When you want to expand your flock of birds, you can explore the many breeds of chickens or add a new species into the mix, such as guinea fowl. These one-of-a-kind and highly independent birds are sure to stand out on your farm or ranch but be aware – their personalities differ significantly from the hens you’re used to. Trust Tractor Supply for the guidance you need to confidently introduce guinea fowl birds to the flock.
Breed type: Dual-purpose (egg and meat)
Egg color: Cream/brown
Pen or free-range: Both (prefer free-range)
Temperament: Independent, lively
Guinea Fowl quick facts:
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Weight: 2.9 lb.
Appearance: Gray feathers with white spots
Egg production: 12-30 eggs a clutch
Good for beginners: No
History of Guinea Fowl
Guinea fowl are native to Africa, with most of the species people raise today originally from West Africa. The birds were introduced into Europe in the 15th century and shortly made their way over to the Americas with the early settlers. Although Africans saw the value of guinea fowl as a gamebird for a long time, they were originally treated as simple wild animals in the Americas until about 150 years ago.
Part of why guinea fowl have thrived in so many places all over the world is their ability to adapt to different climates. Although these birds cannot preserve their body heat through their legs like other poultry, they are hardy and can withstand the heat and some cold.
The hardiness of guinea fowl may explain in part why they’ve flourished, with about 10 species existing today, including black, crested, helmeted, plumed, vulturine and white-breasted. Some species of guinea fowl have various types distinguished by their color patterns, such as the helmeted guinea fowl which comes in lavender, pearl, pied, royal purple and white hues.
Temperament and Good-to-Knows
If you have experience raising chickens, it might seem that guinea fowl are just a slightly unusual version of the same bird. Once you get to know them, you’ll realize they’re not, so it helps to understand their disposition before you bring them onto your farm.
Fiercely independent birds: Unlike many chicken breeds, guinea fowl aren’t docile or friendly, and although you can tame them, they tend to maintain this temperament.
Noisy chirpers: Expect a lot of noise from guinea fowl, whose call is loud and repetitive and sounds like an alarm.
Require more monitoring than other poultry: A combination of nervousness and a lack of intelligence means guinea fowl typically demand more monitoring than other birds in your flock. If they wander off and get stuck in equipment, they might panic and accidentally hurt themselves.
Hardiness leans toward warm climates: Some species, such as helmeted guinea fowl, do well in cold environments, but overall, they’re more tolerant of the heat.
Having loud, easily scared birds might not seem like a benefit, but it’s these traits that might make guinea fowl excellent at sounding the alarm when predators are nearby. They’ll get used to you and the other poultry you raise, but if a fox, raccoon or even a strange person is lurking nearby, you’ll soon know once your guinea fowl sees them.
Visual and Egg Characteristics of Guinea Fowl
For many, raising poultry isn’t just a hobby but a key part of their homesteading lifestyle, and possibly a source of income. As such, dual-purpose birds are highly sought after, and guinea fowl fit this description.
Physical Characteristics of Guinea Fowl
Domesticated species of guinea fowl don’t have as pronounced an appearance as other wild species, with gray pearl being the most common color and other colors including yellow, blue and white. Tiny white spots dot their bodies, and perhaps the most striking feature is their long eyelashes.
Underneath all those feathers is a stout bird that makes a great choice for meat. Guinea fowl is dark meat with a rich flavor, offering a delicacy you could sell at a premium. If you’re only raising these birds for yourself, they’re a healthier alternative to chicken with fewer calories and less fat. To raise these meat birds, begin harvesting them when they’re between 12 and 20 weeks old. If you wait too long, you’ll end up with an overly chewy meal that your family (and the people you sell them to) won’t appreciate.
The difficulty comes with sexing guinea fowl, as these birds don’t share as obvious of differences as hens and roosters. Although the males have slightly more prominent helmets and redder wattles than the females, it’s often challenging to note these differences with the naked eye. It’ll be a waiting game to determine the sex of your guinea fowl until they start talking more – this is when you’ll really notice what separates males and females.
When males make noise, it’s a repeated single syllable: chi or kek (sounding like chi-chi-chi or kek-kek-kek). The female’s call sounds more like the bird is saying the term buckwheat. Even so, this method isn’t the most reliable way to sex guinea fowl – the best way is to administer or schedule a blood test with a veterinarian.
Guinea Fowl Egg Production
Unlike chickens, guinea fowl don’t lay eggs every day, but they lay enough that many choose to raise them primarily for this purpose. Guinea fowl lay clutches, which can include anywhere from 12 to 30 eggs, and hens will lay during the warmer months of the year. These eggs are smaller than a chicken’s, with hues ranging from cream to dark brown and some featuring speckles or pointed tips. Despite the difference in appearance, these eggs taste similar to chicken eggs, so there’s no taste to acquire.
Guinea fowl are fussy about laying eggs in coops – they much prefer laying them in nests they make themselves in large patches of grass intended to hide their keets (babies). If you’re raising them for egg production, consider keeping these birds in pens so it’s easier to track down their nests.
Raising Guinea Fowl
Hatching guinea fowl eggs isn’t much different than hatching chicken eggs, but you’ll need to adjust the temperature between 99.6°F and 102°F on the incubator, depending on the type. Their incubation period lasts slightly longer than chickens at around 26 to 28 days, and lockdown should continue for 25 days. Due to the thickness of these shells, you should refrain from candling them until the 10th day of incubation. Of course, if you have a broody chicken available, she can take on the task of incubation.
When keets hatch, they should be placed in a safe, warm brooder for the first four to six weeks of their life until their feathers grow, and they can integrate into the flock. Line the brooder with poultry shavings to help keep them comfortable and ensure they have access to fresh, clean water and a high-protein starter feed.
Health and Care of Guinea Fowl
As with all your birds, you want to provide guinea fowl with the best life, and this means providing them adequate shelter and food, plus ensuring their overall well-being. Although guinea fowl prefer being free-range, you might have to limit them to a coop and pen to avoid losing them to predators.
These lively birds can still thrive in confinement, just make sure they have enough space so that they don’t get stressed. A good rule of thumb is to provide four to five square feet for each bird in the coop and at least 10 square feet per bird in the overall enclosure. They also need the proper accessories such as nesting boxes for comfort, coop heaters for warmth and roosts since they love to sit in high places.
These birds enjoy foraging, but you can ensure they get the right nutrients with poultry feed for guineas. Since they tend not to like pellet form, search for mash or crumble options, and reward them occasionally with poultry treats. Poultry vitamins and supplements can also increase their intake of nutrients that might be missing from their diets. Clean out and refill waterers regularly to ensure your birds can have a refreshing drink throughout the day.
Another benefit of guinea fowl over chickens is that they’re generally more disease resistant. However, because they like to forage, be careful of damp environments that might be home to parasites and other bacteria. In addition to scheduling vaccinations with the veterinarian, poultry dewormers can help control internal parasites and dust baths to manage external pests.
Make Space for Guinea Fowl in Your Flock with Tractor Supply
Guinea fowl are boisterous birds, and while you might not be able to cuddle with them the way you would some chicken breeds, you’ll learn to love them all the same. Ready to add guinea fowl to your flock? Visit your local Tractor Supply store to find the poultry supplies you need to get started or shop our selection online.