How to Raise Guinea Fowl: A Low-Maintenance Flock

Compared to chickens, guinea fowl are low-cost, low-maintenance, and do a standout job as chemical-free pest control. Learn all about how to raise guinea fowl.

By Gail Damerow
Updated on May 12, 2025
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by Pexels/Jennifer Myers

Compared to chickens, guinea fowl are low-cost, low-maintenance, and do a standout job as chemical-free pest control. They are an excellent alternative to chickens for homesteaders seeking both meat and amazing pest control. Learn how to catch guinea fowl and all about how to raise guinea fowl.

Like officious little men in baggy gray suits, the guinea fowl scuttle up and down our driveway. Since dawn, they’ve been scouring our orchard for beetles, locusts, spiders, and ticks. Now they are ready to patrol our yard and garden for ants, cockroaches, flies, wasps, termites, cutworms, grubs, and snails. The guinea fowl are relentless in their pursuit.

I can remember a time when my husband and I had no guineas. Our former flock had roosted in trees and nested on the ground where, one by one, they had fallen prey to owls and foxes. While we were guinea-less, our potato crop was denuded by potato beetles, our hibiscus hedge was decimated by locusts, and we lost several fruit trees to flat-head borers.

We soon realized that our “little gray men” had given us far more than just a pleasant diversion (and occasional good eating). They truly are birds of distinction, hardy birds with a natural instinct for pest patrol. So we got a new crew to work our land, and I hope never to live without these little guys again.

Raising Guinea Fowl

Pros of Raising Guinea Fowl

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