COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT, LEXINGTON, KY, 40546

ASC-209

Raising Jacquie Jacob and Tony Pescatore, and Food Sciences

uinea fowl, native to , The remainder of this publica- • 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 . It Why Keep Guinea Fowl? usual occurs on the farm. Some is more active, ranges farther, and find this noise a nuisance, but higher than a chicken. There Guinea fowl are rough, vigor- for others the guinea is an ef- are three of guinea fowl: ous, hardy, and mostly disease-free fective tool for protecting the • Vulturine guinea fowl (Acryl- game . 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 shows non-farm locations, such as The vulturine is not commonly include a of guinea. Guin- junk yards as well. When raised in the United States ea fowl can typically be entered are used as guard , 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 ( 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 , 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 • control: The main food “helmet” on their head (see Fig- have 109 calories in the same for wild guineas is . 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 , of age. guineas do not scratch the dirt Guinea 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 a day is common. themselves, consuming insects, The of guinea fowl are seeds and grasses. They have also often sought for use in arts been used to control , 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 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 that hatches production may have faded In areas where snakes are a solid white and not yellow. leg color. 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 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 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. ate extremes in weather fairly well. hen a year or older Fresh, clean water must be Sexing Helmet Protuberance on the available at all times. A variety of head of some guinea One of the most often asked fowl different waterers are available, questions about poultry is how to and whatever you choose should be Guinea Offspring of a guinea tell the males from the females. It keet hen and a guinea cock cleaned daily. is very hard to sex young guineas from hatch through 12 Brooding and rearing since they look exactly the same. weeks of age It is best to start with day-old You can only really sex guineas Poultry Domestic fowl raised for keets (baby guinea fowl). You can once they are older. You can tell meat or eggs purchase them from a local breed- them apart by: Guinea A female guinea less er, a local feed mill, or online with • The sounds they make. The pullet than a year old delivery through the mail. The hen makes a two-syllable noise Varieties Differences in color main problem with mail orders that sounds like she is saying patterns or markings is that there is often a minimum “buckwheat, buckwheat,” “put- Young Any guinea 12 to 52 required and you may not rock, put-rock” or “qua-track, guinea weeks old want to purchase that many keets. qua-track.” This is the only The minimum number that can sound that the hen makes that be ordered is usually based on the the rooster does not. Most It takes guineas a while to get best survival rate with shipment. young birds start making these settled into a new home. If you Keets coming through the mail are sounds at 6 to 8 weeks of age, purchase adult guineas, it is best dependent on their combined body but some females do not start to keep them confined for a week heat in order to survive without calling until much later. or two to let them get accustomed to their new home. If you let them a heat lamp during shipment. • The size of the helmet and out right away they may disappear The minimum number is also set wattles. The helmet and wat- down the street. They should be to prevent the keets from being tles of the male are much larger confined in a pen where they can tossed around in the shipping box. than those of the female. see the area where they will be liv- Newly hatched birds, includ- Managing Adults ing keets, absorb what is left of ing. After the initial 1 to 2 weeks, the that provided food for the If you are purchasing guineas for let one guinea out. Guineas hate to developing embryo during incuba- tick and insect control then you are be alone so the single guinea will tion. The absorbed yolk provides better off purchasing adult guineas not go far and will learn its way food to the newly hatched keets, as they require little care and do around the area. After a few days, making it unnecessary for them to very well on their own. Clean water let a second guinea out to run with eat or drink for 48 hours after they should be made available. Guineas the first. If they stay around it is are hatched. enjoy a little scratch feed scattered usually safe to let the rest out. Being native to dry areas of on the ground. Guineas allowed to Guineas are very good runners Africa, guineas are very susceptible roam freely will eat very little feed and prefer this method of get- to dampness during their first two during the summer months. If you ting around, including to escape weeks and can die from following want them for pest control, re- predators, rather than flying. If the the mother through dewy grass. stricting their feed will encourage adult guineas are let loose to forage After two weeks of age, however, them to spend more time eating freely, space is usually not a prob- they are probably the most hardy insects. lem. If you are going to confine the of all domestic land fowl. guineas for any length of time, they

3 should be given a minimum indoor Figure 2. Parts of a guinea fowl floor space of 2 to 3 square feet per guinea. The more room the guineas have, the less likely it is that they will be stressed. If you want to keep your guin- eas from wandering from a spe- cific area, they need to be kept in covered pens. Guineas are able to at a very early age and will often fly around the farm. Guineas are strong fliers and often fly 400 to 500 feet at a time. Nutrition Adult guineas are low mainte- nance. They will forage for them- selves and are able to meet most of their nutrition requirements on their own. They will consume a va- riety of insects (mosquitoes, ticks, and ), grass, weed seeds, slugs, worms, and caterpillars. Guineas need to consume Body Parts in order to maintain good diges- Body tion. They will eat grass, dandeli- part Description ons, weeds, etc. Because they are consuming vegetation, it is impor- Helmet Pale, waxy appendage protruding from the top of the head. Hard and curves away from the body. In young keets: blackish color; in adults, tant to have grit available. It is also brown. Also called the topknot, comb, or casque. good to have oyster shell available free choice. Wattles Fleshy coral appendages, flat, stiff, and free from wrinkles, hang from either side of the head. The lower edge of the wattles curves from If you do not allow your guinea the , is much larger and has a cupped appearance. fowl to forage, they can be fed a commercial poultry diet. Guineas Head Wedge-shaped and short, tapering toward the beak. The head is covered with white skin and has a line of very fine hair-like feathers need a higher feed than down the back of the head, which stick out and grow upward. chickens but do quite well on Eyes Alert, large, round and dark brown. regular poultry diets. Keets need a 24 to 26 percent protein ration for Neck Rounded with down-like feathers. the starter feed. Use an unmedi- Shanks Bright orange in keets; changes to mottled orange with brown as they cated feed. The protein level should get older. In older adults, they are black. be reduced to 18 to 20 percent for Toes Strong and straight the fifth to eighth weeks. After Beak Short, strong and curved that, feed a regular laying mash, which usually contains 16 percent Wings Large and carried horizontally protein. If your local feed mill does Back Broad, curves from the neck descending gradually to the tail not sell the feeds in the protein lev- Body Carried low to the ground and rather short els you need, you can mix a higher From the Standard of Perfection for Guinea fowl at http://www.guineafowl.com/standards. protein diet with a laying mash html. to get the proper protein level. Guineas should be fed only mash or crumbles. Pelleted feed is not recommended for feeding guineas.

4 Supplemental greens such as Reproduction Incubation leafy alfalfa should also be given Selecting Breeders Guineas often lay their eggs out for the guineas to peck at. They in the fields and hatch their young When selecting breeders from will primarily eat the leaves. Re- by themselves. If you do find the your flock, size and uniform color move any leftovers daily to prevent eggs and wish to incubate them, the are important. Both male and creating a mold problem. eggs should be treated like chicken female adult guineas weigh 3.0 If the guineas are able to get eggs. There is one big difference, to 3.5 lb (~1.5 kg). As previously plenty to eat in the area in which however: Guinea eggs are smaller indicated, guinea fowl are sexed by the forage, they will not eat much and have a thicker shell than the cry they make and the size of supplemental feed. They do like the chicken eggs, making them nearly the helmet and wattles (which are occasional treat of wheat, sorghum impossible to candle for fertility larger in the male). (milo) or millet. They do not care until they have been incubated for Wild guineas typically mate in much for the larger grains and will at least 10 days. pairs, but under domestic condi- ignore whole corn kernels. Whole The incubation period for guinea tions, you usually need only one or cracked grains can be used as eggs is 26 to 28 days. The eggs can male for each four to five females. supplemental grains. be incubated in most commercially Hens can lay more than 100 available incubators. If the incuba- Health eggs per year. Guinea eggs are tor does not come with guinea- smaller than chicken eggs; about Guineas are subject to the same specific instructions, follow the 1.4 oz (40 g) versus 2 oz (60 g) for diseases and parasites as other guidelines for or turkeys. a chicken egg. poultry and respond to the same If using natural incubation, Hatching Egg Production treatments. guinea hens typically begin to lay Do not feed medicated poultry When allowed to incubate eggs in April or May but do not become diets to guinea fowl. Coccidiostats, naturally, guinea hens typically do broody until later in the season. such as coban, are toxic to guinea not go broody until the nest has If you want to hatch the first eggs . around thirty eggs. A good guinea laid, you can use a broody chicken Marketing hen will lay an egg a day. If the eggs hen. Usually a bantam hen can are removed, she will most likely The normal marketing season is incubate 10 to 15 eggs, and a stan- make a nest elsewhere. If all but dard size hen can incubate 25 to 30. late summer and throughout the four to six eggs are removed from fall. The demand is typically for a nest for safekeeping, she may young birds weighing 1.75 to 2.5 return to the same spot and con- lb (~1 kg) live weight. Many ho- tinue laying. Using this procedure tels and restaurants in large cities will allow you to collect eggs daily serve guineas at banquet and club without having to go on a scav- dinners as a special delicacy or as a enger hunt. Eggs from confined substitute for other game birds. guineas, however, can typically be Guineas are killed and dressed collected daily with no problems. in the same way as chickens. The bones of guineas are relatively small, and the carcass produces a relatively large amount of meat.

Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, M. Scott Smith, Director, Land Grant Programs, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lex- ington, and Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Copyright © 2013 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Publications are also available on the Wide Web at www.ca.uky.edu. Issued 10-2013