Baby guineas are called keets. A group of guinea fowl is called a “confusion.” We’re not kidding…not flock, not gaggle, but confusion! Ha! This term really does reflect the noisy and seemingly disorganized nature of guineas. Yes, guinea fowl are weirdos. They’re eccentric and peculiar AND they’ve found place in our hearts here on the farm. Let’s chat about why we will never be without them, about their history, the benefits (and fun) in keeping them.
History and Origin
Guinea fowl originally hail from Africa, where they roamed the wild savannas and dense forests for millennia. Their journey across the globe began centuries ago, with their introduction to Europe and subsequently the Americas through trade and exploration. Historically, guinea fowl have been valued for their meat, eggs, and as natural pest controllers. In many cultures, they were prized for their distinctive appearance and lively demeanor.
Physical Features and Colors
Guineas have a round body, small head, and short, stout legs. Their feathers are densely packed, giving them a somewhat armored look. The most common variety is the helmeted guinea fowl, recognizable by the bony casque atop their heads. These birds come in a variety of colors and patterns, including the classic “pearl” grey with white spots, lavender, white, and even pied. Each color variation has its own particular charm. Keets, or baby guinea fowl, are particularly adorable with their soft down and vibrant stripes, gradually developing their adult plumage as they grow.
The most outstanding trait of the guinea fowl is its noisy and distinctive calls. The guineas are are not at all shy about expressing their feelings, especially when they sense some danger and when they’re excited. Their calls serve as natural alarms, alerting other animals, and people, of the possible danger looming around them (more on this in a moment).
Behaviour and Temperament
Though they are very loud, guinea fowl are amongst the most social and are happiest of our poultry. They form tight-knit groups and can be seen foraging together daily. Guinea fowl can also form bonds with other animals. In fact, years ago we had a small broody little bantam cochin named Farrah Fawcett. She hatched out many guinea keets for us. She was often seen with a small “confusion” near the pig pen and they accepted her into their exclusive little social circle, defending her honor against our rooster, Frank. (Make no mistake, they can be fierce!)
The Benefits of Keeping Guinea Fowl
1. Pest Control Experts
One of the best advantages of keeping guinea fowl is their pest control abilities, which are bar none, the best on the farm. They will decimate tick populations in short order. When we first moved to our farm, it was not uncommon for us to pick off 14 to 15 ticks each night! They were literally everywhere. Today, it’s sort of surprising to get a tick while gardening. Go, go guineas!
Guinea fowl don’t just target ticks; they also feast on flies, mosquitoes, beetles, and other insects that can damage crops and plants. This natural pest control reduces the need for additional pest management measures, helping maintain a healthier farm environment. How cool is that?!
2. Organic Weed Control
Guinea fowl are excellent weeders too, due to the way they forage. As they search for insects and seeds, they scratch the soil, which helps to aerate it and, in turn, disrupts weed growth. Moreover, guinea fowl are far less destructive to garden plants than chickens. This makes them perfect for integrated pest and weed management because they don’t harm the desirable plants and do a great job discouraging the harmful ones.
3. Natural Alarm System
Not to put too fine a point on it, guineas are known for their LOUD and distinctive calls, which some people might find offensive. (We’ll do another post about how to tell the males from the females from their calls anther day!) We think of their calls as a natural alarm system. They patrol and they raise the alarm if they detect anything unusual or out of place.
The guineas are often the first-line of defense. They tell Moxie about what they see and Moxie goes to check it out! This added layer of security helps to protect the farm from intruders (like fox) and provides a little more peace of mind to us especially at night when we’re in the house. If we hear the guineas sounding, we let Moxie out. Done deal.
4. Low Maintenance
Compared to other poultry, guinea fowl are fairly low maintenance. They are hardy birds that can adapt to various temperatures, from cold winters to hot summers. They only need a few things. First, they need at least a little room to roam. As we said, they will decimate a bug population and they will continue to seek them out, where ever they are! They can fly so, you’ll need to offer them buggy treats to keep them around.
Their housing needs are minimal as they often roost in trees or elevated structures. Being excellent foragers, they can gather much of their food from the field. We supplement them with a custom commercial poultry mash to meet their nutritional needs. But, any good all-flock feed will do the trick.
Guinea fowl are less prone to many common poultry diseases that often affect chickens, such as Marek’s disease and coccidiosis. They have a stronger resistance to diseases that would devastate chicken flocks. And, they haven’t been selectively bred to the same extent as chickens, so they have a higher level of genetic diversity. We’ve spoke about this before, genetic diversity contributes resilience against various diseases.
5. Entertaining Personalities
Beyond all of these practical benefits, guinea fowl bring a lot of charm and entertainment to our farm. They’re social birds that really do have a range of amusing behaviors. They are very curious and how they interact with other animals brings some humor into our farm life.
Eggs and Reproduction
Guinea fowl lay their eggs seasonally, usually starting in the spring and continuing through the summer months. Unlike chickens, they do not use nesting boxes and prefer to lay their eggs in hidden nests on the ground. These nests are often well-camouflaged, making it difficult to find and collect the eggs. A single guinea hen can lay between 70 to 100 eggs per year under ideal conditions.
However, reproducing in Maine poses significant challenges for guinea fowl due to their nesting habits and the local climate. Guineas prefer to nest in secluded, grassy areas, which can expose their eggs to predators and the elements. The cooler, wetter climate of Maine, especially in the early and late parts of their laying season, can negatively impact egg viability and the survival rate of keets. Additionally, the ground nests are vulnerable to being disturbed or destroyed by other animals.
While the female incubates the eggs, other guinea fowl often stand guard nearby. The males and other members of the group will patrol the area and alert the hen to potential dangers with their loud calls. This cooperative behavior helps protect the nest from predators and adds an extra layer of security for the brooding hen. However, despite these efforts, the challenges posed by Maine’s environment and predators can still impact the success rate of hatching guinea fowl eggs.
We are always wicked happy when we see a missing hen return with a confusion of keets in tow and we keep almost every guinea keet produced on our farm. It’s rare for us to part with any (more on this, too!).
Why We Love Guineas And You Should, Too!
As you can tell, we think guineas are truly the unsung heroes of the farm. Their history, unique characteristics, and numerous benefits make them a valuable addition to any homestead. If you’re considering adding guinea fowl to your farm, we encourage you to learn more and experience firsthand the joy and utility they bring.
For those interested in starting their journey with guinea fowl, we have keets available for purchase now. Contact us at 207-404-1177 for more information on how you can benefit from these amazing birds!
Find us online at RimeFarm.com or reach out on Facebook here.
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