By Denise Garner
On Wednesday September 14, 2006 the Environmental Department received a shipment of baby Guinea Hens/Fowls. Their mission, should they accept it, is to help reduce the population of ticks and chiggers on Station. This is considered to be an environmentally holistic approach to managing the pest population without the use of harmful pesticides.

Guinea Hens/Fowls have been used on the base in the past to control ticks and other insects. Unfortunately, the birds became prey to a wide variety of animals and many of them have been lost. In order to keep up with controlling the ticks there is a need to restore the flock in Officers’ Housing.

Presently, the Guinea Hens/Fowls are being cared for by the Environmental Department during the week. Weekend care has been covered by volunteer Amanda Beachey and her family.

For the next six weeks the Guinea Hens/Fowls will be cared for by the Environmental Department and Amanda. Once they have reached eight weeks old they are considered mature enough to be moved to an outside pen with a hen house. As the birds continue to grow, they should become more familiar with their new surroundings and start to roam the housing area for ticks and other insects. At night they will have the instinct to return to their coop, so that such predators as Hawks and Foxes will not harm them.

In order for this program to be a continued success, there will be a need for more volunteers to help with the maintenance of the Guinea Hens/Fowls. There will be a need for regular food supplies and some maintenances of the pen to help ensure their survival throughout the colder months ahead. If you are interested in contributing your time, please contact Pat Frank from the Environmental Department at ext. 1399.

So for now, let’s welcome our new environmentally friendly residents and keep our eyes and ears open for them around the Officers’ Housing area.

CAPTION: CAPT Phil Beachy with daughter Amanda and one of the guinea hens moving to Lakehurst