OVERVIEW AND SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT OF GUINEA FOWL
Dr. Rambabu.D MVSc, Ph.D, MBA.
Associate Professor & Head
Dept. of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science, Korutla
PV Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University
Jagtial dist – 505 326. Telangana State.
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Introduction
Guinea fowls, also called “Titari” and “Chitra,” are low-input alternative poultry species that have been domesticated for their meat and eggs. They are adaptable to the many agro climatic conditions of India and are best suited for backyard chicken production. Customers appreciate Guinea Fowl Meat’s flavor and nutritional value because it is low in cholesterol and high in vitamins. In addition to being environmentally beneficial, the birds help control worms, pests, and insects and generate manure for the field. They are seasonal layers that typically produce 90 to 110 eggs between March and September. As a result, one of the main issues preventing Guinea fowl from being produced on a big scale for commercial purposes is the seasonality of reproduction and egg production.
Through breeding and selection, the Guncari birds were created from a large foundation stock of native Guinea fowls. These birds have excellent growth rates and high disease resistance. Kadambari, Swetambari and Chitambari are the three types of Guncari birds that are commercially accessible. This bird may survive in any agro climatic environment because it is hardy. More complex and costly housing is not necessary. It can forage quite well and eats any non-traditional feed that isn’t used to feed chickens. It can withstand mycotoxin more easily. Eggs with hard shells break less easily and keep better for longer. Low in cholesterol and high in vitamins is the meat of guinea fowls.
The demand for guinea fowl has been rising significantly. Young guineas have been used in place of game birds like grouse, partridge, quail, and pheasant because their meat is soft and has a particularly excellent flavor, similar to that of wild game. The taste of guinea fowl is comparable to that of other game birds, and its multiple nutritional benefits make it a valuable complement to any diet. With 134 kcal (calories) per 100 grams, it is the second most calorically dense food after turkey (which has 109 kcal). Rich in vital fatty acids, the meat is lean.
Guinea fowls: why raise them
The reasons are numerous. Due to its loud, harsh cry and aggressive nature, the guinea has been utilized to keep the farm flock safe from the perpetrators. Insects are a major source of food for wild guineas; hence their use in lowering insect populations in gardens and other areas of the house has grown in popularity. This is especially true because, in contrast to chickens, they rarely scratch the ground and cause minimal harm to the garden. Recently, the deer tick population, which is linked to Lyme disease, has been reduced by the employment of guineas. Because of their distinctive ornamental appeal, other people raise them.
The Pearl, White, and Lavender are the three main types of helmeted guinea fowls. There may be some wattles, but the head and neck are naked. Compared to the female, the male guinea’s wattles are significantly bigger. The Pearl is the most well-known and widely used kind. The pearl’s feathers are frequently utilized for ornamental reasons, and its purplish-gray plumage is sometimes speckled or “pealed” with white spots. The White Guinea, sometimes known as African White, is the next most popular variety. Compared to the other two species, the White Guinea has paler skin and pure-white feathers.
Principles of Guinea Fowl Management
Guineas need lots of space and a dry atmosphere. Due to their exceptional running skills, guinea fowls utilize this technique instead of flying to avoid predators. Space is usually not an issue because most people raise guineas with the understanding that they will be released once they reach adulthood. If you plan to confine your birds for an extended period of time, make sure they have a minimum of two to three square feet each inside and as much space outside as feasible. Their likelihood of experiencing excessive stress decreases with the amount of space they have. Once they have reached adult size and are fully feathered, guineas can withstand weather extremes quite well.
Guineas can only be kept in covered pens since they may fly from a very young age. Adults frequently grumble about everything they see while roosting 20 to 30 feet above the ground. Strong flyers, they frequently travel 400–500 feet at a time when circling the farm, particularly if they are disturbed. Depending on your latitude and local weather patterns, the laying season will change. The lighter colors often have the shortest laying season, whereas pearl and purple typically have the longest.
The environment and housing
The health and productivity of guinea fowls depend on having an ideal living environment. Key factors for housing and the environment include the following:
Requirements for Space
Due to their busy lifestyle, guinea fowls need a lot of room to roam. In addition to more outdoor room for free-ranging, give each bird in the coop at least two to three square feet. Proper ventilation is essential for avoiding respiratory problems. Make sure there is adequate airflow in the coop without creating drafts.
Perches
Nighttime is when guinea fowls choose to roost. For their normal behavior, provide stable perches at varying heights. Disease prevention and general well-being can be achieved by keeping the surroundings clean and well-ventilated.
Taking Care of Adult Guinea fowl
Adult guineas are best to buy if you are buying them to control ticks and insects because they are little maintenance and thrive on their own. All you really need to raise them is clean water and a standard chicken laying mash. They like a small amount of scratch feed scattered on the ground and mixed in with their feed. In the summer, your birds will consume relatively little if they are free to roam around. They will spend more time consuming insects if you limit their feed during the summer.
Feeding of Guinea fowl
Keets require a protein ration of 24% to 26%, such as game bird feed or turkey starter. To prevent possible issues with keets becoming over-medicated, it is advised to use an unmedicated feed. For weeks five through eight, cut the protein to roughly 18% to 20%. They will then thrive on ordinary laying mush, which typically contains 16% protein. To obtain the right protein mix, combine the higher protein feed with laying mash if you are unable to locate feed with varying protein contents. The guineas’ natural diet is a combination of seeds and insects that are heavy in protein. Your birds will typically eat enough on their own if they have a lot of space to roam, but you can teach them to stay nearer to home by giving them extra food in a consistent spot. Although they perform well on ordinary poultry mash or crumbles, guineas require a higher protein diet than chickens. Instead of pelleted feed, it is advised that they be fed simply mash or crumbles. It has been shown that they truly enjoy wheat, milo and millet and will clean out every kernel, but they will not consume much extra feed if they are finding plenty to eat on their own. Give whole or cracked grains only as a treat or supplement, though, and in moderation. The fat content is too high and the protein content is too low to be very useful. They won’t pay attention to full corn kernels and don’t like the bigger grains. Ensure that clean water is available to them. Keets should only be given warm water! They have a poor tolerance for cold water.
Sexing of Guinea fowl
One of the most frequently asked topics concerning guineas are how to distinguish between hens and cocks. You can’t sight-sexe young guineas like you can other poultry or birds. With the exception of certain more recent hues where the hens are darker, the hens and cocks have the same appearance as both keets and adults. The hen makes a two-syllable sound that is the only accurate means to distinguish between the sexes. Some have compared this sound to “buckwheat, buckwheat,” “put-rock, put-rock,” or “qua-track, qua-track.” The rooster doesn’t produce this sound, but the hen does. At 6 to 8 weeks, the young birds begin to make these noises, however some hens do not begin calling until much later.
Fig. Male and female guinea fowl
Mating / Sex Ratio
Guinea fowls mate in pairs in the wild. If there are an equal number of males and females among domesticated guineas, this propensity also exists. Pairs of guineas will stray in search of secret nesting locations as the mating season draws near. However, having an equal number of men and females is not required to produce viable eggs. One male is typically kept for every four to five females in the majority of flocks.
One male may mate with six to eight females when the guineas are housed in close quarters.
The Production of Eggs
In March or April, guineas typically begin laying, and they may do so until October.
A well-managed flock may have hens that lay 100 eggs or more annually. Breeders often have two or three years of good production. In small farm flocks, they can be raised for four to five years. Hens typically lay around thirty eggs in these flocks before brooding. With their enormous golden yolks and surprisingly tough shells, the eggs have a strong flavor. Their richness compensates for their reduced size compared to regular chicken eggs, which is more like bantam size.
Knowing about guinea fowl eggs
There are various ways in which guinea fowl eggs differ from chicken eggs:
Thick Shells: The thicker shells of guinea fowl eggs make them more durable, but they also take more work to hatch.
Smaller Size: Compared to chicken eggs, these eggs are typically smaller, which may have an impact on their market value and culinary applications. Despite their differences, guinea fowl eggs are equally as nutritious as chicken eggs and can be utilized in a variety of culinary applications.
Incubation of Guinea fowl eggs
The incubation period for guinea eggs is 26 to 28 days, and it can be compared to the incubation period for turkeys and hen eggs. Guinea eggs can be hatched from broody chicks, if they are available. A huge chicken hen can hold 20 to 28 guinea eggs, but a typical bantam may hold 12 to 15 eggs. Not all guinea fowl are good mothers. A large chicken may raise up to 25 guinea keets, and chicken hens are often far better moms.
Advantages of guinea fowl egg for health
Rich in Protein: Guinea fowl eggs are a good source of protein, which is essential for building and repairing muscles, tissues, and organs. With 13.7 grams of protein per egg, guinea fowl eggs are an excellent addition to any diet.
Rich in Vitamins: Guinea hen eggs are a good source of several essential vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. While vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, hair, and eyesight, vitamin B12 is required for the production of red blood cells and maintaining normal neural function. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and the immune system overall.
Packed with minerals
Many essential minerals, such as iron, zinc, and selenium, are abundant in guinea fowl eggs.
Heart health
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in guinea fowl eggs, have been shown to lower inflammation and enhance heart health. Triglycerides, blood pressure, and heart health have all been demonstrated to be improved by omega-3 fatty acids.
Guinea Meat
The meat of guinea fowl is considered a delicacy and is the reason they are frequently kept. They have a softer, slightly gamey flavor than pheasants, and a mature guinea fowl may serve four people. Recipes for poultry are a better option than those for chicken because of the propensity for dryness.
Management of health
Regular observation and preventative actions are necessary to maintain the health of guinea fowls. Here are some pointers for managing your health:
Vaccinations: To guard against common poultry diseases, adhere to a vaccination regimen.
Control of Parasites: Take the necessary precautions to keep both internal and external parasites under control.
Observation: Pay careful attention to any indications of disease or suffering in the birds. Diseases can be stopped from spreading by early detection and treatment. Keeping up a proactive strategy to health care will guarantee your guinea fowls’ wellbeing.
Maintaining Guinea Fowls with Chickens
Guinea fowls can be aggressive against other poultry and are not very tolerant of strangers.
It appears that they also specifically target cockerels. They may keep the victim away from the food and be tenacious in their pursuit. A friend who keeps both hens and guineas on her farm has reported no issues, but it is experienced and has heard similar accounts from others. It’s probably preferable to give the guineas their own space unless they have been well-integrated. However, some individuals raise guinea fowl and hens in the same home.
The socio-economic aspects of the production of Guinea fowls
In addition to boosting household income, guinea fowl are significant in the socio-cultural life of the populace. In the rural backyard system of poultry production, the guinea fowls are mostly raised by subsistence farmers from the country’s rural regions.
Conclusion
Any poultry farm would benefit from the inclusion of guinea fowls. These birds are renowned for their resilience and unusual habits and their management presents both advantages and difficulties. Although there are several differences that set guinea fowl apart from chickens, maintaining these birds is generally similar. Comprehending these distinctions is essential for efficient management and optimizing output. A combination of expertise, meticulousness and initiative are needed to manage guinea fowls.
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