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| Guineafowls | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Numididae de Sélys Longchamps, 1842 |
| Genera | |
The guineafowl are a family of birds in the same order as the pheasants, turkeys and other game birds. They are also widely known as guineahens, (a term formerly applied to the turkey).
This is an African family of insect and seed-eating, ground-nesting birds resembling partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage. The Helmeted Guineafowl has been domesticated and introduced outside its natural range, for example in southern France and the West Indies.
Guineas are monogamous, spending their lives with the same mate. They lay 25-30 eggs in a deep, tapering nest. Their eggs are small, and dark. The hens have a habit of hiding their nests, and sharing it with others until large numbers of eggs have accumulated. The incubation period is 26-28 days, and the babies are called "keets." They are highly susceptible to dampness (after all, they come from Africa) and can die from following the mother through dewy grass. Though, after their first two weeks, they can be some of the hardiest domestic land fowl.
Sexing the birds is not as simple as telling a rooster from a hen. When they are adults, the helmet and wattles of the male are larger then the female, and the female is the only one to make the two-note cry "Buck-wheat!" Aside from that, however, the two sexes are mostly identical in appearance.
As domestics, guineas are valuable pest controllers, delighting in ridding your yard and garden of insects. They are especially beneficial in controlling the lyme disease carrying deer tick, as well as annoying wasp nests. While they are rarely kept in large numbers, a few are sometimes kept with other fowl to be used as a security system against hawks. No intruder or stranger will get past the eye of a guinea, and they will call, loudly, with their high shrieking voices. They are highly social birds, and hate to be alone.
Within the domesticated species, many color variations have been created aside from the "pearl" or natural color of the helmeted guinea. These include White, purple, slate, chocolate, lavander, and coral blue.
Species
- White-breasted Guineafowl, Agelastes meleagrides
- Black Guineafowl, Agelastes niger
- Helmeted Guineafowl, Numida meleagris
- Plumed Guineafowl, Guttera plumifera
- Crested Guineafowl, Guttera pucherani
- Vulturine Guineafowl, Acryllium vulturinum