Rotisserie Roasted Guineas - Mmmmmm!

[HidingInTheHenHouse]

The guineas were 16 weeks old, and yes they were very tender, except not so much on the legs. Also, the thigh meat had more texture than breast meat, but tasted more like duck.

Do any of you know when they will start laying eggs? They pretty much think they are chickens, roost in the hen house all mixed in with the chickens, so maybe they won't hide their nests as much.

I only have 1 female. I got a batch of 10 keets, and only 1 ending up being a girl. I sure hope she lays soon. I haven't figured out who her "man" is. I have never seen them mate, or even attempt it, except a few times the guineas will chase the chicken hens like that is what they are wanting.

I think the white ones are better for meat, just for the plucking aspect. Makes a more attractive dressed bird.

 

[skand]

We got ours at the beginning of summer, so they should be laying yet. Although, haven't seen them mate with each other. Did have a roo getting them for awhile, till we realized they can have mixed babies (ooo they are ugly!) So we got rid of the roo.
Haven't seen any even acting like they were doing the egg making process.
Guineas are considered a game fowl, said to taste like pheasant, more dark meat, gamey taste.
Every recipe that I find says the same, either cover with bacon, stuff with sausage, put an apple inside.

 

[jvls1942]

don't believe everything you read.. guineas are unique tasting, not gamey.. don't spoil it with bacon.. don't expect it to taste like chicken and you won't be disappointed..

you do have to be careful when you cook it.. just like any high protein meat it can dry out and/or be tough or stringy.. slow cooking is a must..

some high class restaurants treat it like pheasant..

consider using a pressure cooker.. we do for quail.. keeps it very moist..

bon appitite..

...jiminwisc.........

 

[skand]

lol i have one of those, still too scared to use it. gimme a good recipe, and I swear I'll try out my pressure cooker.

 

[jvls1942]

I was scared of the poessure cooker the first few times..

the more you use it the more comfortable you will become..

just always remember to let the pressure off completely before you open the lid..

a little salt, pepper, maybe a sprinkle of Watkins chicken seasoning and let er rip.. I think it only takes 20 minutes.

..jiminwisc.....

 

[skand]

Super cool, thanks. Good to know I'm not the only chicken when it comes to pressure cookers. The directions for mine said, used correctly and this could be the safest appilience in your kitchen. lol Yeah, so long as it stays on the shelf

 

[miss_jayne]

i have an electric pressure cooker! it's great!
i can put a frozen roast or chicken in it and it's done in an hour.

food is so tender in the pressure cooker. can't wait for guineas next year!

 

[monster1]

ur makin' me hungry! got some guinea eggs in the bator now. goal is to raise them so they breed then have some of that gourmet meat!

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
Ok, 16 weeks, if I ever get an excess of guineas, maybe I'll try a few. I'm not surprised the legs were a mite tough, they run everywhere.

I've kept guineas for several years, they can be difficult to keep alive when young. They seem to start laying at about a year old. They're somewhat seasonal layers. I say somewhat, because once they start laying, you'll get a few eggs all year, but there will be scads of eggs in the spring and early summer, until they start the brooding cycle.

If they lay indoors, or outdoors where you can find the eggs, I'd advise letting a hen hatch them, or incubating them your self. We lost some of our adult females to predators while they were nesting in unknown locations this year, out in the fields and woods. Then of the approximately 45-60 keets they hatched, ONE survived.
He survived by abandoning his guinea parents, and joining up with 5 keets who had been hatched by a dark Cornish hen. She adopted him along with her other guinea-babies. All six are full size now, and still hang around with their chicken-mom. They go everywhere she goes. It's funny to watch her with her guinea-babies, nearly twice her size.

My only concern is what they'll do when they mature. They may be totally imprinted on chickens, and want to mate with the hens. In fact, today, there were some guineas chasing a hen all over the place, and I wonder if that's why.

BTW, I discovered that most of the time, when I've seen guineas chasing each over all over the place, in what I was sure was a mating ritual, it was actually one male chasing another, to establish dominance and mating rights, probably.

Oh, and when you have tons of guinea eggs, you can always sell some to hatch, or eat them. As different as they look, I can't tell the difference between those and chicken eggs, as far as taste and texture. People who are allergic to chicken eggs can often tolerate eggs from other birds, duck, turkey, guinea, etc. Some people don't care for duck eggs, but guinea eggs are a very palatable alternative.

 

[skand]

I've heard guinea eggs have bigger yolks. Some people I've talked to pefer guinea eggs over chicken eggs, guess they are more yolk-y inclined.