Can you please help me sex my Guineas?

[Florida Bullfrog]

I haven't had guineas since childhood. I used to know how to sex them, but long since forgotten. I read about looking at their waddles this morning and that vaguely rang a bell.

When I got home from work this evening I tried to check them out but they wouldn't hold still enough for me to see what I had, even looking thru binoculars. So I filmed them and slowed it down. They may or may not be quite old enough to sex in this manner, I defer to more experienced guinea keepers on that point. They are about 3 months old.

It *seems* like likely have 2 roosters and 5 hens. Thoughts?

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Guinea Hens make a “Buck wheat” noise

Guinea cocks make a “chin chin chin” noise

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

The problem I’m having going by calls is they all make the “chin chin chin” call when they are alarmed and when they’re marching they chant the “buck wheat” call as a group and I can’t tell which guinea is doing what.

 

[sourland]

Other than voice sexing I am absolutely unable to determine Guinea fowl gender.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

The problem I’m having going by calls is they all make the “chin chin chin” call when they are alarmed and when they’re marching they chant the “buck wheat” call as a group and I can’t tell which guinea is doing what.

Females can make the “chin chin” sound too when alarmed.
Males won’t make the “buck wheat” sound.
Voice sexing is the only way to sex guinea fowl other than getting a DNA test done.

 

[R2elk]

There are a number of ways to sex adult guineas. The guarantee it is a hen is if it lays an egg. The next best is the "buckwheat" which supposedly only the females make. There have been reported cases of a young male also making the "buckwheat" call but only when young.

There are other behaviors that can indicate sex. A hen will look right straight at you while a male with look at you from the side while side stepping around you.

Mature mated guineas will have the male lie down in one spot while his hen or hens forage in a circle around him. Male guineas are known to capture insects and offer them to his mate. A male guinea will stand guard in an erect position while his hen is laying an egg or on the nest.

I have been able to vent sex guineas once they are at least 4 weeks old. Laying hens are by far the easiest to vent sex.

Wattles and casque size are considered by some to indicate guinea fowl sex. I have personally had male guineas with the classic female wattles and have seen photos of guinea hens whose wattles were large and cupped like the classic male wattles. Casques in males are typically larger than those of the same variety of guinea. Some varieties have females whose casques are bigger than the casques of a different variety so it is a relative thing based on the variety.

I don't even try to identify guinea sex from photos because there are so many variables.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I see. So the waddle method isn’t reliable.

That I have hens is no question because at least some of them are making the buckwheat call. I haven’t noticed any of them making the keet keet keet call unless alarmed.

Maybe this will be a good experiment. After their waddles grow some more I’ll definitively get a count on which ones have rooster-like waddles and which ones do not, and then try to test it as they grow and get confirmed thru other means.

 

[R2elk]

Maybe this will be a good experiment. After their waddles grow some more I’ll definitively get a count on which ones have rooster-like waddles and which ones do not, and then try to test it as they grow and get confirmed thru other means.

FYI, male guineas are cocks, not roosters.