Guinea fowl for integrated organic orchards

Guinea fowls are hardy birds and thrive well even in drought-prone regions.

GUINEA FOWL, a sturdy bird that can feed on even matured leaves, seeds and flowers of weeds and
grasses, can ideally be integrated in organic orchards. Together with geese and turkeys which relish the
tender grass and weeds, guinea fowl help in removal of almost all types of weeds in orchards, according to
Dr. F.R. Sheriff, Director of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
(TANUVAS), Chennai.

Pest control

"Originating from Africa, the sturdy guinea fowl can feed actively on ants, grasshoppers, earthworms
besides a wide variety of crop pests. It is particularly suited for rearing in drought-prone regions. The birds
possess grey plumage with white dots all over the body. The bird attains maturity in seven months, and
lays between 80 to 150 eggs a year. Each egg weighs about 40 g, and the eggshell is very hard and does
not easily break even if dropped from about 2 metres height," explained Dr. Sheriff.

On an average each adult bird consumes about 200 g of grass and weeds per day. Adult guinea fowl are
sold at Rs. 200 to 250 per pair. Since they are good egg producers, many people prefer to rear them in
their households.

Egg laying

When the keets (young ones) are bought at the age of 8 to 12 weeks after hatching, they freely mingle
with desi chicken and lay their eggs in the nests provided. Only when the adult birds are brought and start
rearing in a new environment they start selecting secluded places for laying their eggs.

"Guinea fowls should be bought when they are three months old, and gradually allowed to get acclimatized
in the new environment for at least three months. Guinea fowls are raised for eggs and meat. The most
commonly available breed is the Red Wattled Guinea fowl, and other breeds such as the `Blue Wattled' and
the pure white `Pearl Millet' are also available for commercial rearing", he said.

Guinea fowls keep a good watch over the orchards. The birds usually perch on treetops during the day and
also at night and they give a wild call at the sight of strangers or intruding animals to alert the owners. The
birds generally do not have the habit of brooding. Farmers use desi broody chicken to hatch the guinea fowl
eggs along with chicken eggs.The eggs have very few pores and hence have longer shelf life of up to 15
days even during peak summer in Tamil Nadu. The eggs hatch in about 28 days and the keets weighing
between 17 to 20 g each emerge. The brooder hen will take care of them along with other chicks.

Guinea fowl keets require more fibre in their diet especially greens or weeds right from the first week of
development, and they need high amounts of protein and minerals in their feed than the chicken. If they
are allowed to forage freely in the pasture, they will pick up all the minerals and proteins they need.

A group of two males and ten females can be ideally reared in a two-hectare orchard. On an average 600
eggs could be got, and out of these 200 keets could be developed. By way of selling the eggs and at least
50 pairs of birds, a net additional income of Rs. 5000 per annum can be generated from the orchard,
according to him.