I am in the process of moving to a new property where I am going to have a large garden space they merges into a large natural/food forest the whole area will eventually be fenced in the with osage orange living fence. I want to introduce some kind of poltry that I can mostly let free roam the fenced in area as pest control. I have no interest in eating them or using their eggs for food so I was wondering if there are any chicken or duck varieties that are well suited for this type of living with me being involved in they're lives as little as possible?
I second the choice on guinea fowl and find a way easy way to get em in coop at night, like a special treat. I heard millet only given at dusk is a way to coop em. Predation is always a problem. If chickens, you can an automatic door.
With guinea fowls if they go un-cooped will they roost in trees? In the food forest area there is a number of large trees that they could roost in if that is some thing they will do.
Yes, they will find their own place to roost. I had some that found my house and began roosting on top of my chicken run, which is an A-Frame about 12 feet tall. They can fly better than a domesticated chicken, so are tough to contain.
"Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man" - The Dude
"It is what it is til it aint" - Mac Miller
I have some very large oaks that may do well as roosts for them. I have basically no experience with have poltry of any kind so guinea fowl sound right up my alley. Now I just need to track down a good source for them.
Living in nature is being a Human
Forget this weirdo. You guys wanna see something really neat? I just have to take off my shoe .... (hint: it's a tiny ad)
The new permaculture playing cards kickstarter is now live!