The chickens of the royal bird, popularly also known as the guinea fowl, are rarely kept in households, since many believe that they require special conditions of detention and special feeding. Some are even sure that it is necessary to feed the chickens with pineapples. However, their diet is not particularly different from ordinary chickens, as well as the conditions of detention, as can be seen later.
What kind of bird is this?
The king bird is a rather exotic individual, which is a kind of mixture of turkey and chicken. It has an oval and elongated trunk, a short neck, a small and light head, on which there are specific growths, which makes the bird look like a turkey.
The birthplace of guinea fowl is considered to be Africa and Madagascar, where some of their wild species still live. They were first brought to Ancient Greece in ancient times, where their domestication began. In addition, historians found documents of Portuguese travelers, which confirm that guinea fowls were re-introduced to Europe in the 15th century, which contributed to their more active distribution.
Today, guinea fowl are bred at home, because they are valued for high productivity: adult females weigh 2 kg on average, and males weigh 3 kg. As for egg production, it is average - during the year one female can lay 120 eggs.
Separately, it is worth noting that representatives of this breed do not require special conditions of detention and can be bred in any climatic conditions, since they are the only of all species of birds that can withstand temperatures of -55 ° C. In addition, guinea fowls are characterized by strong immunity and are not susceptible to many diseases that threaten chickens and quails.
Guinea fowl chickens will not become a problem for chickens or quails, as they are friendly, have a complaisant character and do not recapture their territory. In addition, farmers can not worry about their crops, because unlike chickens, guinea fowls will not peck berries and delve into the beds.
Why is it worth getting chicken guinea fowl?
The content of guinea fowl chickens will allow you to get a delicious meat that contains 95 amino acids, due to which it is considered especially useful for pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Unlike chicken, it tastes like game - pheasants or partridges. In this regard, the main buyers of the royal bird are various restaurants that serve dishes with guinea fowl meat as game.
Particularly noteworthy are guinea fowl eggs, which are more useful not only for chicken, but also for quail eggs. They are hypoallergenic and are valued for the following characteristics:
- contain a large amount of dry matter, vitamins, amino acids and trace elements;
- rich in protein (12.8 g per 100 g of product), which has a bactericidal effect and is part of the preparations for the eyes, from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- incorporate lysozyme - a natural antibacterial enzyme that destroys the cell walls of microorganisms;
- have a dense shell with a minimum number of pores;
- remain usable for 6 months when stored in the refrigerator;
- rarely cause an allergic reaction and cause salmonella infection.
Despite all the benefits of guinea fowl eggs, their consumption is quite limited, due to the low prevalence of this bird in homesteads and industrial farms.
It is worth noting that the cultivation of guinea fowl is a waste-free production, because even their feathers can be realized in natural or colored form. The point of sale is jewelry accessories stores. The fact is that guinea fowl feathers, unlike chicken, duck or goose, are very beautiful, therefore they are used in the production of earrings, pendants, amulets and other jewelry. Of course, they can also be put into the production of blankets and other feather products.
Buying young animals
Guinea fowl cultivation begins with the purchase of young animals. This question requires a competent approach - from the choice of breed to the ability to correctly determine the gender of the chicken.
Popular representatives
Having decided to get chickens of a royal bird, you should get acquainted with its various representatives, which differ in body mass and egg production. In general, there are more than 20 breeds that weigh 1.8 kg on average and bring up to 130 eggs per year. The most common birds in our latitudes can be found below:
Paroda | Body weight (kg) | Egg production (pieces per season) | Egg mass (g) | |
Females | Male | |||
Speckled gray | 1,7 | 1,6 | 85-90 | 45 |
Siberian white | 1,9-2 | 1,6-1,8 | 100-110 | 40-45 |
Zagorsk white-breasted | 1,8-1,9 | 1,7-1,8 | 120-140 | up to 50 |
Cream | 1,6 | 1,7 | up to 90 | 40-45 |
Blue | 1,5-1,6 | 1,4-1,5 | 80-100 | 40-45 |
Place and time of purchase
You can buy chickens in specialized poultry farms. To ensure that the origin, state of health and productivity of guinea fowls is not in doubt, when buying, you should carefully read the veterinary certificate, which must contain all the information about the bird being bought.
Experienced farmers recommend buying chickens in the spring - in early April and mid-May. It is best to choose chickens at the age of 24, because it is during this period that these timid birds will transfer transportation to a new place of residence less painfully for themselves. If older chicks are bought, then during their transportation it will be necessary to use special containers. If the transportation is long, it is also worth taking care of feed and water.
If the breeder is planning year-round breeding of birds, then you need to buy at least 30 individuals in order to be able to correctly sort the bird in the future and choose the largest guinea fowl for further breeding.
Assessment of chickens and determination of their gender
Having selected the chicks, whose age is 1 day, attention should be paid to their appearance and behavior:
- fluff, which during this period replaces the future plumage, smooth and soft;
- wings tightly pressed to the body;
- buttocks and wings are clean;
- tummy tucked up;
- paws are strong, so the chicks move confidently and stand on their feet;
- chickens are mobile and lively to respond to sounds.
To identify the gender of the chicken, you should pay attention to the following parameters:
- The size and color of the growth over the beak. In males, it is quite pronounced and has a red color, and in females it is barely noticeable and painted in pale pink.
- The structure of the head and beak. In females, the beak is small and graceful, and they keep the head straight. In males, the beak is thicker and more massive, with a well-visible growth and a curved crest. Their head on a long neck is always stretched forward.
- Beak Earrings. In females they are tender and small, and in males they are fleshy and large. It is worth noting that over the years guinea fowl also grow large earrings.
- Posture. Caesars, like roosters, stand out in a pack posture. When they walk, it is important to raise their tail and head, but the females behave more modestly.
- Behavior. Males often crack for any reason, but females are calmer and just shout “ooh.”
The breeder will tell about his methods of distinguishing a female from a male in guinea fowls in his video below:
Experienced breeders to determine the sex of an individual recommend carefully taking the chick and gently open its cesspool. If there is a small tubercle, then this is the male.
Chicken Conditions
If you do not observe the correct conditions of detention and do not provide individuals with proper care, then even a healthy chicken will not be able to grow into a full-fledged guinea fowl. What needs to be done to create the necessary conditions for the harmonious growth and development of the bird, we will find out further.
Growing place
Chickens need a clean, dry and heated room. To provide them with such conditions, farmers practice two ways of growing them:
- On a deep litter. In the “laying” version, the room should be divided into sections using high metal nets so that the chickens do not fly over to each other. The cells in the grid should be made small so that the young growth does not break the legs. As a floor covering, you need to use a thick layer of natural materials - sawdust, peat or straw. The optimal height of such a layer is about 10 cm. The litter should often be changed, since chickens are extremely active and mobile, which contributes to the dustiness of the room.
In the winter season, the litter can not be changed, but it will need to be cleaned and supplemented with a new layer to increase the thermal component.
- In a cage. The content of guinea fowl in the cage is carried out according to the chicken principle, and this option is more acceptable for chickens. Of course, much attention should be paid to the choice of cells. It should be wooden or metal mesh. Chickens up to 20 days old must be kept in cages whose dimensions do not exceed 10 mm. Large gaps are unacceptable, otherwise chickens can stick their heads into them and suffer. As litter for the cell, you can use shavings or burlap.
Regardless of where the chickens are raised - in sections or cages, the number of individuals per 1 sq. m should not exceed 20 goals.
Inventory selection
Regardless of where they are kept, chicks should have unhindered access to feeders and drinkers. When choosing an inventory, it should be taken into account that it must meet the following requirements:
- have sides so that the contents of the dishes do not splash out when the wind is blowing, the activity of the chickens is near the dishes, etc.
- have a lid that can be used to cover the tank in snowy and inclement weather;
- have such a design that large individuals could not get to food and water;
- positioned at least 1.5 m above the ground to protect the food from rodents.
The optimal size of the tanks depends on the number of heads: the larger the area of the feeders and drinking bowls, the greater the number of chickens you can feed and drink.
Place the dishes on the south side so that its contents are always at the optimum temperature.
Temperature and humidity
In the room where the chickens are kept, the temperature should not be less than 14 ° C. In this case, the temperature regime must be adjusted depending on the age of the chickens:
- during the first 3 days of life, the chicks should be in a room where the temperature is kept near 34-35 ° C;
- from 4 to 10 days, the room temperature must be lowered to 30-31 ° C;
- starting from day 11, it is necessary to gradually lower the temperature, taking into account the fact that for monthly individuals, a temperature of about 15 ° C is comfortable.
As for the humidity in the room, it should be about 60-70%. If this indicator is higher, this indicates a low temperature in the room and active evaporation of water. Therefore, if the temperature is high, then the humidity is low, which negatively affects the condition of the birds.
What should be the temperature and humidity indicators in the room depends on the age of the chickens. The optimal values are presented in the table:
Age days | Room temperature, ° C | Heater temperature, ° C | Humidity% |
1-5 | 30 | 31-32 | 60-65 |
6-10 | 25 | 28-30 | 60-70 |
11-15 | 22 | 25-27 | 60-70 |
16-20 | 20 | 21-24 | 60-70 |
21-30 | 15-18 | 20 | 60-70 |
Lighting
Through the optic nerve, light stimulates the hypothalamus - the upper part of the brain, which is the highest center of regulation of endocrine functions and the autonomic nervous system, therefore it regulates the bird's body temperature, blood pressure, water-salt and fat metabolism. So, for the normal development of chickens, it is required to maintain a comfortable daylight hours, the duration of which also depends on the age of the individuals:
- For day-old chicks, the optimal daylight hours are 24 hours.
- After 3 weeks, you can gradually reduce the daylight hours by 60 minutes, so that by 5 months of guinea fowl it was 8 hours.
- With the achievement of guinea fowl 6 months, the light regime needs to be increased again. To do this, you will need to light the room 60 minutes longer every 7 days. You will need to stop when daylight hours reach 14 hours.
- Then illuminate the room for about 17 hours, adjusting the light mode depending on the natural conditions outside the window.
It should be noted that the rules of lighting change somewhat if it is planned to raise guinea fowl to obtain hatching eggs. In this case, the room cannot be lit for more than 15 hours. You need to add hours to young growth only after they grow and get stronger. This usually occurs at the age of 7 months.
If there is not enough natural light, daylight hours can be extended to the desired indicators in any way possible, but in any case, these manipulations must be carried out systematically and at the same time.
Disinfection
To prevent infection of guinea fowl with various infectious, viral and fungal diseases, they must be kept clean. To do this, the room 1 time per day must be disinfected using special means:
- Monclavite;
- Bactericide;
- Virocid.
To freshen the air in the house, you can use a solution of chlorine-turpentine, for the preparation of which it is recommended to mix turpentine and bleach in a ratio of 1 to 4. This composition has an exothermic reaction in air, due to which the particles of both components evaporate. For 1 square. m room should take 0.5 ml of turpentine and 2 g of lime. Apply this composition once a day and with working ventilation.
To always be clean in the house, every day you need to change the litter. In addition, regularly need to change the water in the drinkers so that it is always clean and fresh.
Feather trimming
Guinea fowl fly well, so you need to trim the brushes of their wings so that they do not disappear from the yard. This procedure should be carried out in the evening, and at the same time with all young animals. If the trimming of feathers is carried out only in one individual, it should be temporarily set aside from other birds.
The pruning itself is carried out using scissors or a hot knife according to the following instructions:
- With the selected tool, in one motion, cut off the upper phalanx of one wing (see the picture below).
- Treat the wound with brilliant green, iodine or hydrogen peroxide.
After this procedure, the birds usually gather in a heap and fall asleep without peeling the wound. For this reason, pruning should be done in the evening.
Inexperienced breeders believe that this method of trimming is dangerous, since it involves the use of cutting scissors or a hot knife. In fact, there is nothing dangerous, because in the first days of life, guinea fowls practically do not respond to pain.
When the chickens grow up, they will not be able to fly on one full wing. Moreover, such pruning minimally affects the appearance of the bird.
Chicken Feeding Rules
Guinea fowl, like other poultry, need to be fed immediately after birth. For them to develop correctly, it will be necessary to correctly compile their diet. It needs to be adjusted depending on the age of the bird.
Number of meals
During the first 15 days, the chicks need to be fed up to 10 times a day. In the future, the number of meals should be gradually reduced so that the monthly chickens feed up to 2 times a day. It should be noted that young animals quickly absorb food, so they should give food in moderate portions, using oblong-shaped feeders.
Diet of weekly and monthly chickens
At this age, birds need a more balanced diet, but they are not as whimsical as newborns. Their daily diet is better adjusted in this way:
- wheat bran - 1.83 g;
- ground corn - 1.83 g;
- oat flour - 1.83 g;
- fish meal - 1 g;
- boiled eggs - 1.4 g;
- yogurt - 5 g;
- greens - 6.7 g.
Guinea fowls are shy, so you can not make noise near the house and feed in the presence of unauthorized persons. In a fit of panic, birds can even choke themselves.
What to feed?
In the diet of guinea fowl chickens you need to include such products as:
- Wheat groats. It contains fiber, which contributes to the normal functioning of the bird’s stomach. At first, it must be given in crushed form and after steaming with boiling water or hot milk. As soon as the cereal swells and becomes soft, the liquid must be drained. To give ready porridge to chickens in small portions.
- Crushed eggs. It is possible to introduce chicks into the diet immediately after birth, since the diet of newborns should be 25% raw protein. Before giving eggs to guinea fowls, they need to be boiled and carefully chopped. If desired, they can be mixed with bread crumbs.
- Yogurt or whey. Chicks, whose age is 7 days or more, can be given sour milk or serum. On its basis, you can also cook mixers with cereals or chopped herbs.
- Fish fillet. Animal food can be given to chicks of any age, since it contributes to the growth of their feathers and positively affects the life of the whole organism, saturating it with proteins and fatty acids. It is important to note that chickens can only be given fish after heat treatment. In addition, all bones must first be removed from it, otherwise the chicken may be seriously injured.
- Greenery. Actively introduced into the diet of poultry from 7 days of age. Fresh grass can be given to them only after finely chopped. The most useful for guinea fowl are:
- clover - compensates for the lack of protein in the body;
- alfalfa - positively affects the eyesight of the bird, as it is rich in vitamin A;
- dandelion - saturates the body of an individual with the necessary vitamins;
- cabbage leaves - useful due to the high content of minerals and nutrients.
Experienced breeders note that guinea fowl are very useful birds on the farm, as they actively eat Colorado beetles and other insects that like to attack the garden in the summer.
Diet of newborn birds
The optimal daily diet of a chicken after birth is as follows:
- wheat bran - 1 g;
- ground corn - 1 g;
- oat flour - 1 g;
- boiled eggs - 1.2 g;
- yogurt - 3 g;
- greens - 2 g.
How to walk?
Hens are unpretentious regarding walking, but unlike them, guinea fowls are quite demanding in this matter, as they are active birds, they love freedom and fresh air. They can withstand minus temperatures, but letting them out for a walk is worth the onset of heat when the air temperature reaches 17-24 ° C. In addition, you can walk chickens at least 2-3 months old.
During walking guinea fowls learn to independently get their own food and eat various larvae, worms and beetles that live in the ground. It is desirable that there are small bushes or tall grass on the site, so that the bird feels itself in the natural environment.
Is it possible to keep together with chickens?
Almost all modern farms contain chickens, so poultry farmers often ask whether guinea fowl can be kept with them. Both individuals belong to the order Kuroobrazny, so they get along well with each other in the same house and can be kept together.
Benefits
Here are the main advantages of such a neighborhood:
- If both birds are raised to produce quality meat, they need the same feeding. So, in their diet should be cereal, wet mash, vegetables, herbs, vitamin and mineral supplements. Due to the fact that they can be given the same food, the breeder does not need to spend a lot of energy on feeding them.
- Birds can be kept under the same conditions, since they equally need cleanliness, comfortable air temperature and humidity. It is important to maintain proper lighting and heating, not forgetting to control the dryness and cleanliness of the litter.
- Royal birds do not have a well-developed maternal instinct, so experienced farmers lay their eggs under a laying hen, which perfectly copes with such duties.
- If the chickens of both representatives of the Kuroobrazny keep together with the "childhood", then in the future they will get along as well as possible.
Disadvantages
Despite all the advantages, the following disadvantages should not be missed:
- Guinea fowl belong to freedom-loving individuals, therefore, for comfortable development require a lot of space. They do not tolerate crowding and cellular content. Chickens can live in cages and even in small closed houses.
- Roosters can cover not only female hens, but also guinea fowls, which leads to the appearance of hydrides that look like king birds, but have plumage of chicken, lack a crest and earrings on the head, and have a large and massive body. The hybrid is devoid of gonads, but has good health and tolerates various ailments well. It should be noted that crossing chickens and guinea fowls does not lead to the appearance of a large number of young animals.
The first hybrid from a rooster and a female guinea fowl was bred in the mid 80s of the 20th century in Sergiev Posad. Even then, scientists found that the offspring of hybrid birds is completely barren.
Content sharing rules
Before you populate two types of chicks in the chicken coop, it’s worth to hen some guinea fowls and observe their behavior. If the birds do not begin to conflict, then you can safely increase the number of royal birds. In this case, one should take into account such rules for their maintenance:
- place guinea fowl in the house at the rate of 2-3 individuals per 1 square. m floor;
- remove the most arrogant chickens from the flock so that the rest of the chickens stop behaving defiantly and get along with each other;
- to establish in the house a sufficient number of poles for resting birds and nests for hatching eggs so that birds do not quarrel with each other;
- to put in the house some special bathtubs with sand or ash, as birds like to swim and rummage in the ground;
- provide birds access to clean and fresh water.
Guinea fowls are picky about walking, so especially for them you should arrange walking, fenced with a net, whose height is at least 2 m, otherwise the chickens will fly over them and run away.
Guinea fowl breeding as a business
Novice breeders can not decide whether to engage in the business of raising guinea fowl chickens. To decide on this, you should weigh the pros and cons of this business.
The advantages of this case are:
- Guinea fowl are frost-resistant, therefore, when breeding them, additional heating will need to be provided only to young animals;
- Guinea fowl are poultry, which is less painful, rarely requires additional vaccination and special feeding;
- you need to feed the king's birds in the same way as ordinary chickens, because they are omnivorous;
- Guinea fowl chickens grow at almost the same rate as broiler chickens, but eat about 2 times less feed, which does not interfere with a good increase in meat - from 3.4 kg of feed you can get 1 kg of clean meat;
- few breeders are engaged in breeding guinea fowl, so the competition is small, which can not be said about many other types of business related to poultry farming, in particular broiler chicken;
- Guinea fowl breeding is a waste-free production, because even their feathers can be put on sale.
The listed pluses can be compared with the following disadvantages:
- Guinea fowl chickens make a lot of noise and scream loudly, especially with any threat that may come from an outsider, pets, etc.
- Guinea fowl are very active and love to fly, so they require a lot of space;
- Guinea fowl are shy individuals who cannot incubate their offspring on their own, so you will need to keep either brood hens or an incubator on the farm;
- Guinea fowl are often stressed, which mainly comes from their timidity, affects their egg production, which during stressful situations can be interrupted for 3 days.
After weighing the pros and cons, everyone can decide for themselves whether to engage in breeding guinea fowl. If this business was to your liking, special attention should be paid to the study of chickens of the royal bird, because the success of the entire business depends on their proper maintenance and feeding.