Domesticated guineafowl
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Guineafowl are a family of birds originating from Africa and related to other game birds such as the pheasants, turkeys and partridges.
They have a long history of domestication, mainly involving the Helmeted Guineafowl.
They lay 25-30 eggs in a deep, tapering nest. Their eggs are small, dark and extremely thick shelled. The hens have a habit of hiding their nests, and sharing it with other hens until large numbers of eggs have accumulated. The incubation period is 26-28 days, and the chicks are called "keets." As keets they are highly susceptible to dampness (they are indigenous to the drier/arid regions of Africa) and can die from following the mother through dewy grass. Though, after their first two to six weeks of growth, they can be some of the hardiest domestic land fowl.
Sexing the birds is not as simple as telling a rooster from a hen chicken. When they are adults, the helmet and wattles of the male are larger than those of the female, and only the female makes the two-note cry "Buck-wheat!" Aside from that, however, the two sexes are mostly identical in appearance. As domestics, guineafowl are valuable pest controllers, eating many insects. They are especially beneficial in controlling the lyme disease-carrying deer tick, as well as wasp nests. While they are rarely kept in large numbers, a few are sometimes kept with other fowl to be used as a security system against birds of prey. They will call with their loud, high shrieking voices if concerned about intruders. They are highly social birds, and tend to languish when alone.
Within the domesticated species, many color variations have been created aside from the "pearl" or natural color of the Helmeted Guinea. These include White, Purple, Slate, Chocolate, Lavender, and Coral blue as well as Bronze, Pewter, Buff Dundotte, Guernsey Grey, Blonde and even various Pieds.
[edit] References
- Madge and McGowan,Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse ISBN 0-7136-3966-0
- J.S. Ferguson, Gardening with Guineas ISBN 0-7392-0250-2 Comprehensive discussion of all aspects of raising domesticated guineafowl.
[edit] External links
- Worlds largest source for Guineafowl Links to a guinea fowl message board, chat room, guinea fowl book, hundreds of photographs and free information about raising guineas.
- The Guinea Fowl Breeders Association (GFBA) Established 1998 and has wide international membership, is part of the guineafowl webring and has comprehensive information about Guinea Fowl.
- Guinea Fowl International Association (GFIA) Worldwide organization providing support and information to those interested in the keeping and breeding of guinea fowl.
