Many summer residents and villagers in private farmsteads often see not only chickens, geese and ducks. Some people like to breed more “exotic” birds. For example, such as guinea fowl. How to distinguish a female from a male in this living creature? This question is actually quite complicated. The fact is that guinea fowls of different sex are very similar to each other externally. In this article, we will figure out what ways they can be distinguished, and also see how to properly care for this wonderful bird.
general description
Guinea fowl - birds are very unpretentious. They eat according to the same regime and in the same quantity as hens. At the same time they get sick much less often. The owners of suburban areas breeding this living creature believe that this is due to the very good immunity of the bird. However, this applies mainly to guinea fowl with gray plumage. White individuals can be very tender.
Guinea fowl eggs are small, but in a fairly large number. Their difference from chicken is a higher content of vitamin A and carotenoids. Guinea fowl meat is delicious. There is practically no fat in it. Because of him and eggs, guinea fowl are also popular. How to distinguish a female from a male (see photo of birds on this page), we will consider a little below. Now we’ll deal with their content rules.
What you need to know about the conditions of detention
The barn for guinea fowls is the same as for hens. Add sand (10 cm) to the floor. Guinea fowl should be walked more often. This bird is very active and likes to go far from home. However, it always comes back. The only difficulty in breeding guinea fowls may be the need to warm the barn. The fact is that this living creature does not tolerate winter colds very well. Moreover, unlike many chickens, guinea fowl do not rush in winter. The productivity period lasts from about March to November. You can extend it only by arranging good lighting in the barn.
In an aviary with another bird, guinea fowl are not recommended. It's all about the same activity. Guinea fowl males in this case constantly arrange fights with roosters, lift up geese and ducks. Females can drive chickens from roosts. In addition, mating in front of everyone is not what the guinea fowls are used to. How to distinguish a "boy" from a "girl"? This is a question which, in this case, most likely, will no longer be relevant. Egg production of guinea fowls will also decrease. From constant stress, productivity of another poultry is also likely to fall.
What to feed
About 30% of all food for guinea fowl can be various kinds of greens, root crops and vegetables. The feeding regimen is set exactly the same as for chickens. That is, in the morning and in the evening they give grain, and in the afternoon - mixers. The latter can be made from grated potatoes, beets, carrots, apples, zucchini, etc. Guinea fowl are very fond of cabbage. Many of their owners even hang leaves of this plant on the shed. Of cereals, it is best to give millet.
In winter, guinea fowls need meat. Also, sometimes milk and yogurt are fed to them. You can give dry powder. However, it should first be diluted with water. Otherwise, milk will clog the bird’s nasal openings, which may cause it to die.
How to find out gender
The owners of suburban areas use several methods for determining the sex of birds such as guinea fowl. How to distinguish a female from a male, we will now see. To do this, you can:
- Listen to the cry of a bird. The male makes sounds similar to those that can be extracted from the ratchet. Females scream longer.
- Before the laying period, males are larger than females. After puberty - on the contrary.
- Males have more earrings and a crest.
- At 6-7 weeks of age, sex is determined by the appearance of sexual tubercles.
How to get young
Next, consider the breeding technology of such a bird as guinea fowl. How to distinguish a female from a male, you now know. It is quite difficult to do this, but it is possible. On one cockerel, you can have several chickens (up to 10). However, for better fertilization of the latter should not be more than two or four.
Unfortunately, guinea fowls are not very good mothers. Therefore, eggs are taken from them for incubation. The period of this procedure is 27 days. You can also put eggs under a chicken (about 17 days) or turkey (up to 25 days). Young animals with shiny eyes, strong legs and a well-retracted umbilical cord are selected for cultivation. Incubator guinea fowls up to twenty days of age are grown with additional heating by incandescent lamps.
The young hatched are fed 8 times a day. By the month this amount is reduced to 6, and by two - to 4. The diet of guinea fowl is about the same as that of chickens. However, the protein in the feed should be 2-3% more. You can give kids peas, baker's yeast, minced fish, fresh meat waste. Be sure to include greens in the diet. You also need to feed a small amount of chalk and crushed shells. In this way, large healthy guinea fowl can be grown. How to distinguish a rooster from a chicken at a young age, you already know. Females will be slightly larger than males. Starting from the 20th week, the boys will grow quite a large crest and earrings.
Young animals are released for walking from three weeks of age. First, you can arrange guards walks in the aviary. A little later they are released into the yard.
As you can see, guinea fowl are quite unpretentious. How to distinguish a female from a male, we have found out. Try to breed this living creature on your site, and you will always have tasty meat and healthy "vitamin" eggs.