Business, Agriculture
What kind of a bird is a guinea fowl? Dilution and maintenance of guinea fowl at home
Guinea fowl were imported to Europe from Africa in the 16th century. After a while this beautiful productive bird was also interested in Russia. Initially, it was bred only by rich people as decorative. Hence its name. "Guinea fowl" means "royal". Later, these close relatives of domestic chicken began to breed and as an economic livestock. In this article, in all details, we will figure out what kind of bird guinea fowl is and how to take care of it.
general description
In appearance, guinea fowls are somewhat like humpback hens with a small head and a round body. The short tail of this bird is pointing downwards, and the feathering differs in density. One of the characteristic features of guinea fowls is the presence of a horny growth on the head. The legs of this bird are thick, powerful and enduring. Wings of chicken guinea fowl are pruned at an early age. The fact is that these birds are able to fly.
As you can see, the guinea fowl (bird) is very unusual and interesting. The male and the female are very similar in appearance, and so much so that inexperienced poultry farmers often can not accurately determine the sex of the bird. However, it is still possible to distinguish females and male guinea fowls. The latter behave more aggressively and aggressively. In addition, males have a lighter color and earrings of large sizes.
Guinea fowls tolerate both heat and cold. Therefore, they can be cultivated in virtually all regions of Russia. The only thing you need to take care of is that in the shed the bird is dry. Elevated humidity of guinea fowl is very poorly tolerated.
This bird is sick much less often than chickens and ducks. However, if an individual does become infected with something, it will be virtually impossible to cure it. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of this bird with exact observance of all put technologies.
Features of behavior
So, now you know what a bird is a guinea fowl. It's a domesticated African chicken, hardy and active. You can keep guinea fowl in an ordinary shed with other feathered animals: chickens, ducks, turkeys. With neighbors, this bird gets along very well - it does not fight, but if necessary, it can stand up for itself. The main feature of guinea fowls in terms of behavior is timidity. It is better if they always feed the same person.
In addition to timidity, this bird is also distinguished by its noisiness. She sees strange people and animals immediately and raises a cry. So guinea fowls are also excellent guards.
One of the important conditions for the successful maintenance of this African chicken is the presence of a large range. The poultry shed should also be quite spacious. If there is no walking next to him, you will not be able to divorce guinea fowl. In this regard, these are very fastidious poultry. The guinea hen will hardly mate with the male in the room.
Sometimes these representatives of birds also contain in the cells. This limits the movement of young animals and helps to accelerate weight gain. However, cells for guinea fowl must be sufficiently free. This active bird should be able to move freely around its dwelling.
Economic value
A bird of guinea-fowl is bred, the photo of which, presented on the page, clearly demonstrates its unusual appearance, primarily for obtaining:
Useful for human health eggs;
Delicious meat.
Modern breeds of guinea fowls are characterized by precocity. Slaughter weight they gain by the age of 45-50-day age. Oviposition in these birds lasts from early spring to autumn. In a year, one hen can bring 90-120 eggs. The meat of guinea fowl to taste like a game and is considered much more useful than chicken and duck. The fact is that it contains much less fat and water. A huge amount of micronutrients useful for health is also what the guinea fowl features. The weight of an adult bird can be as high as 1.7-2.2 kg.
Guinea eggs also have excellent taste qualities. Vitamins in them are much more than in chickens.
African chickens are planted on a private farmstead, not only for obtaining eggs and meat. These birds, among other things, can rid the garden of various kinds of harmful insects. They eat including the Colorado potato beetle, which no bird does. To produce guinea fowl in the garden in most cases can be safely. She never unravels beds, but does not bite vegetables.
Features of reproduction
Answering the question about the bird of the guinea fowl, it is worth paying a little attention and ways of breeding it. As already mentioned, in order to receive fertilized eggs of this bird, the owners of the household farm should equip a spacious aviary for it. If the wings of guinea fowls are not cut, it should be fenced with a fence of at least 2 m in height. Experienced poultry farmers are advised to plant several bushes in the enclosure. This will create an imitation of natural walking, and the bird will feel more confident. For 5-6 females one male is usually left.
The guinea fowl (the photo below confirms this) sometimes can sit eggs and take care of chickens. However, this African chicken is not considered too good by mom. The owners of homesteads are usually not allowed to insect the cage on their own. The fact is that this bird is very shy and can easily throw eggs.
In order to get the young, cesarean eggs are placed under the chicken or turkey. Also, the chicks can be taken out and in the incubator. The mode of operation of the device in this case is set to the same as that for the output of chickens. The only thing, the humidity parameter inside the incubator should be slightly higher.
The guinea-fowl, the bird, the description of which was given by us above, rushes about once every 3-4 days. In the incubator at the same time lay eggs stored for no more than five days. Before placing them in the incubator, a small test should be carried out. To do this, the eggs hit each other. Of course, only slightly. Publishers rattling sound while rejecting, because in their shell there are microcracks.
Care for small tsesearyatami
The peculiarities of growing guinea fowls and other pedigree animals (birds usually contain a lot of livestock on the farmstead) should be known to the owner of the household farm. In particular, this applies to young animals.
Guinea fowl eggs are incubated for about 28 days. Care for hatched chicks is carried out approximately the same as for chickens. That is, the newly born babies are first put in a box with a sheet laid down with paper. On top of such a house for tsesarev covered with a grid. For heating inside, you can put a plastic bottle wrapped in thick cloth with hot water. Be sure to arrange tsesaryatam and lighting. In the dark this bird develops much worse.
Feed the chicken guinea hens after hatching boiled egg, cottage cheese and millet. In a few days they start to give greens. In the first two days after hatching the cesarean is still poorly oriented in the box and can not find food and water. Therefore, they need a little help - to tap a finger on a plank with wheat or eggs, dip the beaks into the water. Until a month old, the tsetsaryat meal is given every three hours. After 30 days go to 3-4 single feeding. Beginning from the second week, yeast, salt and fish oil are introduced into the diet of chicks. In a box or in a cage to tsesaryatam need to put also a small container with small gravel. From the third week of life, it is possible to start feeding young plants with crushed dumplings, boiled potatoes and root vegetables. Greenery in the diet of chicks should be a lot. Adult menus are transferred to a three-month age.
Helpful advice
In order to succeed in breeding, it is not enough to know what a guinea fowl is, what a bird (the photos of these birds show their strong physique quite clearly) is. It is also important to have an idea of some of the characteristics of its cultivation. Cesaryata with time very much getting used to each other. In a flock, fairly complex hierarchical relations are established. Therefore, it is impossible to attach foreign chicks to the box. Members of the school will treat him extremely hostile.
Another rule that must be followed by the owners of tsesarets is absolute cleanliness in the box. The chicks of an African chicken are very curious. Especially with respect to what you can eat. Therefore, they often swallow threads, elastic bands, pieces of rags, etc. Moreover, the consequences for them may be the most deplorable.
Before 4-6 weeks of age, the chicks should be kept in cages. Then they are transferred to the floor - on the litter.
What should be a barn
Thus, you now understand the peculiarities of such feathered animals as guinea fowl. What kind of bird (reviews of owners of homesteads about it are mostly as very unpretentious), you know. So, for example, in a shed for this bird it is not required to install any special equipment. All you need is to place a standard set here: a long feeder and a few drinkers. Like chickens, guinea fowls need roosts. However, they are located in this case lower - at a height of 60 cm and at a distance from each other not less than 40 cm. On the floor of the barn, lay the litter from the straw. Nests are made to the size of a bird and nailed next to the nares.
Without good lighting, as already mentioned, guinea fowls grow very poorly. Therefore, there must be a window in the shed. It is also advisable to arrange ventilation. If it is supposed to keep guinea fowl in winter, the barn needs to be insulated. Low temperatures these birds tolerate well. But in the insulated shed they will still feel more comfortable. Of course, the barn must be dry.
Guinea paddock
Near the shed is usually arranged aviary. You can fence walking with the help of an ordinary mesh-netting. Branches of trees on the territory of the enclosure should not penetrate. Otherwise guinea fowls will get used to them spending the night and running wild. It is very good if the grass grows in the enclosure. Various guinea worms and guinea worms are very fond of and absorb them in large quantities.
Feeding adult birds
Many domestic farmers are well known guinea fowl. In this case, one of the features of guinea fowls is the accelerated exchange processes. Therefore, this bird needs a little more food than chickens. In eating guinea fowls, however, are completely unsuited. With great pleasure this active bird eats both poultry and grain. The basis of the diet is usually bird feed (130-150 g per head). In addition, the bird is given a lot of greens (30-50 g per day). Grass and tops feed only in fresh form.
Grain feeds are sometimes replaced with waste from the table. This can be boiled potatoes, porridges, etc. Wet pouches are prepared not on the water, but on the reverse. You can also use a solution of baker's yeast. In this case, the egg-laying of guinea-fowls will increase. It is necessary to include in the diet of this bird and meat- and -bone flour. Guinea fowls can do without this product only if they are regularly released for paddock. Instead of flour, you can use fish waste, low-fat cottage cheese or some other protein food.
The mineral supplements should also be included in the diet of guinea fowl. This can be chalk, grated seashells or wood ash. With a shortage of minerals in the cave eggs, the shell will thin out. They feed adult guinea fowls, as well as hens, 3 times a day (sometimes 4 times). In this morning and in the afternoon give greens, and at night - mixed fodder.
Features of adult content
The guinea fowl has one peculiarity that the poultryman should know about. "Guinea fowl - what kind of bird?" - we answered this question above. This chicken brought from Africa, unfortunately, still remains pretty wild. Therefore, it is necessary to form a herd of young individuals. It is enough to hold a group of one cockerel and several chickens together for about a week, and they form a very strong group. It is almost impossible to form a herd of adult birds. If the guinea fowls live on their own, this will negatively affect egg production. The productivity of birds, living in a group, is usually 1.5-2 times higher in this respect.
Some poultry farmers do not keep guinea fowls in the barn and aviary constantly. After the second feeding, the bird is released for free walking (of course, if its wings are cut off). Stray dogs and cats do not represent a special danger for guinea fowls. This bird is very bright.
What are the breeds
A guinea fowl whose cultivation is relatively simple, usually pleases its owners with high productivity. However, the parameters of egg production and weight gain may vary depending on the breed. Most often domestic poultry keepers:
Siberian white guinea fowl. This breed is characterized by high egg production and resistance to low temperatures. The main distinguishing feature of this bird is matte-white plumage. The Siberian white guinea-beans behave more calmly than representatives of other breeds. The advantages of these chickens include, among other things, unpretentiousness.
Gray-speckled. This breed is by far the most common. She won popularity mainly for very tasty meat. In a year such chickens can carry up to 90 eggs. The head of the representatives of this breed is practically not feathered.
Blue guinea fowl. Parental for this breed is gray-speckled. The productivity of blue is very good. According to the egg-laying indices, it is more gray-mottled. One hen can carry up to 120 eggs per year.
The Volga. Chicks of this breed can carry up to 120 eggs per year. The advantages of the Volga guinea fowl also include early ripeness. Survival of chickens reaches 86%. Color of this breed is very beautiful - cream.
A guinea-fowl is a bird, whose eggs have remarkable taste qualities, thus, can have a different color and are bred, including as a decorative chicken.
Diseases
Most often, the causes of various health problems in guinea fowl are unsanitary conditions in the poultry house and errors in care. Among the most common diseases of this African chicken can be identified:
Trichomoniasis. The causative agent of this disease is the unicellular protozoa. It enters the body of a Trichomonas bird along with dirty water or food. Most often, it infects young animals. Symptoms are liquid feces of yellow color, lethargy of the bird, presence of a plaque on mucous membranes. Illnesses in most cases die from suffocation.
Dyspepsia. Suffers from this disease are also most often young animals up to three months. The reasons for it are usually overheating and poor-quality feed.
Well, we hope that we answered the question of what a guinea fowl was for the bird. To breed these quick African chickens is probably not as profitable as some other representatives of birds. However, the excellent taste of meat and unpretentiousness have earned them a well-deserved popularity among the owners of household plots.
Similar articles
Trending Now