Do Guineas repel snakes?

[TheMartianChick]

I was visiting the Ideal website this evening and was surprised to read that guineas keep snakes away. We had them when I was a kid, but I don't recall ever seeing them interact in any way with the various snakes that we would ocassionally see in the yard. Our guineas were not free range, but I never saw a snake in the pen with them.

I am curious to know the experiences of others...

 

[Dogginfox]

Come to think of it I have not seen a snake on our property in the area that the guineas frequent. Its not scientific proof but it does get me thinking that there might be something to this.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Guineas and chickens will rip apart smaller snakes. It's sick
but fun to watch.

 

[Parson's Wife]

I saw some guineas on our farm eat snakes...once they had a pretty long one....plus they are wonderful watchdogs. You are rarely surprised with unexpected visitors!

 

[TheMartianChick]

I am familiar with their watchdog capabilities. Ours used to raise the roof whenever anything was near our property and keep it up until whatever it was went away. I hadn't heard of the snake-killing/repelling. I have never been fond of snakes... I wish them no harm, but I do wish them away from me! I had planned to get some to use as "security alarms", but I will definitely get some to keep away the snakes!

 

[aee96]

In my experience, they are not snake repellant. I have 15 guineas and I find snakes in my yard all the time (little and small (<1' to 6', venonous and non-venomous). I find snakes in my coop all the time in the summer (anywhere from 2.5' - 6' long). They flat out ignore the big snakes. I found one in the coop one afternoon with a belly full of eggs that was being ignored by guineas, chickens and turkeys. They weren't even yelling at it.

I've run over a small one a time or two with the lawnmower and I will then see guineas and chickens running around the yard with a chunk of snake (very funny sight).

Maybe my guineas are broken??

 

[MissPrissy]

I know that guineas will eat small snakes, so will chickens. I attribute my lack of seeing snakes to my goats. Where there are goats there usually aren't snakes.

My greatest fear is seeing a snake in my hen house eating eggs.

That just makes me shiver and want to scream like a girl. LOL

 

[TheMartianChick]

Any thoughts as to which varieties might be better for repelling snakes? Ours were pearls... Has anyone noticed a difference in the birds behavior... pearl vs. white vs lavender vs. purple?

As far as the broken guineas are concerned...Maybe they just think that they are CHICKENS!

 

[aee96]

I have pearls, slates, royal purples and whites (and Pieds of each). They all act the same -- goofy.

I did have a turkey hen that when she was broody she would take on any snake (2' or 6'). She'd chase them out of the coop and run. Unfortunately, I lost her to an injury.

 

[GUIENALADY]

i see fewer snakes when my guineas roam on the property. while we had none we had lots of snakes.