Guinea fowl: breeding at home, detailed for beginners

Breeding such an exotic bird as a guinea fowl is within the power of everyone. It is unpretentious, profitable in feeding and is able to tolerate frost well. It is chosen for the high quality of eggs and dietary lean meat. The bird is fully adapted for home keeping. The main thing is to adhere to the basic rules for breeding guinea fowl at home, to provide free walking, food, and a heated room.

Popular breeds

Guinea fowls belong to the category of large birds, the weight of adults varies from 1.5 to 2 kg. For one guinea fowl, the owner spends from 3 to 3.5 kg of feed per 1 kg of weight.There are several varieties of breeds, but the common ancestor here is the common guinea fowl. Among the main species:

• Grey-speckled. The plumage color is gray with a white speck. The body is oval. The mass of females is 1.5-1.6 kg, male - 1.8 kg. Sexual maturity occurs at 8 months. The average egg production is 90 eggs, each weighing 45-47 g. The color of the meat is bluish, the taste is high.

• Zagorskaya. This is one of the most valuable breeds. Guinea fowl are distinguished by their large size, high egg production - up to 140 eggs per year. The weight of the female is 2 kg, the male is 2.5 kg. A characteristic feature is a white chest. The bird is unpretentious in content, is not afraid of either cold or heat. The meat is of high quality, the eggs are subject to long-term storage and transportation. To breed this breed, the Moscow rooster and the gray-speckled guinea fowl were used.

• White Siberian. The breed is relatively new, distinguished by a white color with a slight patch. Her popularity was brought by high egg production rates - up to 170 pieces per year. The weight of the female is about 2.1 kg, the male is 2 kg.

• Cream. According to external data, the cream guinea fowl is very similar to the Siberian white. It is only distinguished by its smaller size, rich dark color of the carcass. Basically, the color of the guinea fowl is white and cream, but there is also a yellowish tint. The weight of an adult female is 1.65 kg, the male is 1.75 kg. Egg production rates vary from 80 to 100 pieces during the year. The color of the eggs is also cream, the weight of each is from 44 g. The percentage of their hatchability is 70%.

• Blue.The breed is less common. She has an interesting appearance: blue color, in comparison with the body, the head is very small in size, there is a pink crest. Egg production indicators are good - 100-150 pieces per year from one guinea fowl. The weight of one egg is almost 45 g. The percentage of fertility reaches 75%. The breed is suitable for both artificial reproduction and natural reproduction.

• Yellow. The color of the guinea fowl is fully consistent with the name of the breed - pale yellow. Only at the neck and on the chest is a yellow-red tint visible. An adult female weighs about 1.8 kg, a male - 1.5 kg. In one year, a guinea fowl can bring up to 100 eggs, each weighing 45 g.

• Volga white. For breeding work, productive individuals of the white Siberian guinea fowl were involved. Breeders are attracted by the high taste of meat, excellent presentation.The guinea fowl is not demanding on nutrition, it is able to quickly gain weight. Among the shortcomings, weak egg production, difficulties in identifying the sex are distinguished. The bird has short legs, an elongated body, a small head. The beak and wattles are painted pink, the plumage is from white to cream. There are specimens with dark feathers. The weight of the female is 1.9 kg, the male is 1.6 kg. For a year, the egg production of a bird can reach 100 eggs. Their hatchability percentage is almost 80%.

• Blue lilac. A characteristic feature of the breed is the color of the feathers - a pronounced indigo color with white patches. There is a strong pubescence in the region of the neck and chest. An adult female weighs 2.5 kg, a male - 2 kg. The advantage of the breed is high egg production, they are 150 pieces in one year. The weight of each is almost 45 g. Due to the hard shell, the eggs are suitable for long-term storage, transportation.

• White. Guinea fowls of this breed are distinguished by their white color, there are no inclusions or spots on the feathers. The beak and wattles are unevenly colored, at the base it is a rich pink color, and towards the end it is white. The weight of the male is about 1.5 kg, and the female is 1.8 kg. Egg production rates for an adult guinea fowl vary from 90 to 100 pieces per year, each weighing 42-45 g. The shell is dense, there are many small dots.

Subtleties of keeping birds

Breeding guinea fowl at home is not difficult, even a beginner can handle them. The main thing is to take into account that these are birds with increased activity, freedom-loving, used to graze in the meadows. In order for their content to be productive, walking in the open air should be organized.

Guinea fowl can also stay in a closed space, but then you should not expect high egg production, as well as fertility.

In order for the sexual activity of individuals to be at a sufficient level, space is needed for their mating games.

Arrangement of a poultry house and a walking yard

For the normal cultivation of guinea fowl at home, breeders equip a room where the birds will rest and spend the night. An existing outbuilding is suitable for these purposes; in its absence, a new one is being built. The main thing is that the poultry house is insulated, located on a hill, otherwise it will be damp in autumn and spring. And the presence of mold will only provoke the development of dangerous diseases in poultry.

To prevent mold on the floor, it is treated with slaked lime. Spend on 1 sq. m area of 1 kg of the drug. After all the preparatory measures, a layer of straw or dried grass, sawdust is laid.Perches for guinea fowls are optimally placed at a height of 50 cm from the floor. You need to take into account that only 5 females are allowed per 1 m of perch.

Indoors, you need to provide a litter that will effectively absorb moisture and warm in winter. For guinea fowls, lovers of free range, an appropriate enclosure is required. Enclose it with a metal mesh, the height of the structure should be up to two meters. If it is lower, then the birds will easily fly over. In addition, it is necessary to provide a canopy that will save the guinea fowl from direct sunlight and precipitation.

Habitat conditions

Keeping an exotic bird at home is within the power of everyone, if you maintain a comfortable indoor climate, properly install drinkers and feeders. Guinea fowls should have free access to them. Clean water is especially necessary for birds during the hot season, otherwise they will simply overheat.

In the poultry house, you should also clean the water and feed containers once a month with disinfectants. Where guinea fowls live, it should always be dry and clean. If you plan to keep not one, but several breeds, then the room should be zoned. These birds have a strong sense of competition.

To increase egg production, the area is calculated taking into account 1 sq. m for 2-3 individuals. In the cold season, guinea fowls cluster together. If the temperature in the house decreases, then it is necessary to ventilate. The bird opens its beak, spreads its wings, anoints itself on the floor in this state. For guinea fowls in the poultry house, the humidity level is maintained within 60-70%, and the temperature regime is from 18 to 30 degrees.

Features of caring for guinea fowls

To properly care for a guinea fowl at home, you need to know some subtleties.Particular attention should be paid to the choice of breed, it is better to give preference to the Siberian White, Zagorsk White-Breasted. At the age of three months, young individuals already weigh 1.3 kg. The adult stock gains weight up to 2 kg, the female exceeds the male in weight.

Guinea fowl know their flock very well, they always group. They know their master, when he appears, they begin to bawl. Such birds may well act as a watchman, they determine a stranger from afar. In feeding unpretentious, economical. It is important for them to spend the night and rest in the house, where it is dry, there is bedding and comfortable perches. Due to the ease of maintenance, they can be safely bred even in the backyard. Nearby copses are suitable for free range.

How is parent flock formed?

The parent herd includes one male and several females. Most often, they can be distinguished by weight. Females are larger in size, more in weight. But they also have other distinguishing features:

• constantly "talking";
• are in an inclined position (looking for food);
• presence of a graceful beak;
• straight head;
• delicate earrings under the beak.

To accurately determine the gender of guinea fowls, you need to carefully turn the chick over, open the cloaca. In males, the presence of a small tubercle is traced. When the head of the herd is found, they look for two-year-old females, 5-6 pieces are enough. A successful family is organized free range.

The process of mating in guinea fowl does not occur in a closed house, which must be taken into account when breeding them. Eggs that are planned for a new generation are collected and stored vertically. The main thing is that the blunt end is facing up. In addition, the eggs must be kept clean, otherwise any dirt will only clog the pores, which will slow down the normal development of the embryo.Eggs must be harvested before noon.

There are situations when there is no mother hen. Then the eggs are placed in an incubator for 29 days. The main thing is to rotate them regularly. In order for the hatching of the chicks to be successful, it is necessary to provide them with increased humidity.

Diet

This poultry does not require a special diet. She gladly eats insects, worms, plant food. Vegetables, fruits are cut, chopped, grass in the same way. For guinea fowls, the ratio of vegetable and dry food is important, the first should be more - 60%. The main thing is greens.

Exotic bird helps to destroy pests such as the Colorado potato beetle, snails, caterpillars. But beetles are first added to the food so that they get used to them.

There are no problems with food at all in summer. Guinea fowls are able to independently seek their own food in the meadows, free range. This is both economical and effective for the he alth of the livestock.But in autumn and winter, it is required to add blood meal, wet meat waste, dairy products, cereals, fish oil to the feed. Such supplements will help to avoid the development of beriberi during this period. If you grow cesareans in this way at home, profits will be guaranteed.

Rules for breeding birds in detail for beginners

To raise guinea fowl without loss, you need to know how to choose the right chicks. It is better to take them already grown, at the age of 2-3 days, from experienced livestock breeders. When buying, each chick is carefully examined - they must be lively, he althy, active. There should be no bare areas on the skin, various kinds of damage. The seller should clarify the main points of nutrition, what kind of food is familiar to these chickens.

Beginners should better breed a herd of 18-20 chicks.It is recommended to buy them in the spring. So they will have the opportunity to eat more vegetable food, walk in the fresh air. The smaller the crown princes, the easier and faster they will be able to adapt to new conditions, the owner. At first, the chicks are still supported with wet food (during the day) and compound feed (in the evening).

At what age are guinea fowls slaughtered for meat

The bird grows quickly, for 1 kg of weight it needs 3-3.5 kg of food. At the age of 3 months, their average weight is 1.1-1.3 kg. Guinea fowls live for 5 months before slaughter, females already weigh 1.5, and males - 2 kg.

Frequent diseases

In the absence of proper care, violations in feeding, non-compliance with the rules for keeping guinea fowl begin to hurt. Most often this happens due to untimely cleaning of the premises. Bird droppings are a source of development of pathogenic microflora. And pathogens are easily tolerated by rats and mice.

Poultry is prone to trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, pullorosis, pasteurellosis.With reduced immunity, there is a risk of infection with parasites, in which case the doctor prescribes appropriate medications. In order to prevent the development of infectious diseases, agents such as Baytril and Enroxil are added to the water.

Is the business profitable?

Breeding guinea fowl at home is profitable. Even a beginner can handle them. Among the benefits of their content are:

• high egg production throughout the year;
• opportunity to keep on personal plots;
• feed savings;
• unpretentiousness in nutrition;
• high nutritional value of eggs;
• free range;
• self foraging;
• strong immunity;
• fast adaptability to new conditions;
• increased resistance to adverse environmental factors;
• have good contact with other pets (chickens, quails, geese);
• dietary meat;
• high-calorie eggs do not provoke allergic reactions;

Attract beginner businessmen and minimal financial costs at the start. A bird aged 4-5 weeks will cost about 500 rubles. And you can sell an adult guinea fowl for 3-4 thousand rubles. This business will be especially profitable in rural areas, where there are pastures and meadows. You can sell not only eggs and carcasses, but also live birds, feathers, fertilized eggs.

Possible problems

Although guinea fowls are not picky about nutrition, conditions of detention, you will have to tinker with the younger generation. First of all, the difficulties relate to the collection of eggs. They can be found in various corners of the paddock, garden.During the incubation period, it is important not to frighten off the females when they are disturbed, they abandon their future offspring, leave the nests. To ensure that the chicks hatch, it is better to place the eggs in the incubator, under the brood hen.

Growing guinea fowl at home is a profitable and not troublesome occupation. The main thing is to choose he althy chicks and provide them with free range, good nutrition. There are many worthy breeds on the market, but the Zagorsk and gray-speckled breeds remain in priority.

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