Guinea fowl and free ranging

[Nudibranch]

Do they eat plants and flowers? The chickens stay in their run over the spring and summer because obviously they don't mix well with a cottage garden! But I was wondering about guinea fowl, it would be nice to have something which can roam around and look pretty

Peacocks are a no-go, they are too noisy. I love watching the wild pheasants under the bird table, so if guinea fowl are plant eaters is there anything else I could hatch and have free ranging?

 

[braindead]

Guinea fowl can be noisy, but not as loud as a peacock. Not sure about plant eating. They like to roost in trees. I had one many years ago who just liked being on his own. I bought many ladies for him, but one by one he would take out into the road and just as a car approached he would fly away leaving the unsuspecting victim to be run over!!! He also loved to chase people, especially cyclists who dared to invade his territory, ie the road.

 

[Clodagh]

I've never had a peacock but did have guineas, they had to go as the noise was incredible, and incessant!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I had some semi-feral guineas set up shop at the bottom of my old garden, they really are pretty noisy.

 

[jakkibag]

I have pea fowl and they are considerably quieter than guineas Lol! One or two big honks versus continuous chatter!! I would love to have some though, but suspect hubby would not be amused!!!
What about some ornamental pheasants? I saw some amazing gold and blue pheasants at a local bird sale last autumn??

 

[Alexart]

Guineas are very noisy and will dig stuff up and eat flowers, as do peacocks!! The ornamental pheasants are great but only if kept in an aviary type setting ie, with a net roof as they'll just ****** off as they are so highly strung! Why not try some little bantams - the feather legged varieties like pekins apparently do the least amount of damage to plants, I haven't put that theory to the test but my neighbor had some and her garden was beautiful, and they look pretty too, although do need fox proof fencing and a house like normal chooks.