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General Information

Sexing Guinea Fowl


Unlike most species of birds, where there is a visiable differnce between the males and females, guinea owl do not always show one.  The best way to sex a guinea is by the sound they make.  A male will male a 1 syllable sound, whilst the female will male a 2 sylable sound, sounding like 'come back, come back'.

Agression

Guinea fowl males wil lnot fight each other, even if there is a larger sex ratio of males to females.  Though it is advisable to keep more guinea females than males.  However guinea males will attack and kill cockerels, and other male birds.  Therefore if you have a guinea male, do not keep it with any males of a different species.  Though some are okay, it is better to be safe than sorry.

All guineas are usually agressive to new birds.  Therefore it is best to keep new birds penned insight of the guniea fowl for a few days, before imtroducing them properly to the rest of the flock. 

Guinea fowl are also prone to attacking chicks.  Only let chicks out if they are with a broody, who will protect them agaisnt the guinea fowl.  If the mother does not protect her youngsters, pen them up until they are older.  Chicks hand rasied or bought in shoyuld not be let out with guinea fowl until at least 12 weeks of age.

introducing To Their New Home

When you purchase your guinea fowl, it is always a good idea to keep them penned up for 2 weeks.  Make sure they can see their new home though, but not get out into it.  A rabbit run and hutch are fine for this time. 

After the 2 weeks let out 1 of the guniea fowl.  It will not wander or fly off without its companion/s.  Repeat this for 1-2 weeks each day changing the guniea fowl each day.  Once you feel happy that they wil not wander let them all out.  Do keep an eye on them for the next few weeks though to make sure they settle in.

Penning

Some people like to keep guinea fowl in a pen with a covered roof, to prevent them from flying out.  I have found I do not need to do this, as my guniea fowl have not wandered of flown out of the enclosure.  Use a 6ft fence to help keep your guinea fowl in.

Guinea fowl will roost in tress, but if you get them into the habit of gonig into a shed at night, they will soon get used to it.  It is ebst to start this process of putting them to bed in a shed when they are young.