Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Guinea Fowl

Guinea Fowl provide one of the most enjoyable and practical additions to a smallholding or backyard poultry collection. While not the prettiest, these distinctive birds offer numerous benefits including excellent natural pest control, natural alarm systems, and delicious eggs and meat. This guide will walk you through responsible ownership and care tips to enjoy the fullest from your guinea flock.

1. Why Choose Guinea Fowl for Your Smallholding?

Originating from West Africa, Guinea Fowl have thrived as poultry since their introduction to Europe in the 16th century. They are wonderfully hardy birds with a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Known as the "guard dogs" of the poultry world, they are alert, noisy, and excellent at warning of predators or strangers. Their passion for foraging means they act as natural pest controllers, devouring ticks, worms, and other pests, helping to keep your homestead healthy and reducing chemical use.

Guinea Fowl eggs are prized for their rich taste and their meat is a lean, low-fat alternative often likened to pheasant. Furthermore, unlike chickens, guinea fowl do not scratch up garden beds, making them less destructive to plants.

Responsible ownership means understanding their noise levels and space requirements, ensuring they are a good fit for your environment and neighbours.

2. Housing Your Guinea Fowl

These birds can share a coop similar to that used for chickens but require more perch space—higher is better. If you are not allowing them free range, provide a spacious run with a minimum of 2 square metres per bird. Because guinea fowl are excellent flyers and can easily clear fences over six feet, wing clipping on one side is a simple measure to keep them contained while ensuring they can still fly short distances safely.

3. Feeding Guinea Fowl for Health and Vitality

Feed guinea fowl similarly to chickens. Start chicks on starter crumbs for the first six weeks, transition to grower pellets until about four months of age, then move onto layers mash or a mixed corn diet. They should always have ad-lib access to fresh water.

They particularly enjoy worms and grubs, including nutrient-rich dried mealy worms offered as treats. A simple gut health booster is adding apple cider vinegar to water a few times weekly. Ensure feeding practices support their natural foraging behaviour and nutritional needs.

4. Breeding Guinea Fowl Successfully

Breeding guinea fowl parallels that of chickens. You can incubate eggs at the same humidity settings as chicken eggs, but note that hatching takes 25 to 26 days rather than chicken's 21 days. If you have a broody hen, she can also incubate the eggs.

Chicks require warmth under a heat lamp for six weeks then should be gradually introduced to the main flock within separate runs to prevent conflicts.

5. Health and Disease Prevention

Guinea Fowl are generally hardy and less prone to diseases than other poultry, but they remain vulnerable to common poultry parasites such as red mites, lice, worms, and other insects. Regular physical checks of birds and bedding are essential.

Treat infestations promptly with suitable products from reputable suppliers or your vet. Maintain cleanliness with weekly coop cleaning using disinfectants like Jeyes fluid and have purple spray handy for injuries.

6. Managing Their Noise and Behaviour

Guinea Fowl are loud and vocal, serving effectively as natural alarms. However, their calls can be challenging in areas with close neighbours. Their personality is distinct and strong, which may not blend well with other poultry if quickly introduced. Slow, careful introductions reduce territorial aggression.

7. Essential Supplies for Guinea Fowl Care

• Apple cider vinegar for gut health
• Red mite powder for parasite control
• Jeyes fluid for regular coop cleaning
• Purple spray for treating minor injuries
• Effective poultry wormer such as Flubenvet to prevent parasitic infections and egg quality issues

8. Responsible Ownership and Ethical Considerations

Choosing young guinea fowl to handle from an early age helps them become accustomed to humans and reduces aggressive behaviour. Always introduce new birds gradually into existing flocks to prevent conflict and stress.

Purchase from reputable breeders or consider local rescues when possible, promoting ethical breeding practices and animal welfare. Learn about local regulations on keeping poultry and ensure your guinea fowl are housed in conditions that allow them to thrive.

Conclusion

Keeping Guinea Fowl combines practical benefits like natural pest control and alarm calls with the joy of their lively presence. By understanding their specific housing, feeding, breeding, and health care needs, you can ensure these fascinating birds live happy, healthy lives while enriching your backyard or smallholding environment.

Remember, responsible ownership and careful introduction to other poultry help maintain harmony in your flock and neighbourhood. Guinea Fowl are indeed a rewarding, if noisy, companion that bring both utility and character to your home.