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Guinea pigs for weed control

 
S Adams
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foraging medical herbs solar
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As seen in this video, Guinea pigs could be a great solution as an alternative to goats and other animals typically used for weed control.

S Adams

 
Nancy Graven
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damn I just saw this too! And came here to post it.  
Some of those look big enough to be cuy.
I was going to reference an old thread about this. (which I read recently)

 
S Adams
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Hey Nancy,
That's funny!  LOL!  I searched, but couldn't find a thread that turned up, both, weed control and Guinea pigs, so that's why I started this one.  Why don't you post the video in the thread you mentioned and link that thread here too?

S Adams

 
leigh gates
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I did guinea pig rescue for a while.  I kept them on wood flake (Not sawdust) bedding.  Used bedding is almost perfect compost.  If the cage is large as it should be, 6' long so they can run "zoomies", most will use one area to potty.  That makes it easy to scoop daily-ish and toss on compost bin.  Most veggie trimmings go through the guinea pig first so less volume to handle and way less wild critter interest in the bin.  Roll hardware clothe around a broom handle, lay several rolls on compost for air exchange as bin fills and don't even have to turn compost.  Double use.  And yes, they do great lawn mowers and garden cleanup/fertilize.  I used one of those portable dog corrals draped with a sheet for shade, and only when I was out there with them.  You get free yard work plus a daily dose of cute!  And a chance to infect neighbor minds with reuse & no chemicals ideas because the lawn looks so good.

Still slingin’ Avacado pits

 
Douglas Alpenstock
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When we were the "summer home" for GP's from a local school, we'd put a giant cage on the natural lawn and let them chew up the grass, white clover, and dandelion. They loved it; everybody happy. This could be brilliant in an urban area. Pigaloos are fun little dudes.

I am not convinced they could manage the tough, tall weeds in the back 40 of my homestead though. Realistically, I can barely manage them and I have scythes and power equipment.
 
S Adams
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Douglas Alpenstock wrote:...
I am not convinced they could manage the tough, tall weeds in the back 40 of my homestead though. Realistically, I can barely manage them and I have scythes and power equipment.



Maybe they could be used for maintenance after cutting the rough stuff?

S Adams

 
Douglas Alpenstock
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S Adams wrote:

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:...
I am not convinced they could manage the tough, tall weeds in the back 40 of my homestead though. Realistically, I can barely manage them and I have scythes and power equipment.



Maybe they could be used for maintenance after cutting the rough stuff?


Possibly. I can see their value in preparing and improving a potential garden area that's currently populated with grass and weeds. I would have to make sure there's nothing poisonous to them.

Shielding them from predators (coyote, fox) would be a major issue. They would only be checked twice per day.

I'm also not sure what I would do with 20+ pigs over 6 months of winter. Putting up hay for them is a big job; it basically offsets any labour savings I would get in the summer.
 
S Adams
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Douglas Alpenstock wrote:

S Adams wrote:

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:...

I'm also not sure what I would do with 20+ pigs over 6 months of winter. Putting up hay for them is a big job; it basically offsets any labour savings I would get in the summer.



*In Pigaloo voice*  "We don't eat much!" 😉
But, the predators definitely would be a concern.

S Adams

 
Nancy Graven
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Old thread, but I stumbled upon this today,

The video is fascinating, though there is a LOT more permaculture stufg in it besides using Gpigs.

But equally interesting, I encourage you to read the first comment posted on the video. Very interesting.

https://youtu.be/WC5GY923q14?si=ywemVWI7R_w3TErf
 
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