Guinea Fowl

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Guinea Fowl

• By Kimberly Neild

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What are Guinea Fowl?

• Domesticated birds originally from the Central
  African plains
• Have been used as a source of eggs and poultry
  meat as far back as the ancient Greeks and
  Romans.
• Most owners today keep them for pest control and
  an additional source of eggs
• The most common breed of the species is the
  Helmeted Guinea Fowl, named for the bony
  protrusion that looks like a helmet

• They have many different colors and variations in
  their feathers
• Common varieties of the Helmeted Guinea Fowl
  include pearl gray, white, and lavender

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Males vs. Females

• Males over 1 year old are called Guinea Cocks
• Large, cup shaped wattle that hangs from their
  head below their beak.
• Slightly larger helmet than females
• Warning call is one syllable Chi-chi-chi-chi-ch
  i-chi
• Cannot imitate female sound
• Start to practice sounds at around 8 weeks of
  age, but not necessarily just as an alert call
• Warning call of mature Guinea Cock means that he
  has spotted something unusual in the area

• Females over 1 year old are called Guinea Hens
• Smaller wattles and helmet compared to males
• Warning call is two syllables Buck-Wheat,
  Buck-Wheat, Buck-Wheat
• Females can imitate male sound with one syllable
  Chi-chi-chi-chi-chi
• Guinea Hens are noisier than Guinea Cocks,
  tending to make their warning call more often
• Both males and females are a little less prone to
  shrieking after their first birthday

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Why get Guineas?

• Interesting new pet or addition to a small farm
• Can be kept with chickens
• Chickens learn that warning call of guineas means
  that a predator is nearby
• They dont destroy flower and vegetable beds like
  chickens
• They can be fed basically the same diet as
  chickens and can be kept in the same coop
• Guinea guano is not as offensive smelling or as
  plentiful, meaning less coop cleaning
• Guineas eat most insects and weed seeds without
  damaging plants
• They act as watch dogs for the yard
• Very little time and money is necessary for their
  care

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Where would I put Guineas?

• Shelter
• Protects them from predators at night
• Keeps them dry and warm during inclement weather
• Requirements
• 3-4 square feet of floor space per bird
• Several perches of varying heights
• Double-walled but no insulation
• Some type of bedding such as straw or wood chips
  on floor

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How do I care for Guineas?

• Guineas can eat chicken mash (not pellets) if
  they are housed with chickens
• If you have guineas alone, they should be fed a
  turkey breeder mix with a protein content of
  22-24
• Food should be kept in a poultry feeder that is
  somehow secured to keep it clean
• During warmer months, guineas will get most of
  their diet from insects and weed seeds
• Guineas can be offered alfalfa and cracked corn
  on occasion

• Fresh water should always be available. Keep
  water heater or replenish several times a day
  during winter
• In the coop, guineas should have access to oyster
  shell and grit at all times. Oyster shell helps
  with egg formation, and grit helps with digestion
• Use white millet seed for training. Offer as a
  treat, such as incentive for them to come inside
  in the evening

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How do I purchase Guineas?

• Keets (birth-12 weeks) can often be purchased
  locally with a little research
• Eggs and day old keets can be purchased from a
  hatchery and shipped overnight
• Older guineas can sometimes be purchased from a
  farmer that wants to thin out her/his flock
• Try to find a guinea owner in your area. They
  can help with buying guineas, where to get
  supplies, and offer suggestions for housing and
  training.

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What age is best?

• Eggs
• Must be incubated for 28 days in order for keets
  to hatch
• Keets must then be moved to a brooder, a confined
  area with a heat lamp
• Young keets
• Must be kept in a brooder for 6 weeks before
  moving to outside coop
• Can be trained to trust people if handled several
  times a day from birth
• Need to be separated from older chickens
  guineas initially

• Older keets adults
• Will need to be kept in coop for a minimum of 6
  weeks before letting them roam in the yard
• Proper floor space in coop is essential for their
  well-being during their confinement
• Guineas that have not been handled since birth
  may not be tame
• They will learn to accept members of the family
  that they see frequently, but they will most
  likely not want to be picked up and petted

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More Information

• Read Gardening with Guineas by Jeannette S.
  Ferguson, 1999.
• Jeannette Ferguson also has a helpful website
  http//www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/