As tick populations continue to expand in Canada, more residents in Nova Scotia are seeking ways to protect their properties, with an increasing interest in utilizing guinea fowl for natural pest control. These large, speckled birds, closely related to chickens and turkeys, are renowned for their insatiable appetite for insects.
Heather Squires, a guinea fowl breeder in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, has observed a significant rise in inquiries for the birds this year. Due to high demand, she has temporarily suspended sales after distributing around 70 baby guinea fowl, known as keets, to ensure an adequate supply for tick control on her own farm.
Despite Nova Scotia being identified as having the highest tick population in Canada last year, veterinarians have noted an increase in anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease, over the past decade. The surge in guinea fowl adoption for tick control has attracted new breeders like Phalen MacLean, who saw a notable decline in tick numbers as her flock of 13 guinea fowl expanded.
While the effectiveness of guinea fowl in reducing tick populations is a subject of debate, Bruce Rathgeber, a professor at Dalhousie University, acknowledges their potential as a supplementary pest control method based on his experience. However, he emphasizes that strategies like maintaining short grass and clearing wooded areas are more reliable for tick management.
Guinea fowl are recognized for being challenging to breed in captivity and are known for their loud nature and questionable intelligence. MacLean highlighted their unique nesting habits, including roosting in trees during adverse weather conditions, making them vulnerable to predators. To address this, Squires recommends training the birds to return home at night by confining them indoors for a few weeks, similar to chickens.
Both breeders stress the importance of providing guinea fowl with ample space to roam freely and caution potential owners to consider their yard size and surroundings before acquiring the birds, as living near busy roads poses risks due to the birds’ lack of road awareness.
In conclusion, as Nova Scotians explore natural alternatives for tick control, the use of guinea fowl is gaining popularity, despite ongoing discussions on their efficacy. The unique characteristics and challenges associated with raising these birds add to the considerations for individuals looking to introduce them to their properties.
