Guinea fowl: breeding and keeping at home with chickens, rules

Guinea fowls are becoming more and more popular birds that have an attractive appearance and bring tasty meat. They are also characterized by high egg production parameters. At the same time, farmers are afraid to grow these birds, because they consider them demanding care. In fact, breeding and keeping guinea fowls at home along with chickens is considered quite realistic.

Pros and cons of shared content

Guinea fowl belong to the order Galliformes. Therefore, they get along well in the same room with chickens. Moreover, each species of birds differs in some features. They are worth taking into account.

The benefits of keeping birds together include the following:

1. Same food. If the birds are raised for high quality meat, their diet is the same. It is based on cereals, wet mixes, herbs, vegetables. This helps farmers save time and effort on feeding birds.
2. Similar containment procedures. Birds can sit on perches together and use the same nests. At the same time, the parameters of temperature and humidity are the same. Growing guinea fowl in a chicken coop requires adequate lighting.
3. Hatching eggs. This is one of the main advantages of living in one poultry house. Guinea fowls do not differ in a pronounced maternal instinct. Therefore, farmers often put their eggs under the hens, which helps to achieve excellent results and produce he althy offspring.
4. Good relations between birds. But sometimes roosters show aggression and create conflict situations. To reduce these risks, it is important to keep birds in the same room from childhood.

To populate the poultry house with different types of birds, experts advise adding several guinea fowls to the chickens and assess their behavior.

At the same time, the joint keeping of birds differs in some minuses:

1. The guinea fowl's need for freedom. For the comfortable development of these birds, a sufficient amount of space is required. At the same time, chickens may well live in cages or small poultry houses.
2. Features of reproduction. Chickens are able to breed in a dark room. At the same time, guinea fowl need a free enclosure.
3. Mating risk. Roosters are able to cover not only chickens, but also guinea fowls. This can lead to hybrids. In appearance, they resemble guinea fowls, but have chicken feathers.

How to organize a room

In order for the birds to live normally together, you should follow the following rules:

1. Remove cocky chickens from the house. If you get rid of the most aggressive representatives, the rest of the individuals will behave more peacefully.
2. Set the required number of poles and nests. If there is a lack of them, there is a risk of conflicts between birds.
3. Provide free space for the birds. There should be 2-3 guinea fowl per 1 square meter.
4. Make an aviary. It should have a large area for walking. These areas are recommended to be fenced with a net at least 2 meters high, since guinea fowls fly well.
5. Put ash or sand baths. In such containers, the birds will be able to swim. This will protect them from parasites.
6. Ensure access to clean water. Drinking bowls and feeders are recommended to be washed thoroughly every day.

How to feed birds properly

In order for the birds to develop normally, they are recommended to give cereals, wet mash, greens. It is also worth introducing fortified supplements and special feeds into the diet.

Normally birds need to be fed 2-3 times a day. If the birds are free-range, it is enough to give food only in the evening.

In the morning and in the afternoon it is worth using wet mixers. In the evenings, it is better to use cereal mixtures. The following foods should be included in the main diet of birds:

• cereals - oats, barley, corn;
• vegetables - carrots, boiled potatoes, pumpkin, beets;
• greens - plant tops, clover, herbs.

Also, birds should be given special supplements. These include yeast, bone meal, s alt.In addition, birds need shells, chalk, fish oil. At the time of the start of egg laying, vitamins and minerals should be added to the diet. It is especially important to use calcium and phosphorus. In winter, instead of greenery, it is worth using pine needles and hay. Root vegetables can also be a source of vitamins.

Walking chickens and guinea fowls

Chickens do not need a mandatory range, while guinea fowls simply need it. Birds need enough fresh air. Therefore, it is recommended to walk them in any weather.

Guinea fowl tolerate cold very well. Therefore, they are allowed to be released outside at temperatures up to -30 degrees. At the same time, the walking area must be free and have fences. It is advisable to make a canopy for birds to protect from rain and sun.

The joint keeping of chickens and guinea fowl is considered quite real. These birds get along well and have approximately the same diet. In order for the breeding of birds to be successful, they need to provide normal conditions of detention.

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