Commercial rearing of guinea fowl is at its infant stage in Kenya and this type of farming is generating a lot of interest. Guinea fowls are raised mainly for their flesh and eggs. The meat of guinea fowl is tender and nutritious with a fine flavor similar to other game birds. It is lean and rich in essential fatty acids. Other people raise guinea fowls for their unique ornamental value.
-The common guinea fowl weighs about 2 kg when mature. The male is slightly smaller than the female making it less possible to differentiate between the two sexes.
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| Guinea fowls |
Guinea fowl varieties
-Numida meleagris, the common or red-wattled guinea fowl is a domestic strain of guinea fowl that is widespread throughout the world.
-Numida ptilorhyncha, is common found in Madagascar and Reunion, both in the domestic and the wild state.
-Numida meleagris, the common or red-wattled guinea fowl is a domestic strain of guinea fowl that is widespread throughout the world.
-Numida ptilorhyncha, is common found in Madagascar and Reunion, both in the domestic and the wild state.
Advantages of guinea fowls compared to other poultry birds
-They are hardy birds suitable to a wide range of climatic conditions.
-They consumes all non-conventional feeds not used in chicken feeding and have excellent foraging capabilities.
-They are resistant to many common diseases and more tolerant to mycotoxin and aflatoxin.
-They do not require complicated and expensive housing.
-The hard shell of their eggs provides minimum breakage and low keeping quality.
-They are hardy birds suitable to a wide range of climatic conditions.
-They consumes all non-conventional feeds not used in chicken feeding and have excellent foraging capabilities.
-They are resistant to many common diseases and more tolerant to mycotoxin and aflatoxin.
-They do not require complicated and expensive housing.
-The hard shell of their eggs provides minimum breakage and low keeping quality.
Guinea fowl rearing systems
-Free range - This is the main rearing method and drinking water is provided.
-Semi-free rearing - In this system a starter house is provided during the first three weeks of life. The chicks are then transferred to a rearing house equipped with perches and finally into an aviary.
-Intensive rearing - Intensive systems give better performance. Low light or dark houses are preferred to reduce possible flightiness and allow large number of birds to be raised.
-Free range - This is the main rearing method and drinking water is provided.
-Semi-free rearing - In this system a starter house is provided during the first three weeks of life. The chicks are then transferred to a rearing house equipped with perches and finally into an aviary.
-Intensive rearing - Intensive systems give better performance. Low light or dark houses are preferred to reduce possible flightiness and allow large number of birds to be raised.
Feeding guinea fowls - The starter diet should contain 24% protein and should be fed for the first 4 weeks.
-Grower ration of 20% protein should then be fed until 8 weeks of age and a finisher diet containing 16% protein fed until market age (14-16 weeks). At this age they should have reached average live weight of 2 kg.
-In its lifetime, the guinea fowl consumes an average of 43 kg of feed, which is 12 kg during growing period and 31 kg during the laying period.
-The nutritional characteristics of guinea fowl feed is close to those for chicken, but percentage of lysine and methionine recommended for growth and laying are slightly higher.
-Grower ration of 20% protein should then be fed until 8 weeks of age and a finisher diet containing 16% protein fed until market age (14-16 weeks). At this age they should have reached average live weight of 2 kg.
-In its lifetime, the guinea fowl consumes an average of 43 kg of feed, which is 12 kg during growing period and 31 kg during the laying period.
-The nutritional characteristics of guinea fowl feed is close to those for chicken, but percentage of lysine and methionine recommended for growth and laying are slightly higher.
Guinea fowl egg production - Under good management a hen reared on soil can lay 100 or more eggs whereas caged guinea hens can lay 170 – 180 eggs over a 40 weeks laying period in one year.
-The hen can produce eggs for 2 to 3 years.
-Guinea fowl begin to lay eggs as early as 16-17 weeks. -Laying occurs during the rainy season and few weeks that follow. A clutch size of 12 to 15 eggs is common.
-The eggs are smaller than that of chicken and weighs 40g on average.
-The shells are very hard making it difficult to test for fertility by candling and may cause problems with artificial incubation.
-The hen can produce eggs for 2 to 3 years.
-Guinea fowl begin to lay eggs as early as 16-17 weeks. -Laying occurs during the rainy season and few weeks that follow. A clutch size of 12 to 15 eggs is common.
-The eggs are smaller than that of chicken and weighs 40g on average.
-The shells are very hard making it difficult to test for fertility by candling and may cause problems with artificial incubation.
Guinea fowl hatching egg collection - Hatching eggs should be collected four times a day. However, under extremes conditions more frequent collection is recommended.
-Eggs should be stored in a temperature range of 15.5-18.5oC and a relative humidity of 70-80%. If held for over 7 days before setting, hatchability declines progressively with increasing storage time.
-Eggs should be stored in a temperature range of 15.5-18.5oC and a relative humidity of 70-80%. If held for over 7 days before setting, hatchability declines progressively with increasing storage time.
Icubation - The normal incubation period for guinea eggs is 26 to 28 days. Eggs can be hatched either naturally or artificially.
-Natural methods of incubation are generally used in small flocks. For larger flocks, incubators are more satisfactory.
-Because guinea hens are usually too wild it is common to use chicken hens for hatching a small number of guinea eggs as they are more adaptable.
-Natural methods of incubation are generally used in small flocks. For larger flocks, incubators are more satisfactory.
-Because guinea hens are usually too wild it is common to use chicken hens for hatching a small number of guinea eggs as they are more adaptable.
Diseases - Domestic guinea fowl do not suffer from many pests and diseases as compared to chickens and other poultry. For example, guineas are more tolerant to NCD virus than chickens. Generally, most diseases of chickens affect guinea fowls.
Marketing Guinea fowls -Guinea fowls are sold alive or dressed if sold to the hotels and restaurants.
-The birds are usually dressed and scalded in the same way as chickens. Guinea fowls are ready for the market at 16 to 18 weeks of age.
-At this age their live weight is 1.25 to 1.47 kg with dressed weight of 1.02 and 1.25 kg. A guinea fetches Kshs 1000 to 1500 depending on the weight of the bird. Producers need to be certain of the demand before embarking on large-scale production.
-The birds are usually dressed and scalded in the same way as chickens. Guinea fowls are ready for the market at 16 to 18 weeks of age.
-At this age their live weight is 1.25 to 1.47 kg with dressed weight of 1.02 and 1.25 kg. A guinea fetches Kshs 1000 to 1500 depending on the weight of the bird. Producers need to be certain of the demand before embarking on large-scale production.
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