ASC-209: Raising Guinea Fowl
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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT, LEXINGTON, KY, 40546 ASC-209 Raising Guinea Fowl Jacquie Jacob and Tony Pescatore, Animal and Food Sciences uinea fowl, native to Africa, The remainder of this publica- • Farm yard watch animal: were brought to the United tion refers to raising the helmeted Guinea fowl will sound an StatesG by early settlers. A guinea guinea fowl. alarm whenever anything un- fowl is definitely not a chicken. It Why Keep Guinea Fowl? usual occurs on the farm. Some is more active, ranges farther, and find this noise a nuisance, but flies higher than a chicken. There Guinea fowl are rough, vigor- for others the guinea is an ef- are three species of guinea fowl: ous, hardy, and mostly disease-free fective tool for protecting the • Vulturine guinea fowl (Acryl- game birds. They are increasing in farm livestock. Guineas have lium vulturinum) are from the popularity for a variety of reasons. been proven as watchdogs in semi-arid regions of east Africa. • For show: Many poultry shows non-farm locations, such as The vulturine is not commonly include a class of guinea. Guin- junk yards as well. When dogs raised in the United States ea fowl can typically be entered are used as guard animals, law- as it is more sensitive to cold in one of two classes—breeding suits are a possibility if an in- and lacks the hardiness of the (judged according to a Stan- truder is injured. In a junkyard common guinea fowl. It has a dard of Perfection) and market with trees, guineas roost in the helmetless head and resembles (judged according to body con- trees at night and will make a a vulture. formation as it relates to meat ruckus if disturbed, alerting production). • Crested guinea fowl (Guttera humans of intruders. Losses pucherani) are from South Af- • For income: The meat of a to theft can be reduced with no rica. They can be distinguished young guinea is tender, resem- law suits. Guinea fowl will also from other guinea fowl by their bling that of wild game. Guinea alert other poultry on the farm black head plumes. fowl meat has many nutritional of danger. The warning call of qualities that make it a valuable • Helmeted guinea fowl (Numi- guineas notifies others when nidae meleagris) are the most addition to the diet. It has 134 raptors are in the area, giving common species of guinea fowl. calories per 100 grams, which them time to dash under shelter. They are named for the bony is second only to turkeys, which • Insect control: The main food “helmet” on their head (see Fig- have 109 calories in the same for wild guineas is insects. ure 1). Only three colors are rec- quantity of meat. Guinea fowl Guineas will consume large ognized for exhibition purposes: meat is leaner and drier than amounts of insects, typically Pearl, White and Lavender. chicken meat. Guinea fowl are leaving the vegetable and flower ready to eat at 14 to 16 weeks gardens alone. Unlike chickens, of age. guineas do not scratch the dirt Guinea eggs can be eaten just as much and thus do very little chicken eggs and should be col- damage to gardens. Once es- lected daily if not used for hatching tablished on a farm, guineas purposes. During the laying season are able to pretty much fend for an egg a day is common. themselves, consuming insects, The feathers of guinea fowl are seeds and grasses. They have also often sought for use in arts been used to control deer ticks, and crafts in such items as hats, wood ticks, grasshoppers, flies, dream catchers and decorative crickets and other insects. They Figure 1. A pearl grey helmeted guinea gourds. will also eat slugs. Guineas are hen. Jacquie Jacob Agriculture and Natural Resources • Family and Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development • Community and Economic Development EXTENSION used in some areas to reduce • Thepearl variety is the most the threat of Lyme disease, popular and typically the one Judging Guinea Fowl which is carried by the deer that people recognize. The The correct age and gender tick population. Guinea fowl birds have purplish-gray plum- classifications for guinea fowl will also eat honey bees, so you age with dots of white spots in poultry shows are cock, hen, have to be careful if you also giving the look of pearls. Feath- cockerel, and pullet. Guinea have apiaries. Guinea fowl have ers from the pearl variety are fowl are rarely handled by the been known to stand by a hive often used for ornamental pur- and eat the bees as they come poses. judge until the final placings are decided upon, and then out. • The next most common variety only those birds which he/she • Rodent control: The loud call is the white guinea (also called of the guineas has been shown African white). As the name expects to place. Those birds to discourage rodents from in- indicates, the white guinea has are then examined for any vading the area. Flocks of guin- pure white feathers. In addi- defects or disqualifications not eas will kill and eat mice and tion, its skin is lighter than the apparent from the aisle. Judges small rats. other two varieties. These birds should keep in mind that a • Snake control: Some snakes are not albino and are the only female guinea fowl in heavy will eat eggs and baby chicks. solid white bird that hatches production may have faded In areas where snakes are a solid white and not yellow. leg color. Duck foot can occur problem, groups of guineas • Lavender guineas are similar in guinea fowl and judges are have even been known to locate to the pearl, but their plumage advised to be on the lookout and kill snakes before they can is light gray or lavender dotted for it and to disqualify any bird cause harm. with white spots. with a duck foot. • Unique ornamental value: Before You Start Guineas are curious and inter- esting animals. Some people Before you start raising any if you do not insulate the house. like to keep them around simply kind of poultry you should check Insulation tends to keep moisture for the entertainment value. zoning regulations for your area to in more than it keeps the cold out. Guinea fowl have been de- make sure that you are permitted Allowing moisture to build up in scribed as darting around the to raise poultry. This is particularly a poultry house can cause respira- yard like little roadrunners. important when raising guinea tory problems. Guinea droppings (guano) are fowl because guineas will range The floor of the house should be less offensive than most poultry and cross the boundaries of a small covered with an absorbent bedding species and are only messy when lot. It is common for urbanites to material such as hay, straw or wood the birds are sick. The guano is move into areas zoned agriculture shavings. If the litter is kept dry, basically dry and washes away but then complain if someone’s it need not be replaced for several easily in the rain, so you do not animals cross onto their property. months. Guineas like to roost, so it have to worry about stepping in Guinea fowl are usually quiet, but is important to provide perches. a pile of droppings when walk- can be very noisy if disturbed. Do not confine male guineas ing around the yard. Care and Management with chickens if there are roosters in the same flock. However, if your Varieties Housing flock is allowed to free range dur- There are three principal variet- Guinea fowl are often left to ing the day and is only locked up at ies of domesticated guinea fowl fend for themselves, but it is best night, it is okay to keep the guineas recognized by the American Poul- if they are provided with a shelter and roosters in the same barn. It is try Associations in their Standard to protect them from high winds, also okay to house them together of Perfection: pearl, white, and rain, cold, sun, and predators. The in a short-term emergency, such as lavender. In all three varieties, the shelter can be from a facility you a blizzard or other bad weather. If head and neck are bare but there build specifically for them or can the male guineas are housed with may be wattles present. The wattles simply be room allotted to them the roosters full time, however, the of the male guinea are much larger in a barn that you already have. guineas will chase the roosters, than those of the female. If the barn is unheated, it is best keeping them from food and water. 2 If you are keeping guineas for Keets may be raised in the same Terminology egg production (for hatching or kind of brooder houses and brood- human consumption) there should ers as chicks or poults (baby tur- Guinea A male guinea less than cockerel a year old be nest boxes available. Nest boxes keys). Hovers should be started at designed for chickens will usually 95°F (35°C) for the first two weeks, Guinea An adult male guinea a cock year or older work. It is best if you keep your and then lowered by 5°F (2.75°C) guinea hens in the henhouse until per week thereafter. Guinea Proper name for the fowl species noon each day so that they will lay After they are fully feathered, eggs inside rather than in a hidden guineas are typically able to toler- Guinea An adult female guinea nest outside.