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Sci Tech
Robust and resilient bird for small farmers
By Our Agriculture Correspondent
The fearless guinea fowl is ideal for raising in small farms as a free-ranging bird.
GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris) is a hardy bird with wider adaptability, and it could be an ideal bird for the small farmers in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The bird, somewhat larger than average scavenger-type chickens, can thrive under semi-intensive conditions foraging well and it requires very little attention.
Adult birds weigh about 2.5 kg each, and they have dark-grey feathers with small white spots. The heads of these birds are bare with a bony ridge called "helmet" on top. This gives them a look of a vulture at times. Their short tail feathers usually slope downwards. The chicks of guinea fowl are called "keets", and they resemble young quails. They are brown striped with red beaks and legs. The sexes are indistinguishable until eight weeks of age.
After eight weeks of growth, the larger helmets and wattles of the males and their distinguishable cries become distinct. With these features the sexes can be easily differentiated. Though, both the sexes give a one-syllable shriek, the females also have the capability to make a two-syllable call.
Guinea fowl are mostly raised as a free-ranging birds. The birds are generally allowed to fend for themselves. They find most of their feed by scratching around villages and farmyards. The cost of production is negligible, and they yield food and provide a regular income for the subsistence farmers. In Europe, they are raised on commercial scale in large batteries with artificial insemination, artificial lighting, and on special diets.
Guinea fowl originates from the grasslands and woodlands of Africa, especially the southern Saharan region, and they have inherent ability to adapt well to heat and cold. However, in cooler regions, they will not be able to lay eggs until temperatures exceed 15 degrees Celsius. Among the popular domesticated guinea fowl types are pearl, white, royal purple and lavender. Pearl is the most common, and is probably the first type to be developed from the wild West African birds. Its handsome feathers are often used for ornamental purposes.
Guinea fowl feed on different kinds of food such as grains, leaves, ant eggs and even carrion. They are good foragers. Normally, they lay their first egg at about 18 weeks of age. Guinea hens lay continuously until adverse weather sets in. Free-ranging domesticated guinea hen can lay up to 60 eggs a season. Under sound management in intensive-rearing systems, the birds can lay close to 200 eggs each in a year. The eggs weigh about 40 g each. The shells are stronger than those of chicken eggs, and are usually brown but also can be white or tinted. The eggs hatch in 27 days. The eggs are best hatched in incubators or under other birds, as the guinea hens are regarded "the worst parents in the world". In many African countries, the eggs are hatched under chickens.
The keets are often kept indoors until they are 3-4 weeks old to protect them from predators and wet weather. Once they are established, they need very little water and attention. It is almost as easily raised as chickens and turkeys and it is a most useful all-round farm bird. Although, guinea fowls live in groups, they are monogamous by nature and tend to bond in pairs. However, in domestication a single male may serve four or more females. The birds can be kept in confinement just as chickens, where it performs the best. But it requires housing, equipment and skilled labour. They birds can also be kept in a semi-domestic state in and around the farmyard. In such cases, they are penned until they are 12 weeks old.
In the early stages, they will be unaccustomed to foraging for natural food, and they will constantly return to artificial feed. Gradually, they will be guided by their natural instincts to subsist by scavenging. The sexual maturity of the birds can be delayed as late as 32 weeks of age
Guinea fowl are good "watch animals". They are endowed with sharp eyesight and a harsh cry. They will shriek at the slightest provocation. Their agitation on sighting dogs, foxes, hawks or other predators have saved the lives of many a chicken, duck and turkey. They are brave and will attack even large animals that threaten them. These valuable birds are regarded as best friends of the farmers as they help in pest-proofing the farms. They devour the larvae and adults of several insect pests, and also nibble the tender weeds in the field.
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