Guinea hens and beehives?

[Greg Peck]

One of my bee yards is located on a small hobby farm. The owner bought some guinea hens to help control ticks. She also saw on google that guinea hens will sit in front of a hive and eat the bees to the point of severely hurting the hive. I did some research but found limited info on the subject. Does anyone have first hand info regarding this. I guess I could just put a fence up around the hives or some other form of prevention if it is a problem.

[Robo]

I have 22 guinea hens and they could care less about the bees.  They free range and act like the hives don't even exist.  I would not be worried.

rob....

[iddee]

Chickens will pick wax moths off the hives and leave the bees alone. I would think guineas would do the same. I have a hive in a yard with guineas and have never seen one near it.

[doak]

I think most animals and fowl have some built in alarm that tells them what and what not to try. :roll: :shock: :)doak

[Natalie]

My bees were out flying around in front of the hives today and the chickens seemed curious and stood and watched them from a couple of feet away but none of them tried to eat them or get any closer to the hives.
These chickens will chase a moth or any other flying insect around and around the yard forever but not one of them showed any inclination towards the bees.
I noticed that they didn't go over and dig one of their dustbath holes that they usually do against the hive stands either now that the hives are occupied.
I agree with doak that they have a sense when it comes to things like that.

[Brian D. Bray]

A bloated beak makes for a mighty hungry bird.