What kind of bird guinea fowl? Dilution and maintenance of guinea fowls at home

What kind of bird guinea fowl on the outside? A large, beautiful schooling bird living in the forests of Africa, in Madagascar. Later the birds were brought to ancient Greece. The pack obeys the leader, the birds spend the night in the trees.

A rare breed of birds for modern Russia has always been a decoration of the possessions of wealthy people in Europe and the fatherland. Beautiful large guinea fowls grazed on green lawns and edges, invariably returning to the feeders at the hour of the meal. In total, there are 25 species of exotic animals, but only homemade gray guinea fowl is suitable for breeding.

The ability of birds to not harm crops is used by farmers, launching a flock to gnaw colorado beetles, insects and caterpillars in the garden. Guinea fowl feathers are used to make false eyelashes.

Bird loves freedom, spacious walking. In a closed circuit, without harm to health, there may be 2 individuals per square meter. Guinea fowl - bad mothers. The incubation period is 29 days. A parent flock may consist of 6 females and one caesar. Mating takes place only on the run. Inseminated samochka 20 days carrying fertilized eggs. Suitability for laying eggs in an incubator with proper storage - 2 weeks.

At home, the breeding and maintenance of chicken hens is beneficial:

• Guinea fowl eggs are hypoallergenic and are valued on the market five times more expensive than chicken eggs,
• the individual is larger than chicken and the meat contains more hemoglobin,
• shelf life of eggs with proper storage - a year
• bird feathers are used to make decorative and artistic objects.
• An exotic bird willingly and expensively bought for keeping in a country estate.

How to organize the content of guinea fowls in the compound

For productive cultivation of guinea fowls at home, you need to purchase pedigree birds. Siberian white and zagorian white-breasted guinea fowl are popular in domestic breeding. At 3 months, the young are already gaining 1.3 kg of weight. Adults gain up to 2 kg of weight, and the female is heavier than the male.

Breeding guinea fowls at home for beginners is available for many reasons:

1. For the maintenance of the pack does not require heated space. Birds can withstand frost down to - 55 ° C, but extreme conditions should not be created.
2. Birds are well aware of their flock, kept in groups. They allocate the owner and do not be wicked. When an outsider comes in sight, they shout, thus the caretaker of the compound.
3. Guinea fowls can be let out to graze in the garden, they do not rake the ground, do not peck leaves, look for beetles and worms on the soil surface.
4. Feeding is not expensive, as half the daily norm is greens, boiled root vegetables, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin.
5. Contents in unheated rooms with dry bedding with equipped perches.

Based on the conditions of keeping guinea fowls at home, breeding them is available even at the cottage.

Birds can go for free grazing in the next woods. If they are not attracted to the pen with tasty food at night, guinea fowls settle down for the night in the trees, gradually becoming wild.

Breeding conditions

Usually, day-old chicks are acquired and grown in a brooder that replaces the mother hen. From the first day, nimble chicks are ready to fly and they immediately trim their wing tassels.

It is much more interesting to get your brood of guinea fowls and to watch the family with affection when the mother leads the little ones. However, in the environment of guinea fowls, good mothers rarely appear, and at home they will have to use an incubator to grow guinea fowls.

The parent flock should consist of several females and a male.

But the difficulty is how to distinguish the female from the male guinea fowl. They are similar, and only for small signs can a male be found. If we consider that in the parent flock it must be older, it should be selected among the chicks of the previous brood.

The search for a male in a flock of adult birds can begin with determining the weight of each individual. More often females are noticeably heavier, larger in size. This is the first, but not the only sign:

1. The structure of the head and beak of birds differs by gender. The females have a small graceful beak, it keeps the head straight. At the male, the beak is thick, with a clearly visible growth, the crest is curved, looks massively. The head on the short neck is always stretched forward.
2. Males of the Volga white and Volga cream breeds have a brighter plumage.
3. To determine the sex of chicks, you need to carefully take the chicks, gently open the cloaca, where to find a small tubercle. This is the very same.
4. Earrings under the beak of young guinea fowls are tender, while in males they are fleshy and big. Over the years, guinea fowls grow big earrings.
5. Caesars, like roosters, stand out in a pack of posture. They walk, it is important to raise the tail and head, while the females modestly peck and look for food. In this case, the males pop on every occasion, and the females pronounce: "y-a."

So, we found a male, chose 5-6 productive females in the second year of life, and you need to give them a walking distance. Indoors, these birds do not mate. Having organized the parent flock, it is necessary to store the collected eggs vertically, with a blunt end to the sky. They must be clean, as dirt clogs the pores and the embryo may not develop. It is necessary to collect masonry before 12 o'clock in the afternoon.

If among hens there was a hen, well. If not, the eggs are laid in an incubator for 29 days with technology flips. For breeding chicks need to provide increased humidity in the incubator.

Development of guinea fowls from hatching to laying

Sit down and grow up the hen can chicken or turkey. They are more caring for babies than guinea fowls. It may be a brood, but in the case of rain or danger, it only cares about itself. If the brood was entrusted to a bird, then it is necessary to organize a kindergarten. In the middle of walking they put a temporary house - shelter from the weather and at night for the family. There are perches, feed is brought there. A mother with a brood takes care of the first few days, until the czar's will acquire a herd reflex and will determine the caregiver as the leader.

If babies are kept in a brooder, then it is necessary to organize the proper lighting, feeding, ensure the heat. The first 3 months of chicks fed on a special diet. Fresh water should always be in the drinking bowl, and in a separate feeding bowl or in bulk - gravel and shells.

Brooder temperature should be:

• first 3 days - 36 0 С,
• from 4 to 10 days - 30 C,
• from 11 to 20 days - 27 C,
• later not lower than 18 C.

Up to three months of coverage should be around the clock, then every week shorten the day by an hour, up to 5 months. Then again they add weekly by the hour, irrespective of the season, creating illumination in the house for 17 hours.

Guinea fowl eggs have unique qualities. Protein has bactericidal properties, is used in the composition of drugs for the eyes, from diseases of the digestive tract. Meat contains 95 amino acids and is useful for pregnant women, childbirth, and people weakened by diseases.

Under such conditions, females become sexually mature at six months of age. The time of active clutch is commensurate with the biological cycle of reproduction of the offspring.

Guinea fowls begin to lay eggs actively when the weather is favorable for breeding.

The clutch begins in February, but males begin mating only in March. The peak of activity occurs when the air temperature is 17-20 C and the duration of natural light is 14 hours.

To breed livestock guinea fowl is not more difficult than other poultry. Guineafowl meat is valued, the average cost per kilogram is 400 rubles. The production is waste-free, even the feather of guinea fowers is used in art workshops, and not for stuffing pillows.

general description

In appearance, guinea fowls somehow resemble humpback chickens with a small head and a rounded body. The short tail of this bird is directed downwards, and the plumage is thick. One of the characteristic features of guinea fowls is the presence of horny growth on the head. The legs of this bird are thick, powerful and durable. Wings chickens guinea fowls taken to prune at an early age. The fact is that these birds are able to fly.

As you can see, the guinea fowl (bird) is very unusual and interesting. Male and female look very similar, and so much so that inexperienced poultry farmers often cannot accurately determine the sex of a bird. However, it is still possible to distinguish between females and males of guinea fowl. The latter behave more actively and aggressively. In addition, the males have a lighter color and large earrings.

Guinea fowls tolerate both heat and cold well. Therefore, they can be bred in almost all regions of Russia. The only thing to be taken care of is that the poultry’s barn is dry. Increased humidity guinea fishes tolerate very bad.

This bird is sick much less frequently than chickens and ducks. However, if an individual does get infected with something, it will be almost impossible to cure it. Therefore, care for this bird should be in strict compliance with all the necessary technologies.

Behavior features

So now you know what kind of bird is the guinea fowl. This is a domesticated African chicken, hardy and active. Keep guinea fowls can be in a normal barn with other feathered living creatures: chickens, ducks, turkeys. This bird gets along very well with its neighbors - it does not fight, but if necessary it can stand up for itself. The main feature of guinea fowl in terms of behavior is fearfulness. It is better if the same person will always feed them.

In addition to fearfulness, this bird is also noisy. She notices other people and animals immediately and raises a scream. So guinea fowl are also excellent guards.

One of the important conditions for the successful maintenance of this African chicken is the presence of a large walking range. Bird shed should also be quite spacious. If next to him will not be walking, dilute guinea fowls will not work. In this regard, it is very picky poultry. Guinea fowl-hen is unlikely to mate with a male indoors.

Sometimes these representatives of birds are kept in cages. This limits the movement of young stock and accelerates weight gain. However, cells for guinea fowls must be sufficiently free. This active bird should be able to move freely in its home.

Economic value

The guinea fowl bird is bred, the photo of which is presented on the page clearly demonstrates its unusual appearance, primarily for obtaining:

healthy eggs

Modern breeds of guinea fowl are distinguished by precocity. Slaughter weight they gain by the 45-50-day age. The egg-laying of these birds lasts from early spring to autumn. In the year one chicken can bring 90-120 eggs. Guinea fowl meat tastes like game and is considered much more useful than chicken and duck meat. The fact is that it contains much less fat and water. A huge amount of healthy micronutrients is also what characterizes guinea fowl meat. The weight of an adult bird at the same time can reach 1.7-2.2 kg.

Guinea fowl eggs also have excellent taste. At the same time there are much more vitamins in them than in chicken ones.

They bring up African chickens in a private household not only for eggs and meat. These birds, among other things, can save the garden from all sorts of harmful insects. They also eat the Colorado potato beetle, which is not done by any birds. To release the Guinea fowl on the garden in most cases, you can safely. She never digs beds, and vegetables do not peck.

Breeding features

Answering the question of what kind of bird is the guinea fowl, you should pay a little attention and methods of its breeding. As already mentioned, in order to receive the fertilized eggs of this bird, the owners of the household plots must arrange for it a spacious enclosure. If the wings of the Guinea fowl are not clipped, it should be fenced with a fence not less than 2 m high. Experienced poultry breeders are advised to plant several bushes in the aviary. This will create an imitation of natural walking, and the bird will feel more confident. At 5-6 females usually leave one male.

The guinea fowl (the photo below confirms this) can sometimes hatch eggs and nurse chickens. However, the mother of this African chicken is still not too good. The owners of homestead farms usually do not allow laying of guinea fowls on their own. The fact is that this bird is very shy and can easily throw eggs.

In order to get young, hen's eggs are placed under the chicken or turkey. Also, chicks can be bred in the incubator. The mode of operation of the apparatus in this case is set the same as in the withdrawal of chickens. The only moisture parameter inside the incubator should be slightly higher.

The guinea fowl, the bird, the description of which was given by us above, is carried about once every 3-4 days. At the same time, eggs that were stored for no more than five days are laid in the incubator. Before putting them in the incubator, a small test should be carried out. For this, the eggs hit each other. Of course, only slightly. The rattling sound is thus rejected, since there are microcracks in their shell.

Care for Little Tsesarya

The particularities of growing guinea fowls and other pedigree species (there are usually many birds in the farmstead) living creatures must be known to the owner of the household plots. This is especially true for young stock.

Guinea fowl eggs are incubated for about 28 days. Care for hatched chicks is about the same as for chickens. That is, the newly born babies are first planted in a box with lined paper bottom. From above, such a house for the queens is covered with a grid. For heating inside you can put a plastic bottle wrapped with a thick cloth with hot water. Be sure to arrange the queens and lighting. In the dark, this bird is much worse developed.

After the hatching, boiled egg, cottage cheese and millet feed chickens of the guinea fowl. After a few days, begin to give greens. In the first two days after hatching, the princes are still not well oriented in the box and may not find food and water. Therefore, they need a little help - to tap a finger on the plate with millet or eggs, dip their beaks in the water. Until one month of age, they give food to the hens every three hours. After 30 days, go to 3-4 single feed. Starting from the second week, yeast, salt and fish oil are introduced into the diet of chicks. In the box or in the cage to the princes, you also need to put a small container with small gravel. From the third week of life, you can begin to feed the young shredded, boiled potatoes and roots. Greens in the diet of chicks should be a lot. Go to the adult menu at the age of three months.

Helpful advice

In order to succeed in breeding, it is not enough to know what the guinea fowl is, what kind of bird (the photos of these birds demonstrate their strong constitution quite clearly) it. It is also important to have an idea about some features of its cultivation. Guinea fowl over time very much get used to each other. In a flock quite complex hierarchical relationships are established. Therefore, it is not possible to place extraneous chicks in the box. Members of the flock will react to him extremely hostile.

Another rule that must be followed by the owners of the Tsars, is the absolute purity in the box. African hens are very curious. Especially with regard to what you can eat. Therefore, they often swallow the threads, gum, pieces of rags, etc. Moreover, the consequences for this may be the most dire for them.

Up to 4-6 weeks old chicks desirable to keep in cages. Then they are transferred to the floor - to the litter.

What should be the barn

Thus, you now understand the features of such feathered living creatures as the guinea fowl. What kind of bird (reviews of homeowners about it are mainly about as very unpretentious) is, you know. So, for example, in the shed for this bird is not required to install any special equipment. All that is needed is to place here a standard set: a long trough and several troughs. Like hens, hens need roost. However, they are located in this case lower - at a height of 60 cm and at a distance of not less than 40 cm from each other. A litter of straw should be laid on the floor of the shed. Nests are made to the size of a bird and nailed next to the perches.

Without good lighting, as already mentioned, guinea fowls grow very poorly. Therefore, in the barn must be a window. It is also advisable to arrange ventilation. If guinea fowls are supposed to be kept in winter, the shed should be insulated. These birds tolerate low temperatures quite well. But in the warmed barn they will still feel more comfortable. Of course, the shed should be dry.

Walking for guinea fowl

Near the barn is usually arranged aviary. You can fence the hill with the help of a usual grid-chain-link. The branches of the trees on the territory of the aviary should not penetrate. Otherwise, guinea fowls will spend the night on them and run wild. It is very good if grass grows in an open-air cage. All sorts of bugs and worms guinea fowls are very fond and absorb them in large quantities.

Features of growing guinea fowls - what the farmer needs to know

First of all, it is necessary to acquire healthy young animals, which will grow by leaps and bounds, and in a couple of months will be ready for sale. Для этого надо воспользоваться услугами авторитетных компаний-поставщиков птицы. После того, как молодняк будет закуплен, переходим непосредственно к его выращиванию. Для того, чтобы птица была всегда здоровой, чувствовала себя комфортно, росла быстро и неслась часто, нужно обязательно соблюдать следующие правила.

1. In the room where the bird is kept, there should be no drafts - this is a prerequisite for the content of guinea fowls. They can catch a cold even at a temperature of +15 degrees if the wind "walks" in the house. Therefore, check the integrity of the room and the presence of holes of various kinds in it.
2. Disinfection of the house is held every 3-4 weeks, so it is advisable to make the walls and ceiling smooth so that it is convenient to clean. Caring for guinea fowls can not exclude this item, since young birds are quite sensitive to some infectious diseases and parasites. They can attack helminths, salmonella, E. coli.
3. The mesh in the cage should be completely covered, but not smooth, so that they can walk normally. It is impossible to use a grid with a cell of more than 10 mm for birds from 3 weeks of age, and for smaller individuals the grid is not recommended at all - they often break their fingers when they run around it. Everything is done, as in the cultivation of broilers - no need to invent anything new.
4. You can not often "mix" the bird of different groups. White and black guinea fowl cannot be placed in one cage, the content must be separate, or they must be taught to neighbors from a young age, otherwise they will fight. Weight gain and good egg production are simply not possible in this case.

The basic rules of how to contain guinea fowls, we have considered, we now turn directly to the process of their feeding, growing, implementation. In fact, you can feed them with anything, you can also keep them in any room and cage - they take root easily, do not be capricious, and can be left without a poultry house at all. But if you need to get a lot from them, follow this instruction.

1. The density of the hens should not be 10 heads per 1 square meter. Up to the age of 3 weeks, you can plant 15 heads per meter, but no more. This bird is free, grows well only in free space, if you do not provide it, the mass will gain a very long time, and may also refuse to be carried at all. On each cage there should be 1 feeding trough and 1 drinking bowl, it is impossible to combine several groups of birds in one territory for food - they will fight for food, be injured.
2. It is necessary to make special solariums, that is, lighted places, to which young individuals will go out to warm themselves. They should also have a shadow in the aviary so that they can regulate their body temperature and choose the optimal conditions for laying eggs. Prerequisite is the constant availability of water, especially in summer. If they are hot, they should at any time approach the drinking bowl. If the fluid level in the body is low at high ambient temperatures, they can get a heat stroke.
3. The most unpretentious bird to eat are the guinea fowl, maintenance and care will not be a lot of work, because they eat almost all pasture. They can be kept on a "green diet", or give mealy, concentrated feed, cereals, roots and fruits, berries, waste from the table - they eat everything.
4. The first 5-9 days of chickens should be fed with egg yolk with green onions, as when feeding small ducklings or goslings, only the onions need a little more and you can transfer to the grass after 5 days, the main thing is to chop the food. Water is needed a lot, and it is desirable to soak the food in it for the first time, because the young birdies are very poorly perceived powdery food, they can choke. For grain mixture, flour, bran, other waste of grain, they can be planted gradually, at the 5th week of growth they are transferred completely to the goose ration in order to gain more weight.
5. It is advisable to feed the bird 3-4 times a day at a minimum, even better if you have feed troughs that are constantly filled with food so that, if desired, the guinea fowls can come to eat when they want. Vitamins can be given, fish oil and B vitamins are especially useful so that food is better absorbed and digested.

Temperature and light conditions

Little chickens love very high temperatures, they must be kept at 34-35 degrees the first weekthen it can be reduced to +30 degrees in the second week, and when the bird reaches one month of age and will have normal plumage, it can leave +18 degrees. Adults guinea fowls easily tolerate low temperatures, but when cold, weight decreases dramatically. To avoid this, you need to keep them in a heated house, maintain + 10-15 degrees throughout the winter.

Determine if your pets are cold or not, you can tell by their appearance: if they are twisted, knocked together in heaps, the temperature in the room must be raised. If they are sitting separately, they seem to be very sluggish, they need to be given normal conditions and cool down a little. White guinea fowls always spread their wings, open their beak, often breathing if they are too stuffy.

Guinea fowls need a little more light than ordinary poultry, especially if you are counting on intensive cultivation. The first 2-3 weeks need to maintain daylight hours 20 hours a day., in a week you can reduce it to 18 hours, it is desirable that the lighting is not too bright, a 45 W light bulb will be enough for a room of 10 square meters, 2 W 20 is better.

At a monthly age, daylight hours can be made up to 14 hours a day, and for 3-4 months it can be reduced to 8 hours. In general, it is not particularly necessary to control it, since the age of the bird practically coincides with the duration of the natural light day. That is, a problem can arise only if it is cultivated indoors and it is necessary to create artificially all natural conditions.

At night, the light is also necessary, but only so that they can navigate the room. That is, the whole room in 25-30 square meters will be enough to install a diode light bulb at 5 watts. Nothing more is required.

If everything is done correctly, in a couple of months you will have healthy and well-fed guinea fowls, which can be sold or left for the next year to lay eggs.

Adult bird feeding

Many domestic farmers are well known guinea fowl. At the same time one of the features of guinea fowls are accelerated metabolic processes. Therefore, feed this bird requires a little more than the chickens. In guinea fowl food, however, is completely picky. With great pleasure, this active bird eats both mash and grain. The basis of the diet is usually bird feed (130-150 g per head). In addition, the birds give a lot of greens (30-50 g per day). Grass and tops are fed only fresh.

Grain feeds are sometimes replaced with waste from the table. This may be boiled potatoes, cereals, etc. Wet mash is prepared not on the water, but on the skimmer. You can also use a baker's yeast solution. In this case, egg production will increase. Be sure to include in the diet of this bird and meat and bone meal. Guinea fowls can do without this product only if they are regularly released for walking. Instead of flour, you can use fish waste, low-fat cottage cheese or any other protein foods.

Mineral supplements should also be included in the diet of guinea fowls. It may be chalk, grated shells or wood ash. If there is a shortage of minerals, the shells will be thinned by the eggs. Adult guinea fowls, like chickens, are fed 3 times a day (sometimes 4 times). At the same time in the morning and at lunch give greens, and at night - feed.

Appearance and distinctive features of the female and male Caesar

Guinea fowl came to Europe on the ships of the navigators who visited the shores of Africa. For its unusual appearance and characteristic differences, this bird was considered an expensive present, which was presented as a gift to rich nobles, kings, and pharaohs. Over time, the royal poultry houses studied the characteristics of the breeding of this bird, they learned the taste of eggs and meat, which they really liked. Dishes from them began to deliver to the royal tables.

Types of guinea fowl differ in plumage: white, gray and blue, but for all varieties the structure and dimensions remain the same:

1. There is a crest on the head of the bird, it is high in the male, the ends slightly led back, in the female it is erect, upright and much more modest in size.
2. On both sides of the beak there are growths in the form of earrings, with the Caesar, they look prettier, brighter and larger than that of the female.
3. The size of the birds is about the same, and the female and male can weigh up to 1 kilogram.
4. Color monophonic or two-color, depending on the breed.
5. The tail is small, lowered down.
6. Wings of medium length, guinea fowl can use them when taking off to a small height, farmers stop such attempts, cutting off 3-5 cm of their length.

Farmers engaged in breeding of different breeds of guinea fishes, prefer the breed of birds with white plumage, they are considered the most productive in terms of egg production, gray and blue have excellent taste of meat, they are also kept in poultry houses to decorate the yard.

How to distinguish female from male guinea fowl

At first, the inexperienced look of newbies, the Caesar and the Caesar is impossible to distinguish, but we assure you that there are these differences, look closely:

• the size of the birds is not very, but differ, the male is larger than the female,
• in appearance, Caesar is distinguished by a brighter plumage, a large crest and earrings,
• the male often throws his head, while the female constantly keeps the head slightly bowed to the ground,
• female's voice is more delicate and gentle, the male cries with hoarseness, like a cold,
• The main difference with the Caesar is the presence of a sexual organ, which other poultry do not have.

Attention! To determine the location of the penis in the male guinea fowl, you can feel the lower part between the legs. This should be done carefully, without putting the bird in a stressful state. Taking in the hands of the alleged male, calm him by stroking, gradually lowering his hand to the place of examination, if you find a small knob, then this is a male.

Natural inclinations or life in the pack

Having decided to start breeding guinea fowls, you should learn a lot about the habits of these birds in nature in order to create conditions close to natural for them:

1. In the wild, these birds live in herds, numbering up to 20-25 individuals, for 5-6 females there should be one male (you can get one more spare).
2. They like to freely roam around the territory, which means they need a large enclosed area or a rather roomy barn.
3. Guinea fowls lay eggs directly on the ground, they do not need special equipped places, as for chickens.
4. The male performs sexual intercourse in a rather peculiar way, running up, swoops down on the female, who stands before him in a calling posture. For this run, too, need a lot of space.

Rules for the maintenance, care and feeding of guinea fowls

They contain birds in spacious enclosures where they can freely walk and search for food in the form of various larvae and bugs. The digestion of these birds is designed so that they can eat even the Colorado potato beetle without the slightest harm to themselves. Farmers occasionally release them to plant potatoes to reduce the amount of pests. This should be done under supervision so that the birds do not damage the green mass, which they love very much.

Guinea fowls are very unpretentious, almost do not get sick, tolerate low temperatures well, but in severe frosts they should not be let out into the yard, in this case they use warm pens, sheds, in which there should not be a through-flow of cool air, these birds are afraid of drafts.

Disinfection in the house should be done once a month, equip the room according to this rule. The walls, floor and ceiling should be easily cleaned from dirt, to which young chicks are very sensitive.

Attention! Do not forget that different breeds of birds do not always get along with each other; each family should be kept separate, fencing off areas with steel mesh.

How to care and feed the guinea fowl

1. In open-air cages and cages, it is necessary to provide places that are well-lit, which will serve to heat birds, and also need to take into account the presence of hidden, darkened areas where guinea fowls can find a solitary place for egg laying or mating.
2. Separate drinkers and feeders are necessary for each family group so that there are no fights between birds of different breeds.
3. Birds feed can serve various green plants, chopped vegetables and fruits, cereals, combined feed. Favorite delicacy will be bugs and caterpillars.
4. Chickens in the first week of life should be kept in an incubator at a temperature of +35 degrees, next week the temperature is reduced to +30, then, as the plumage grows, you can gradually lower it to +18 degrees.

Farm products for breeding guinea fowls

Guinea fowl egg is smaller in size than chicken, weighs up to 45 grams, the shape is similar to a pear, the shell is hard and dense, does not break, even falling from a height of 1.5 meters. The surface is rough, painted in gray-green and beige tones with a hint of earth covering. Food value and taste are much higher than chicken.

Guinea fowl meat. One individual weighs no more than 1 kilogram, the taste resembles game, but the meat is softer and more fragrant. There is one drawback, if you feed the chicken to more than 1 kg, it swims fat, the taste of meat loses its individuality, it becomes identical to the meat of chickens.

Feathers on the market are in great demand, they are used to create jewelry and other decorations in clothes, to create paintings and souvenirs.

On the farm, in the household or just in a small farmstead, the hubbub makes us happy, brings revival to our lives. The harmony of nature comes closer, giving us its beauty, variety of colors. The poultry yard, with its noise, the fussing of chickens, geese, guinea fowls and turkeys, and their diverse plumage makes it one step closer to nature. Rejoice and delight your loved ones with generous gifts.

How to equip a home for guinea fowl

The first thing to do is to arrange the room in which the birds will be located. This will require an economic structure. It should be warmed and without drafts. The room should be conveniently equipped place for laying eggs. For better egg production, provide litter in the hen house. It should absorb moisture and warm birds. To do this, use straw, grass, sawdust. Females to arrange roosting. They will be located 50 cm above the floor. The length of the perch should not be less than 1 m for 5 individuals.

On 1 m2 it is necessary to have 10 individuals. Up to 3 weeks chicks can be seated 15 individuals per 1m2. Since this bird is free and free, it requires a lot of space. On 1 cage there is 1 feeding trough and 1 drinking bowl.

How to make a cage with your own hands

Cell size should be 1800x450x450 mm. Divide the cage into 4 nests, 5 birds in each. To perform the cells used metal mesh. Attach the feeder to the front wall and the chute drinkers at the top of the door. The floor should be sloped to the front wall where the egg collection tray is installed. For litter under the cage, place trays 895x460x40 mm in size.

Content Features

Caring for guinea fowls involves the provision of humidity in the chicken coop. It should be in the range of 60-70%. Use a psychrometer for moisture control. In the summer, to keep the wall indicator water irrigated.

To choose a comfortable temperature for these birds is very important. It must be maintained within 18-30 degrees of heat. In the summer to air the room. This will provide fresh air to the house.

In winter, the henhouse is heated. Small chicks are afraid of dampness and drafts. Also for the winter to be heated. If it is damp and cold, it will slow down the puberty of the bird, adversely affect the quantity and quality of eggs.

You must perform special tanning beds. These are lighted places where adults can go out to warm themselves. There should be a shadow in the aviary. Then the birds themselves will be able to adjust their body temperature.

Daylight hours

The main problem with breeding and keeping guinea fowls is the lack of light in the winter. During the first 2-3 weeks, the duration of the day should be 20 hours, and in a week - 18 hours. It’s enough to use 45 W bulbs. When the chicks are one month old, then extend the coverage to 14 hours, and after 3-4 months - up to 8 hours.

Cleaning and disinfection rules

To prevent the development of diseases in the room, it is necessary to disinfect it. The choice of a suitable disinfectant is made on an individual basis. Make sure that the selected product contains a minimum of toxins and does not violate the microflora in the chicken coop.

Many farmers apply for processing formalin. After it, all pathogens die, while the substance itself is dangerous for chickens and humans. Due to the sharp aroma, it is necessary to wear a gas mask, and transfer chickens for several days to another room.

The next common remedy is bleach. It can destroy bacteria and prevent their formation. Disinfection with bleach is simple: you need to fill it with the floor, bedding.

In order not to acquire special preparations for disinfection, it is necessary to use hydrochloric acid. Pour it into a glass container with a wide neck, add potassium permanganate (5: 1). Set in the house for 30 minutes, and then removed for airing.

The most harmless way is crystallized iodine granules. On 20 m2 of the coop apply 10 g of the substance. Iodine to put in the bowl, add 1 g of aluminum shavings, 1.5 ml of water. В результате проделанных действий запустится химический процесс, и начнет вырабатываться пар бурого цвета. Проводить дезинфекцию разрешено в присутствии птиц. Держать сосуд со смесью 30 минут, а затем помещение проветрить.

How to distinguish the female from the male

Помочь отличить несушку от самца помогут следующие рекомендации:

1. Птица большего размера по сравнению с другими, является самкой.
2. У самок клюв небольшой и аккуратный. У самцов же он, наоборот, толстый. In addition, they have a growth on their beaks, which can be noticed immediately.
3. Males make abrupt sounds, there is a certain crash in them. But females sound reminiscent of "WAAA."

Trimming wings

In flying birds, wing wings are trimmed so that they do not fly over the hedge. To carry out these actions in the first days of life. Cut the tip of the hand to the joint. Place the cut pressed with a cotton swab, and in the case of blood, pour green. To perform an operation at night.

Guinea fowls are completely unpretentious to food. For the first 5-9 days feed the chicks with egg yolk and green onions. Only feed should be chopped finely. At first, there should be plenty of water. On the 5th week of growth, you can add to the diet such products:

Feed chicks 3-4 times a day. Make sure that the feeders are always filled with food.. Then the chicks will be able to come and eat at any time. Allowed to give vitamins. It is very useful fish oil and vitamins of group B. Then the food will be better absorbed and digested.

For feeding adult birds used feed. Also in the diet should be the following products:

• fresh cottage cheese,
• powdered milk,
• dry millet groats,
• feed wheat and corn (crushed),
• crushed chalk
• crushed shell,
• coarse and well washed river sand,
• thoroughly boiled and chopped eggshell.

To feed adults in the summer 2 times a day, and in the winter - 3 times. In the summer in the diet must be green.

Among the diseases that affect chicks, include:

1. Trichomoniasis. This disease is caused by parasites - Trichomonas. It affects chicks at the age of 8-10 days and up to 3 months. Sick guinea fowls are silent, not active, drink a lot and often, refuse to eat. There is severe diarrhea, which has the appearance of a yellow foamy liquid. The disease ends with paralysis of the limbs and within a few hours the entire livestock may die.
2. Worms. Being on limited runs, chicks can drink water from puddles and become infected with worms. To avoid this, it is necessary to regularly change the water in the house.

Adult birds can infect such diseases:

1. Avitaminosis. Most often guinea fowls lack vitamin B vitamins. They are found in large quantities in fresh baker's yeast.
2. Yolk peritonitis. It develops in females at the height of the egg-laying. At the initial stage of the disease in guinea fowers, the abdomen increases, while palpating it is hard. The bird stops laying and then dies.

Pros and cons of the content

1. Meat. It is dietary and very tasty. It contains 23% protein and 4% fat.
2. Eggs. They are very beneficial to human health. They contain the following elements: carotene, lysine, manganese, magnesium. In taste, they are tastier than all other eggs. So they can even compete with quail.
3. Feathers. Some farmers breed guinea fowls solely for the sake of their attractive appearance. Birds look beautiful in the household and can be a great decoration of the yard.
4. Selling chicks. You can breed guinea fowls for sale of chicks. This is a fairly profitable business, as there is low competition in the market, which allows you to set your prices.

The disadvantages of the content of guinea fowls include:

1. Low egg production. From one specimen per year you can get 120 eggs.
2. Little meat from one guinea fowl. Meat yield is 85%.

The content of guinea fowls is a rational affair. But for this, the farmer will have to take care of a decent existence of the bird. Only when favorable conditions are created, the guinea fowl will not get sick, they will not eat well, and their egg production will not decrease.

What breeds are there

The guinea fowl, the cultivation of which is a relatively simple matter, usually pleases its owners with high productivity. However, egg production and weight gain may vary with breed. Most often, domestic poultry farmers contain:

Siberian white guinea fowl. This breed is characterized by high egg production and resistance to low temperatures. The main distinctive feature of this bird is the matt-white plumage. Siberian white guinea fowls behave calmer than representatives of other breeds. The advantages of these chickens include including unpretentiousness.

Gray speckled. This breed is by far the most common. Popularity she won mainly for very tasty meat. In the year such chickens can carry up to 90 eggs. The head of representatives of this breed is practically not feathered.

Blue Guinea fowl. Parent for this breed is gray-speckled. Blue productivity is very good. In terms of egg production, gray-speckled it surpasses. One chicken can carry up to 120 eggs a year.

Volzhskaya. Chickens of this breed are able to carry up to 120 eggs per year. The benefits of the Volga guinea fowl also include early maturity. The survival rate of chickens reaches 86%. The color of this breed is very beautiful - cream.

The guinea fowl is a bird whose eggs have remarkable taste, thus, can have different colors and get divorced, including as an ornamental chicken.

The most common causes of all sorts of health problems in guinea fowls are unsanitary conditions in the house and mistakes in care. Of the most common diseases of this African chicken can be identified:

Trichomoniasis. The causative agent of this disease is unicellular protozoa. Trichomonas enters the body of the bird along with dirty water or food. Most often, it infects young. Symptoms are liquid yellow feces, lethargy of the bird, the presence of plaque on mucous membranes. Sick individuals in most cases die from suffocation.

Dyspepsia. Suffering from this disease is also most often young growth up to three months. The reasons for it are usually overheating and poor-quality feed.

Well, we hope, we have quite extensively answered the question of what kind of bird is the guinea fowl. Breeding these nimble African chickens may not be as beneficial as some other birds. However, the excellent taste of meat and unpretentiousness have earned them well-deserved popularity among homeowners.