Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[MeepBeep]

After searching for a credible possibility of this mythical hybrid, I have decided I was correct the first time, it cannot happen and if it did it is a fraud, which means phony taxidermy work or photoshopping.

Taxidermy doesn't work on live specimens and photoshop didn't exist when many of the documented photos were taken...

I guess your searching lead you in a different direction that documented scientific papers...

http://messybeast.com/genetics/hybrid-birds.htm

https://libinfo.uark.edu/aas/issues/1976v30/v30a17.pdf

Crosses between peafowl and guineafowl have been reported by
Serebrovsky (1929), Ghigi (1900), Taibel (1955), Heinroth and
Heinroth ( 1955), Mayball(1961 ).and Hanebrink (1973a, b)

I guess you could claim all those documented accounts as fake, but I would beg to differ... As I'm guessing for example in Heinroth and Heinroth (1955) that a zoologist and then current director of the Berlin Zoo and her husband who was a renowned animal biologist and behaviorist himself who documented, and hand reared 286 different species of of birds in their own apartment likely knew what they talking about...

 

[MeepBeep]

..

 

[perchie.girl]

For what its worth Hybridization of Guinea Fowl in many cases has to be by A.I. and usually the Guinea Hen is the recipient.

There are many cases of hybridizations that happen in nature.... but the ones that come up as mule or sterile are the ones that are the most separated genetically.

male/female = sterile hybrid
donkey/horse = mule Takes after horse in size and conformation
Horse/donkey = hinny Takes after donkey in size and conformation

dont know if gender of cross makes a difference in ducks
Muscovy/pekin = mulard source for commercial Foie Gras

deb

 

[MeepBeep]

For what its worth Hybridization of Guinea Fowl in many cases has to be by A.I.   and usually the Guinea Hen is the recipient. 

I only hatch a very small percentage of my guinea eggs, so I have no clue as to success rate if any, but my roosters and some guinea hens get amorous quite often... I might pair a couple caught in the act, in a breeding pen later this year or next and see what happens...

 

[Tikkijane]

they need humid and hot... they are from sub tropical places.    Best if kept in Zoo quality enclosures with formulated food for them.  It can be done here but I am not that died in the wool with the husbandry....  

They can be hybridized with regular Helmeted Guinea fowl.  This gives them the benefits of both worlds...  Vigor in many different climates and that blue though its more subdued.  Unfortunately so far they have been sterile.

edited to add:  the person I spoke to about them was raising them and Cassowaries in Florida...  she was breeding Cassowaries for Zoos.  Shes also the one who told me about using Catfish chow as a supplement for birds that cant get out to forage for bugs.

deb

My breeder friend in Raleigh has vultrines. They are GORGEOUS!! You can find his stuff on FB-look up The Guinea Park Inn. He's got great pics up there!

 

[Tikkijane]

My breeder friend in Raleigh has vultrines. They are GORGEOUS!! You can find his stuff on FB-look up The Guinea Park Inn. He's got great pics up there!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Guineaparkinn/

 

[perchie.girl]

I have Guinea cock who lost his mate last month and is grieving. He still calls and looks for her everyday. He has taken to calling my chicken hens over to get a tasty bug he catches but they ignore him. He is not causing any problem for the chickens but his behavior is breaking my heart.
Does anyone know of any available guinea hens in the New Hampshire area? I think what he really needs is a new companion. Mail order bride service for "Mr. I'm in Charge". Never thought I'd be doing this when I started keeping birds!

Thanks

awww

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
cool site.... lots of wonderful pictures... sigh

 

[duluthralphie]

I have Guinea cock who lost his mate last month and is grieving. He still calls and looks for her everyday. He has taken to calling my chicken hens over to get a tasty bug he catches but they ignore him. He is not causing any problem for the chickens but his behavior is breaking my heart.
Does anyone know of any available guinea hens in the New Hampshire area? I think what he really needs is a new companion. Mail order bride service for "Mr. I'm in Charge". Never thought I'd be doing this when I started keeping birds!

Thanks
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This behavior would worry me greatly. I would get my chicken hens into a self defense program and equip them all with whistles. A guimea offering treats to a chicken hen is akin to an old guy in a trench coat driving a windowless van offering candy to little kids......

Beware of the Guineas motives!

 

[pattyhen]

This behavior would worry me greatly. I would get my chicken hens into a self defense program and equip them all with whistles. A guimea offering treats to a chicken hen is akin to an old guy in a trench coat driving a windowless van offering candy to little kids......

Beware of the Guineas motives!

I'm sorry for your guinea being alone but this response was halarious.