Does anyone raise guinea fowl for meat?

[jackson41]

Just curious about how to raise them for eating. I'm not sure I will be able to do it but have heard the meat is very tasty.

 

[jcatblum]

I have considered sampling a few. Haven't tried it yet. Think I saw 12 wks was best time to butcher. I know I feed the guineas less since the free range all the time. I would think it might be cheaper than raising chickens for meat if you were able to hatch out your own.

 

[jackson41]

I have never raised guineas or chickens for meat, but do raise quail to harvest. The males are just kind of mean and easy to butcher, however my hens would be a different story. Not sure if I would become attached to the guineas. Maybe their loud sounds would be incentive.

 

[philter4]

I have raised animals all of my life for food, including chickens, pheasants, ducks, geese, goats, cows, pigs, and sheep. I have eaten guinea fowl but never raised one until a couple of years ago. Now I have a flock of helmeted guineas (which I think about killing almost daily) and a pair of vulturine guinea fowl which are too expensive for me to eat. Maybe when they start breeding, mine will be a year old in August, I would consider eating a young adult, but it is just so convenient to go the the store and let them do all the work.

The meat is a lot like a pheasant or wild turkey, a little dark, very little white meat even in the breast, and has a very strong taste to it. if you hunt and/or have family and friends who do then you know the basic flavor. If you like the taste of wild birds you would probably like guinea fowl.

 

[PeepsCA]

Supposedly, the pure White Guinea Fowl are a little less "gamey" tasting and have a lighter color to the meat. I personally have not tried Guinea Fowl, and I have never butchered or dressed out any type of poultry ever in my life before... but I was eyeballing a pure White male of mine a while back because he was being an obnoxious bully!! I chickened out and sold him instead, lol.