Millet

[R2elk]

I think the one shown looks malformed. I did notice in a photo of eggs that for some the taper from the center to the point wasn't as sharp of a decline,making the lower part fuller. But that doesn't mean it defines sex, & it was still a point. Kind of like saying if a woman carries high or low.
As w/ everything guinea, everything is anecdotal. We know the waddle thing isn't accurate.
I know my humidity was lower than ideal this summer, so I *think* the thick legs is the result of fluid retention because they didn't lose enough weight. If I end up with thick legs this time, we'll know that theory was wrong.
Still anecdotal, but with mine, I've been right judging the slant of the helmet. My girls' always slant low and my boys are upright. That's why I'm watching them this time. There's barely a knob there right now, but they already do or don't have a slant to them.
That and listening to them are clear indications that the goonies are how I've coped with life's transitions, lol. On any given day of the week I could be in Ind, Ill., Mo., Oh.or Ky for work, from one all week to all 5 in one week . From that I went to parent caretaker to babysitting grandchildren to covid lockdown and back to grandchildren. So of course, I gain sanity from sitting amidst the confusion. Lol.
The point- I wouldn't bet the farm on it just yet, but based on current vocalizations, I have 2 males and 12 females out there. That's by separating them one by one in the kennel. Some I can guarantee they're female. The males I'm pretty sure but it could be that they just haven't hit the 2 syllable yet, and there's a couple that were so frantic that I think I heard it but it's in the middle of a long string of screaming.
That might seem a lopsided number, but who knows what was in the portion of the hatch that went missing.
Someone in there has the iconic "FOR REAL!" It's driving me crazy bc I can't pinpoint who it is & I want that to be one I keep.
BUT- "For Real!" was Blue and Nuggie's greeting, & that defies all theory, bc they were both undoubtedly male.

I know of at least two cases where a guinea was thought to be a female when young because of hearing the "buckwheat" call. In both cases the guinea turned out to be male and never made the "buckwheat" call as an adult.

 

[Sydney65]

I know of at least two cases where a guinea was thought to be a female when young because of hearing the "buckwheat" call. In both cases the guinea turned out to be male and never made the "buckwheat" call as an adult.

Preliminary-that's the word that was on the tip of my tongue that I cldnt get out. Absolutely it's nothing definite, hence wouldn't bet the farm.
More pointedly is that I don't think one can rely on the 1 or 2 syllable theory either. Either that or we acknowledge their ability, male or female, to mimick.
Hold on a second - This is where I pause to chuckle, thinking "I know he thinks I'm a nutsy bird lady humanizing her birds."
Ok. Just as we agreed that keets have a 2 syllable sound that "I" perceive as sounding like "thank you".
Regardless of my perception, I had 3 males who acknowledged, announced, alerted my presence with, or just for giggles w/no purpose what so ever -emitted a 2 syllable sound that seemed to mimick my "Good Morning" greeting to them.
Two of those males also made the "For Real!" sound. Yes, my perception of the sound, but THEIR 2 syllable sound.
The difference is that they aren't screaming it at the top of their lungs repetitively as the female does their "Comeback, Buckwheat," etc.
My perception of the sound is no more significant than whether it's "comeback" or "buckwheat".
The significance is that the 2 syllable theory isn't anymore or less resolute than cupped waddles or slanted helmets. Atleast not unless we specify that it's the volume of the female that matters. Rosie mutters "Coco". But when she starts buckwheating, EVERYONE knows it.
It might be that the anecdotes are accurate if in quantity. If it checks of most of these boxes, chances are you have a female/male. But you'll know for sure when it lays an egg.