Guinea Fowl Flashcards
What wild game are young guineas substituted for in restaurants?
Grouse, partridge, quail, and pheasants
About how many guineas were raised in 1939?
About 1 million
How many guineas were raised in 1954?
About 1/4 million
Where is the highest demand for guineas?
Large cities on the east coast
What are baby guineas called?
Keets
Where are wild guineas found?
Africa
Where do guineas get there name from?
A country on the west coast of Africa called guinea
What are the 3 main breeds of guineas found in the US today?
Pearl, white, and lavender
What did the Greeks and Romans use guineas for?
Table birds
What are the most valuable breeds of guineas?
Pearl, and white
What are the pearl guinea feathers used for?
Ornamental purposes
True or false chickens and guineas can cross breed?
True
Instead of having a comb like chickens, what do guineas have?
A bump on their head called a helmet
How long does it take for the helmet to appear?
About 2 months
True or false, there is no standard for guineas?
True
At full grown how much do guineas weight?
3- 3 1/2 lbs
What is a common defect in guineas?
White flight feathers
What sound does a female guinea make?
Buckwheat, buckwheat
What makes guineas useful on small farms?
Protect the flock and eat insects
What sound do both male and female guineas make when there excited?
A one syllable shriek
What’s a male guinea called?
A cock
What’s a female guinea called?
A hen
True or false, wild and domesticated guineas breed in pairs?
True
What dose it mean to pinion a guinea or chicken?
To clip off the last joint on the wing
What is the best age to pinion a guinea?
1-2 weeks
What’s the difference between a pinioned wing or clipping the primaries?
When a guinea is pinioned its permanent and just clipping the primaries is temporary
What percent of protein to guineas need during laying season?
22-24%
How long before breeding season should you feed guineas the higher protein rations
1 month
How many eggs can a guinea lay per year?
About 100
How many eggs will a guinea lay before she goes broody?
Roughly 30
What does it mean when a bird goes broody?
When they try to hatch eggs
When do guineas generally start laying?
March or April
What temperature should you keep guinea eggs?
55 degrees
How long should you keep guinea eggs?
1-2 weeks
How much do guinea eggs weigh?
1.4 ounces
How long is the incubation period for guineas?
26-28 days
How many eggs can a guinea brood?
12-15 guinea eggs
How many eggs can a normal sized chicken brood?
20-28 guinea eggs
What two types of incubators can be used to hatch guineas?
Forces draft and still air
What temperature and humidity is need to hatch guineas in a forced air incubator?
99.5-99.7 degrees and 57-58% humidity
What temperature and humidity is needed to hatch guineas In a still air incubator
102-103 degrees and 57-58% humidity
How many times a day should the eggs be turned (for any bird)
At least 4-5 times a day
What is the best foster mother for a keet?
Chicken
Why don’t guineas make good parents?
They might take the keets through tall wet grass or travel too fast for the keets
How long should the guinea and keets be confined to the coop after the keets hatch?
2-3 days
How many keets will a normal sized chicken brood?
25 keets
True or false, you can train a guinea to live in the coop?
True, guineas can be trained to live in and lay eggs in the coop with the help of chickens
How warm do keets need to be to survive there first week?
95-100 degrees
What can guineas be fed at 6 weeks of age?
A grower rations or grain
How old are guineas when there sold for market?
16-18 weeks
How many hens will a domestic guinea breed in in normal conditions? (tighter confinement)
4-5 or if very confined 6-8 hens
