cook loose from the bottom of the pan (deglaze) to make perfect gravy for your chicken & biscuits.  And your pan will get cleaned in the process.  Very cool.

This is how my dad taught me to make gravy. 

[cliffrod]

The people who rented a trailer down back on our farm here in SC had guineas.  Lots of noise but not a problem.

I have doubts about the benefits regarding coyotes. We have lots of coyotes here, but they are rare to see or hear in the daylight.  They generally don't start partying down back around the chicken coop until after dark when everything has roosted.   I don't know that guineas rouse from roost any better than other birds. 

An electric fence works pretty good.