Some questions about French Guineas.

[PeepsCA]

They do look about the same size, your right about that. Still the Jumbo French Whatevers are slightly larger, and they are very noticeably heavier that the regular ones. I'd say they are about three pounds heavier at least. The regular ones are going on a year old, and the french/ jumbo guineas are only a few months, and are slightly bigger, as well as significantly heavier. They still can't fly (probably never will) , but they are very active foragers. I put each one on the roost tonight, with the rest of the guineas and chickens. Chickens are easy to put on a roost(whenever I have to take them down from the neighbors tree)and just sit right on there. Guineas however...you try to put them on the roost and they push off with their feet, keeping their legs straight. It took me a while, but they are all sleeping on the roosts now.

LOL, consider yourself lucky that you can even grab a hold of those Guineas and pick them up... mine all explode when they are grabbed. With the lower roosts, and you putting them up on the higher roost each evening for a while they may figure out how to roost like normal Guineas, or their natural roosting instinct will finally kick in, eventually. Keep your fingers crossed.

One other thing that came to mind as far as these birds not being able to fly/roost is that they may have been pinioned as day-olds... but looking at your pics they don't look to be pinioned (I have never seen a pinioned bird up close tho). Might want to compare their wings to your Guineas' just to be sure.

 

[BarbaraNH]

I had the same thought as Peeps about the French guineas having been pinioned as a possible reason for why they aren't able to fly. I have never heard that French guineas cannot or do not fly.

I had a little conversation with Joel Martin, the owner of J M Hatchery in PA. He has a large hatchery that deals with French guinea fowl. He told me that the Grimaud breeding line of French guineas typically do have one or two white wing feathers. So having a white feather or two would not be a disqualification. I asked him if the French varieties come in any color besides pearl, and he said that they do come in other colors (he did not mention which ones), but he was not aware of any breeders here in the U.S. who were breeding French guineas that were not pearls.

 

[The Chickeneer]

Oh, so they can have a few white flights then, thanks. It didn't cross my mind that they could be pinioned, usually when someone says pinioned I think of my pheasants. Whenever I do pick them up though, they don't look pinioned. Il have to make a thorough check on them.

 

[BarbaraNH]

If not pinioned, maybe they had their wings clipped?

 

[The Chickeneer]

Their wings aren't clipped, all their flights are intact. I think it's just that they are so heavy.

 

[PeepsCA]

I had the same thought as Peeps about the French guineas having been pinioned as a possible reason for why they aren't able to fly. I have never heard that French guineas cannot or do not fly.

I had a little conversation with Joel Martin, the owner of J M Hatchery in PA. He has a large hatchery that deals with French guinea fowl. He told me that the Grimaud breeding line of French guineas typically do have one or two white wing feathers. So having a white feather or two would not be a disqualification. I asked him if the French varieties come in any color besides pearl, and he said that they do come in other colors (he did not mention which ones), but he was not aware of any breeders here in the U.S. who were breeding French guineas that were not pearls.

That's interesting that White flights aren't considered a flaw or DQ in the French variety, when they are for the Standard Guinea Fowl (according to the "proposed" SOP). Someone really needs to propose a new, more thorough SOP that covers more of the GF varieties, in detail. It would clear up a lot of confusion.

Thanks for the info Barbara.

 

[PeepsCA]

Their wings aren't clipped, all their flights are intact. I think it's just that they are so heavy.

Maybe they were strictly pen raised from the time they were out of the brooder, in a short covered pen (without roosts) so they just never developed the muscles and skills needed to fly. Any history on these birds? Despite being Jumbo or French it seems like their wings would still grow proportionate to their body size and allow them to take flight, but I've never raised them so that is just an assumption. I know my part Jumbo girls fly just fine tho and their father had no issues flying (he was huge).

Who knows, being so young and now being able to free range with your current Guineas they may still learn to use their wings. Altho Guineas that will stay at ground level isn't such a bad thing... lol, easier to keep home and contain! (As long as they are protected from predators).

 

[The Chickeneer]

Well I noticed some of them flying today, it wasn't that high, but they did it. I think you're right, with some time outside with the rest, they should start flying better. They still can't fly as high as a chicken though.

 

[oweirdo]

I just wanted to weight in, I have 6 French guineas. I wanted the French because they were bigger. My were brooded and raised with the chickens, they think they are chickens. They roost in the house closed up at night, but free range during day. Always.following the rooster closely.
When our dachshund decided to try guinea meat, they flew into our oak trees, higher than our chickens ever dared. But still came down to the chickens after the dog got sprayed.

 

[Flockfrenzy]

My French Guinea Fowl fly to the roost that is 6 feet off the coop floor!