Wandering Busybodies

IN A RURAL LIVING SITUATION, GUINEA FOWL HAVE A LOT TO OFFER AND WILL PUT IN A GOOD DAY’S WORK

- Megg Miller

Guinea fowl are the landowner’s friend. They avidly hunt grasshoppers and other insects and will tackle all weed seed you can provide. These busy birds put in a good day’s work and are prepared to offer 24-hour watchdog skills as well. So why aren’t they more popular? Answer: the noise!

They’re a bird that’s edgy and active and they fill the air with shrieking calls. If something untoward catches their attention, all the guineas respond. That a cacophony of ear-splitting noise rents the air goes without saying.

So you can appreciate why they’re a rural bird. The noise they make would drive urban neighbours mad, but they are also wanderers by nature and over a day may travel several kilometres. Confined to a pen or small backyard they would suffer immense frustration.

AFRICAN ORIGINS

Guinea fowl are native to Africa. The Numida genus is made up of helmeted subspecies; our own domesticated guineas developed from one of these.

Wild guineas live in large groups, covering 32–48km while foraging but usually staying no more than 10km from water. What’s amazing is that these birds line up to drink when in large groups, taking their turn in an orderly manner and never rushing or putting lives at risk.

Group size may be as high as 2000– 3000 birds during the dry season, but smaller breeding groups break off during the wet months. They’re known to drive or surround insects and small animals so hunting is easier, and they eat everything from ants to snakes as well as seeds and berries.

LIVING NEEDS

Before acquiring guineas, decide whether you want some control over them, which will necessitate housing them at night, or if you prefer to let them fend for themselves.