Shady Hollow
"There's a gamebird for everyone!"
GAMEBIRDS
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| Pond Lane, Morrill ME 04952 - 1.774.273.0370 |
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© Shady Hollow Gamebirds 2005 - Present.
| Helmeted Guinea Fowl |
Name: Often mistakenly called 'Guinea Hens'.
Guinea hen only refers to the females. The species
is collectively known as Guinea Fowl.
Guinea hen only refers to the females. The species
is collectively known as Guinea Fowl.
Origin: Guineas originate from the African plains
and scrublands. This is why they have featherless
heads- to allow heat to escape the body. Their
origin also explains why they have eyelashes- to
keep the dust from their eyes.
and scrublands. This is why they have featherless
heads- to allow heat to escape the body. Their
origin also explains why they have eyelashes- to
keep the dust from their eyes.
Uses: Guinea Fowl are mostly used in insect and
weed control. They are always foraging for ticks,
mosquito's, black flies and weed seeds. Not only
are they good for this but they produce large
amounts of eggs in warmer weather. Eggs are
edible and very tasty. Guineas are often butchered
for their dark gamy meat as well. They will sound
alert calls when a predator is nearby which makes
them good barnyard watchdogs, too.
weed control. They are always foraging for ticks,
mosquito's, black flies and weed seeds. Not only
are they good for this but they produce large
amounts of eggs in warmer weather. Eggs are
edible and very tasty. Guineas are often butchered
for their dark gamy meat as well. They will sound
alert calls when a predator is nearby which makes
them good barnyard watchdogs, too.
Varieties: We are proud to say that no other
hatchery carries a wider assortment of Guinea Fowl
varieties. We currently produce pearl, royal purple,
violet, slate, pewter, marble, cracked marble, ivory,
pastel, maple, dark chocolate, chocolate, blonde,
buff, brown, cinnamon, buff dundotte, lavender, coral
blue, sky blue, lite lavender, lite blue, powder blue,
porcelain, opaline, crystalline, bronze, white and
then all of these birds in pied form as well.
hatchery carries a wider assortment of Guinea Fowl
varieties. We currently produce pearl, royal purple,
violet, slate, pewter, marble, cracked marble, ivory,
pastel, maple, dark chocolate, chocolate, blonde,
buff, brown, cinnamon, buff dundotte, lavender, coral
blue, sky blue, lite lavender, lite blue, powder blue,
porcelain, opaline, crystalline, bronze, white and
then all of these birds in pied form as well.
Terms: Babies are called keets. Young females
are pullets and young males are called cockerels.
Adult females are called hens and adult males are
called cocks. The horn on the top of the head is
known as the casque. The hanging flap on either
side of the beak is known as a wattle.
are pullets and young males are called cockerels.
Adult females are called hens and adult males are
called cocks. The horn on the top of the head is
known as the casque. The hanging flap on either
side of the beak is known as a wattle.
| Sounds |
| Videos |
| Photos |
Behavior: Young Guinea Fowl are the most
talkative. They will chat about most of the things they
encounter. As they mature they grow out of this and
only alert to danger. Hens make a call known as a
'buck-wheat buck-wheat'. Only hens make this
repetitive two syllable sound. Males have a call of
their own as well, the 'food whistle'. Often times
when males find feed they will let the rest of the flock
know by a low rolling whistle combined with a
humming sound. Males are the dominant birds in
Guinea Fowl society. Multiple males can be housed
together without problems but there will always be
dominant birds. This is observed by males standing
on the tips of their toes with their wings fanned over
their back. They try to appear as large and tall as
possible. Males will mock-charge one another as a
display of dominance. They rush the opponent with
wings flipping forward to startle the rival male.
Occasionally they will 'neck' where the males peck at
one another in a repeating alternating joust.
Females never become dominant over males. The
alpha bird is always a male and hens are
submissive to males. The only time a hen will fight
another is when the bird is not recognized as part of
the flock.
talkative. They will chat about most of the things they
encounter. As they mature they grow out of this and
only alert to danger. Hens make a call known as a
'buck-wheat buck-wheat'. Only hens make this
repetitive two syllable sound. Males have a call of
their own as well, the 'food whistle'. Often times
when males find feed they will let the rest of the flock
know by a low rolling whistle combined with a
humming sound. Males are the dominant birds in
Guinea Fowl society. Multiple males can be housed
together without problems but there will always be
dominant birds. This is observed by males standing
on the tips of their toes with their wings fanned over
their back. They try to appear as large and tall as
possible. Males will mock-charge one another as a
display of dominance. They rush the opponent with
wings flipping forward to startle the rival male.
Occasionally they will 'neck' where the males peck at
one another in a repeating alternating joust.
Females never become dominant over males. The
alpha bird is always a male and hens are
submissive to males. The only time a hen will fight
another is when the bird is not recognized as part of
the flock.
Breeding: Guineas can be colony bred, group bred
or paired. This means that multiple males can be
kept with multiple hens. It is wise not to exceed five
hens per male to keep good fertility. Guinea hens
will lay eggs in a communal nest and then incubate
the eggs together. Raising the keets is often a
group effort as well. For predation and safety
reasons it is not recommended to allow hens to
hatch and raise keets. Breeding season for Guinea
Fowl varies by climate but is generally March -
September. Th hard-shelled eggs take 26 days to
incubate and are often very high in fertility and
hatchability.
or paired. This means that multiple males can be
kept with multiple hens. It is wise not to exceed five
hens per male to keep good fertility. Guinea hens
will lay eggs in a communal nest and then incubate
the eggs together. Raising the keets is often a
group effort as well. For predation and safety
reasons it is not recommended to allow hens to
hatch and raise keets. Breeding season for Guinea
Fowl varies by climate but is generally March -
September. Th hard-shelled eggs take 26 days to
incubate and are often very high in fertility and
hatchability.
Keeping: Turkeys should be started on a
high-protein, medicated feed. Medicated feed helps
them fight off disease when they are young and the
protein is for steady growth. A 20% protein with a
moderate fat content is good for growing them and
they can they be feed a chicken layer ration (16%
protein with adequate fat and calcium) or a breeder
feed when they reach mature size. If roosts are
used for turkeys they should be low- only about 2
feet off the base of the coop. They should also be
wide and flat, this helps the turkeys sit on the roost
and prevents issues with their feet like bumblefoot.
A good indoor shelter will be draft-free and
waterproof. Adequate ventilation is needed however.
Each turkey should have at least 20 sq ft per bird in
the coop. It is ideal to have 20 sq ft of indoor space
and 30 sq ft of outdoor space per adult turkey. This
gives a nice stress-free environment and is much
more manageable for the flock.
high-protein, medicated feed. Medicated feed helps
them fight off disease when they are young and the
protein is for steady growth. A 20% protein with a
moderate fat content is good for growing them and
they can they be feed a chicken layer ration (16%
protein with adequate fat and calcium) or a breeder
feed when they reach mature size. If roosts are
used for turkeys they should be low- only about 2
feet off the base of the coop. They should also be
wide and flat, this helps the turkeys sit on the roost
and prevents issues with their feet like bumblefoot.
A good indoor shelter will be draft-free and
waterproof. Adequate ventilation is needed however.
Each turkey should have at least 20 sq ft per bird in
the coop. It is ideal to have 20 sq ft of indoor space
and 30 sq ft of outdoor space per adult turkey. This
gives a nice stress-free environment and is much
more manageable for the flock.
Recommended Reading: Gardening with
Guineas: A step-by-step guide to raising Guinea
Fowl.
Guineas: A step-by-step guide to raising Guinea
Fowl.