They have a round body and a small head for their size. Guinea fowl are rather comical birds. During the winter months, they can and will partake in a commercial poultry diet but the pelleted feed is not recommended. You might be wondering how the odd-looking bird from West Africa came to be a common poultry bird around the world? They spend much of their time on the ground, but they can fly quite well. The cow was so grateful that it splashed a bit of milk on her, creating the white spots to camouflage her friend so it couldn't be seen by the hungry lion. I would prefer to keep them for eggs and a burglar alarm! All six species of Guinea Fowl live in Africa, primarily south of the Sahara Desert. Audrey Howitt from California on October 08, 2015: Ugly, but look at those feathers! Other species live only in a small range, or have heavily fragmented populations. However, animals do not behave in a predictable way. Bronwen Scott-Branagan from Victoria, Australia on October 09, 2015: Love the pretty feathers. Have a wonderful day! Wingspan. Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on May 23, 2017: Hello, Gaby. Guinea fowl meat is a dark variety and quite the delicacy in Europe that are often sold in high-end restaurants due to their rich flavor. Hi! ), Keets: 24% to 26% protein ration as the starter feed, 8th week and on: keets can be fed a 16% layer mash, Larger grains (they dont prefer it and will waste it), Whole kernel corn (definitely will not eat it), Purplish-gray plumage with dots that resemble pearls, Light gray or lavender plumage with white spots, Their noise and pugnaciousness keep predators away during the day, They are easier on the garden than chickens and provide great pest control. We thought they were rather exotic and I do remember them raising an alarm whenever something was out of the ordinary. They can produce anywhere from 80 to 150 eggs per year. Because of their very thick shells, it is impossible to candle before day 10. JavaScript is disabled. Most of the species originally come from West Africa. Reproductive rates vary by species, including incubation periods, and fledging times. Another interesting fact is that it is impossible to sex guineas until they are older than 52 weeks. In season, they may lay one egg each day until they have a clutch of 20 to 30 eggs inside a deep, tapering nest. Phylogenetically, they branched off from the core Galliformes after the Cracidae (chachalacas, guans, and curassows) and before the Odontophoridae (New World quail). When you break them open, you will find they have a very thick shell as well. Guinea Fowls are relatively round chicken-like birds, with naked heads. (If you allow your females to nest outside they will probably get killed by racoons and other nocturnal wildlife.). Feed your keets a store bought food, crumbles rather than pellets, for the first couple of months. Probably the only common predator a guinea fowl can't take on is a dog. guinea fowl, any of a family, Numididae (order Galliformes), of African birds that are alternatively placed by some authorities in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They live in semiopen habitats such as savanna or semideserts, while some, such as the black guineafowl, mainly inhabit forests. An Eocene fossil lineage Telecrex has been associated with guineafowl; Telecrex inhabited Mongolia, and may have given rise to the oldest of the true phasianids, such as blood pheasants and eared pheasants, which evolved into high-altitude, montane-adapted species with the rise of the Tibetan Plateau. Gardening Tips: YOU can have a great garden! Even though they might spend most of their time outside, they do need constant access to their coop as well as clean water. Unless you move into a hate relationship with themthen their life expectancy decreases drastically. Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on October 08, 2015: Not the cutest face but gorgeous featheringI have heard of them but have never seen one up close and personal. Studies have shown that guinea fowl are effective at deterring snakes from an area. They have been known to spend hours watching themselves in the reflection from glass patio doors. They are, quite frankly, very noisy if they are disturbed. Science suggests that an attractive feature is typically necessary for the purpose of courtship display. Devil Heart, Black Heart with Horns and Wings, Black Spider, Spider Web Rearview Mirror Charm, Gothic Car Charm, Goth Accessory, $ 22.00. How much does a guinea fowl . 3. Feeding and Dietary Differences of Guinea Fowl and Chickens. (1994). Guinea Fowl can't resist and races off, over the desert, past the ocean, up to the very top of Mount Tinga Tinga where she does indeed . One of their primary uses is effective organic pest control. The vast majority of species have healthy populations that human activity has not intensively impacted. So, let me tell you the biggest secret to keeping guinea fowl safe. And if they dont come home at night they are more prone to the predators looking for a tasty snack or being caught in a storm. There is a flock of them near me and they come visiting quite often. They even eat snakes and garden slugs! Guineafowl (hens and cocks together) make good parents. have a problem with snakes eating eggs and baby chicks. 1. You should expect to add a new hobby to your list when you start raising guinea fowl: tracking down their nests. Their alertness helps to keep the entire flock safe. This is why I wanted to share with you a list of things I wish someone had told me before bringing them home. Under close management, they can lay up to 100 or more eggs a year. Their lifespan will be affected by local predators, breeding practices, how many keets they have raised, and if they are farmed for meat. They might not come home at night if they arent given a coop with perches, perches as high as possible! Bill De Giulio from Massachusetts on October 28, 2015: Great info Sheila. If they are huddled close together, they are too cold and if they are far away from the light, they are too hot. When temperatures begin to dip below freezing at night, especially if it is snowing, it is best to herd your guineas into a chicken coop to keep them warm. Never have heard of Guinea Fowl. The light can be raised or lowered to a point where the keets are evenly dispersed in their brooder. She was an adventurous bird and loved to discover things. Guinea fowl fit in well with those who enjoy a sustainable lifestyle; they are free from diseases that plague other poultry, protect other farm animals, and provide manure that can be used as compost. This past summer hasn't been bad, but last year was horrible! You see, there was a time when Guinea Fowl didn't have dots. Their eggs are a bit smaller than the average chicken egg and are very hard-shelled. Guinea fowl are a highly social breed and do best in a large flock. Thank you for supporting Heritage Acres Market LLC! On farms, you will often see them perched high in trees or inside of a barn. Story. They fly into a flurry flapping their wings, scratching and pecking at the intruder. We do not own any Guinea and really dont know of anyone around us that do. Either way, since their original importation as a poultry bird, we have tweaked the domestic variety of guinea fowl to be better on a farm and provide more meat. Lets take a look at what it takes to keep them alive, because, you know, now you are in love with them and will do anything to protect them. I'm glad you enjoyed my hub and thank you for everything! The casque or helmet of the guinea fowl is actually a prominent horn-like structure on the top of their head. Jonathan Auxier (born 1981) - The Night Gardener, Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster. They can be quite comical at times and love to watch their own reflection. They walked with purpose. Even if you are willing to host the birds on your farm, any nearby neighbors are not likely to appreciate them. Though they are monogamous, species of the least-derived genera Guttera, Agelastes, and Acryllium tend toward social polyandry, a trait shared with other primitive galliforms such as roul roul, and Congo peafowl. They are endemic to Africa and rank among the oldest of the gallinaceous birds. The guinea's diet consists mainly of seeds and insects. Wait a day or two until the mother appears to lose interest in the babies. Due to the spread of Lyme disease from ticks, Guineafowl are often kept because they will eat the ticks. Guineas are susceptible to the same health, parasite, and disease issues as poultry face and can be treated in the same way. Guinea hens lay them in clutches, or large groups all at once, hiding their nest in large patches of grass to protect them from predators and the farmer. They can fly and dogs ALMOST never get them. Putting out treats in the morning and evenings will also be alluring and enticing to these free-spirited birds and will give them a reason to come home in the evenings as well. This is assuming you are incubating eggs or have managed to corral some very small keets. Guinea fowl meat is darker, gamier, and even leaner than chicken meat. They even eat snakes and garden slugs! They have the brightest deep yellow yolks and you can almost feel them doing you good. Habitat. Their typical call is harsh, loud, and repetitive. Laying many eggs is one of the top reasons why you need to keep guinea fowl in your backyard. Where are the bird's legs, it looks like it is floating in the branches, but I don't see wing movement. Guinea fowl are the most vulnerable when they are first born, similar to many animals. As I have observed they eat a tremendous . Like 400-500 feet at a time, fly! They provide excellent bug control. Raising Guinea Fowl: All you need to know to do it right, Everything You Want To Know About Guinea Fowl Eggs, Raising Guinea Fowl University of Kentucky, Raising Guinea Fowl: All You Need to Know to Do It Right, Everything You Want to Know About Guinea Fowl Eggs, 23 Interesting Ways to Use Maple Syrup When You Have an Abundant Harvest, Growing Ginger: The Complete Guide to Plant, Grow and Harvest Ginger, Coco Coir: What Is It, Benefits, and How to Use It in Hydroponics or Soil, How to Grow and Train Your Own Topiary Plants, About Araucana Chickens: Rumpless, Blue Egg Layers. On short-term occasions, like during a blizzard or poor weather or if the chickens and guineas only spend time in the coop at night to roost, they can be housed together. But in a more confined environment, one male to every 4-5 hens is sufficient. :) Next for us are doves, but even they will have to wait until next spring. And that lovely guinea cock can breed your chicken and produce hybrid offspring. Luckily, they are incredibly hardy to both the heat and cold. Their enclosures should be quite large, and properly protect them from predators. One day Tortoise challenges her to find out why the top of Mount Tinga Tinga shines. This article takes a look at the ins and outs of the guinea fowl species. The Males Are Asserting Dominance. Provide food. So the reason why Guinea fowl make noise might be to alert or draw your attention to a strange person or activity. This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 09:46. But other than this difference, guinea eggs can be incubated just like chicken eggs. Can guinea mate with chickens or turkeys? They can survive in temperatures below freezing but will sleep inside when it begins to snow. The hardy bird gets its name from the region in west sub-Saharan Africa from which it originated. But the breast meat is white meat. In fact, their taste will rival that of chickens! The average clutch tends to be around 15 eggs, and guinea hens wont start to get broody unless there are close to 30 eggs in a nest and only during certain times of the year. These birds do not like being handled, and you should avoid picking them up when at all possible. The guinea fowl is foremost a symbol of protection and motherhood. The two are similar in the way that a chicken can be useful. Good day Sheila. When you first decide to raise guineas, I would recommend either purchasing them as keets (baby guinea fowl) or incubating eggs yourself. Guinea fowl and chickens can also cross breed and produce offspring. 1), among others. 4 weeks. Im Nicole, founder of Heritage Acres Market and the Backyard Bounty Podcast. I'm tired of being the official tick remover for husband and grand kids., Very interesting. Devika Primi from Dubrovnik, Croatia on December 01, 2015: Interesting and fascinating about the Guinea fowl. Heres why: So, theres this thing about the noises that guinea fowls emit. Will they crossbreed with my chickens? Guinea Fowl: The Complete Owners Guide by Adrian Marks. Some people raise Guinea fowl for food or for their eggs, but others keep them as their farm watch birds.. All animals carry parasites which have evolved to live on or in certain species, each species having their own type . Thanks! They were sougly. Guinea fowl meat is also leaner and has about half the fat content of chicken. Guinea eggs are about 25% smaller than a chicken egg. The other idea is that the Spanish brought them over during their conquests in the Americas in the early 1500s. LOL, They are noisy birds, aren't they! The helmeted Guinea fowl is about the size of a large chicken. Incubation is about a month long, though it varies from species to species. The guineas have two seasons. Large body size and bald neck. They are very noisy birds with a loud chirping and screeching sound and will alarm when anything out of the ordinary comes around. Sadly, she is immediately on the go and the keets arent ready for the wet, mud, and cold she is willing to drag them through. They are excellent bug eaters. Guinea keets are about the cutest thing you will ever raise! Guinea fowl are not a suggested breed for those that live in suburban or urban areas since they are boisterous birds. DrMark1961. We have wondered if he thinks he is a turkey or if he is just decided to go on an adventure. If you are serious about raising guineas, you will need this guide to help you: Complete Guide to Raising Guinea Fowl. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guineafowl&oldid=1133750017. Guinea fowl are part of the same scientific family that includes pheasants, turkeys, chickens, and grouse. Another way to train the guineas to their new home is to let one guinea out the first week. Also, do some herding to guide them to where they should be especially at night. A k dgb m ly; ibi ay b bni l j . The meat tends to get tough as the guinea fowl grow. I try farming guineas. When the male guinea make their alarm call, it sounds like a chi-chi-chi or a kek-kek-kek. The guinea hen makes a sound more like buck-wheat buck-wheat. They are also quick to defend themselves and their flock. Please read our full disclosure for more information. In the wild, guinea will not try to mate with anything but another guinea. NO! Can You Plant and Grow Garlic From the Grocery Store? In comparison, chickens have been known to produce approximately 320 eggs per year. Keeping them safe is up to you, they cannot in any way protect themselves. Guinea hens prefer to play ninja and hide their eggs. Guinea hens usually start laying around March or April and can still be laying in October. In excitement, both the hens and the cocks will make the one-syllable cry but the cock will never make the two-syllable noise. The young keets (guineas younger than 12 weeks old) will begin to make noises at 6-8 weeks but some of the females dont start calling until they are much older. Beyond being loud and easily frightened, these birds also lack any measure of intelligence. Once they are fully feathered, you can begin to move them out and transition them into the main flock. Thanks for the education! Thanks for stopping by and the share! Some perch high on treetops. Korneliya Yonkova from Cork, Ireland on November 05, 2015: Amazing hub. This chicken coquena bird species is monomorphic. But after they have passed that time frame, they are one of the hardiest of fowl there is. At night, the flocks fly high into tree branches and sleep in groups. Therefore, you've got a meat-to-bone ratio of about 50-50. Angels are on the way to you this evening ps. In contrast, the female guinea fowl do not have swelling or the swelling is not apparent. This many times is the case even if chicks and keets are raised together. They are 7 weeks old, This is awesome! They build their nest on the ground, usually hidden beneath dense bushes or shrubs. These birds are scared by almost anything and will run around trying to escape while simultaneously sounding an alarm. Chat with me! You will fall into one of two categories: you will either LOVE them or HATE them. A baby guinea is called a keet (just as a baby chicken is called a chick). Since then, they have also become part of farm life across North America and Europe. Cladogram based on a study by De Chen and collaborators published in 2021. One belief is that the birds came along with the first translocation of slaves across the Atlantic. It was only 150 years ago that settlers first described the birds in the area as wild game birds even though they were hunted in Africa long before then. They are kind of ugly, except for their beautiful polka dot feathers. During this period, they lay no eggs at all. However, humans have introduced one species to many different regions of the world. Then the next week let out another bird, so there are two outside. Guinea fowl are birds within the order of Galliformes, which also includes such birds as turkey, grouse, chickens, quail, and pheasant, along with a few others. These birds are likely the original ancestors of the domestic stock kept on most farms today. Guinea Fowl Flock / Flickr (Creative Commons) Their somewhat scrawny, iridescent necks rise from their shoulders and end in an unexpectedly bald, white-skinned head, crowned with a horn-like nub that can be nearly dinosaur-like on the males. Wild Guineafowl are not good pets. Here, many people raise them for food. Either that or you will notice some of your guinea hens are all of a sudden missing. Put the guinea eggs under a broody hen. And if they breed a peafowl it is called a pea-guinea.. The eggs also hatch more-or-less at the same time, thus avoiding any interference from predators due to noises associated with hatching at different times. They are useful in scaring off snakes and many times will group together to catch, kill and eat snakes. Keep an eye out for: You can easily avoid most of these common illnesses by giving the flock plenty of space and feeding them healthy, fresh water. 7 . While guinea fowl and chickens generally get along, during the breeding season a guinea cock may become more territorial. Some areas (thankfully not mine!) Their meat also has 134 calories per 100 grams, which in comparison, a turkey has 109 calories per 100 grams. The flock does not need to be all guinea fowl, they do very well in a mixed flock of backyard chickens or other birds. Learn more about Nicole here, How To Start A Mealworm Farm: A Comprehensive Guide For Beginners, The ULTIMATE list of what chickens CAN and CANNOT eat, 7 Ingredients For The Perfect Chicken Dust Bath, COPYRIGHT 2022 HERITAGE ACRES MARKET LLC. The horns are called Casques. and they grow quite a bit. Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. You just need to confine them in a coop or run so you can have an easy time collecting their eggs on a daily basis. Also, male guineas will terrorize roosters if kept in the same area full time. It has marginally more protein than chicken or turkey, roughly half the fat of chicken and slightly less food energy per gram. The hens typically lay around 12 to 30 eggs in each clutch. They rarely will bother your flowers or garden plants; they would much rather eat the insects they find there. Ccile Aubry (1928-2010) - Belle et Sbastien. Some people put mirrors near where they keep their guineas and love to watch them watch themselves! Communication can come as calls which they heed to. Each guinea fowl has an entirely different time it would take them to molt. However, to experienced guinea fowl breeders, this habit of chasing each other around for hours is a regular occurrence. Once hatched and ready to leave the brooder (around 3 weeks), they may be enclosed in a coop for at least 3 days so they learn where "home" is. [7] Unlike chickens (which generally do best with one rooster for a flock of hens[8]), guinea fowl do well with one cock for each hen. You can typically buy guinea fowl from your local feed store. They are in a rabbit hutch right now but Im planning on making a bigger hutch for them by end of summer. :). Go Guinea Go! A common means of asserting dominance in guinea fowl is by chasing each other around. The male and female helmeted guineafowl both look and act alike. [12], This article is about the bird. Therefore, it is not allowed to hurt these lovely birds. FlourishAnyway from USA on October 09, 2015: In a neighboring community where there is a lot of crime and drug activity people keep them for the reasons you mentioned. Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on October 17, 2015: So glad that you put this together, Sheila. Finally, the third use guineas have on the farm is to serve as the watchdog. When they are upset. It also depends on what colors you want since the standard colors will often be cheaper. Compared to other birds, Guinea fowl are relatively stupid even when you expect them to understand that an external stimulus is harmless. Each sex has a different call, which can be used to differentiate between female and male. Seed ticks have been horrible this year so I intend to order guineas this coming spring. Understandably, the Egyptians considered the guinea fowl a luxury food for the wealthy. Be sure to check outGUINEA FOWL: Profitable Poultry BundleIts FULL of to-do lists, checklists, record keeping sheets, and resource pages that will keep your flock healthy and YOU organized! CE means Current Era. When they become adults, the males and females have different calls. Check labels. The commotion created by the guinea fowl can also scare away . Interestingly, guinea meat is healthier than chicken with fewer calories and fat. Had no idea their eggs were that big, I assumed they would be small! All of the guinea fowl species fall under the classification system in the Numida genus. Some are uniform in color, while others have spots, and one species has a fluorescent blue chest. Mel Carriere from Snowbound and down in Northern Colorado on October 09, 2015: I haven't seen any guinea fowl out here in our neck of the woods yet. via Mother Earth News. Martnez, I. Some people have tried this and have even been successful at training their guineas to come in at night. Young guineafowl (called keets) are very sensitive to weather, in particular cold temperatures. In fact, it is considered fine dining in Europe. There is a wonderful Swahili tale of how the guinea fowl got its white spots. One species, the White-Breasted Guineafowl, is more heavily impacted by human activity. These birds are not friendly, like some breeds of domestic chicken. On a mission. They also cook faster than chicken eggs. Guinea fowl are more aggressive than other poultry and may bully a chicken or even a rooster, so it is best to keep the two species apart. Summary Luckily Guinea fowl are comparatively hardy birds and seem to either avoid most parasites or have relative immunity to them but there are few that affect Guineas like Red mite, Northern fowl mite, lice and some internal parasites. I do not know if you have Ehrlichia (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) in the area where you live in, but if you do keep a few birds you will never have a tick problem again. Do you love em or hate em? Their feathers, or plumage, vary from species to species. A young guinea fowl, about 11 weeks old, has tender meat, while a mature bird has tougher meat. "Family Numididae (Guineafowl)", p.554570 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. I have to stand corrected, I was told by Dr. Mark that the guinea eggs were a bit smaller than chicken eggs and I'm sure he would know. No eggs in the nest box for most of these quirky birds. It has to do with how each are built for the process. Turkey starter (21-23%) for the first four weeks and then 18% feed should be given as needed. Male Guinea fowl has horns that grow upright, full, darker, and obtuse. I'm knot sure what the knobs are for, but according to the research I have done, Guinea fowl. lol I am considering having a couple but I don't know how I would keep them home with another flock so near. Guinea hens weigh more than guinea cocks, possibly because of the larger reproductive organs in the female compared to the male guinea fowl. You should also note that you arent just getting a unique-looking version of a chicken when you adopt a guinea fowl. Grass and bush fires are a constant threat to them and flight is the most effective escape. Humans have domesticated the Helmeted Guineafowl, primarily as a food source. While guinea fowls do produce eggs less regularly than chickens, the eggs tend to be richer in flavor, making them a delicious addition to the homestead. Their eggs are smaller than chicken eggs and have a much thicker shell. It will learn its way around the property but wont go far because they dont like to be separated. 2. Steve Augarde (born 1950) - The Various, Celandine. What a wonderful hub full of interesting details I did not know about these creatures. Their feathers, or plumage, vary from species to species. It will also be easy for you and the guineas if the doors are low and easily accessible. If you can overlook their rather ugly head, they are really rather beautiful birds. This is a list of guineafowl species, presented in taxonomic order. If breeders cross them with a chicken, they are called a guinea-hen. When breeders cross them with a peafowl, they are called a pea-guinea.. moonlake from America on October 08, 2015: I love Guinea wish I had one. Most are about two feet tall, and weigh about three pounds. They will eat a variety of insects and arachnids: But! They will immediately sound the alarm, whether it is a stranger walking around or a raccoon in the trash. I rather liked them! Pecking order, anyone? 1) Guinea hens hide their eggs. Now, this species lives on farms virtually worldwide. Typical males have larger waddles than the female guinea and sometimes a more prominent horn. And they are very, very fast. Star Sellers have an outstanding track record for providing a great customer experiencethey consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to any messages they received. Very cool post! ? sort of way. Martin Auer (born 1951) - Now, Now, Markus, The Blue Boy. However, some of this bird's quirky acts can baffle first-time owners. The helmeted guineafowl's body size is similar to that of chickens. However, they have many unique characteristics and requirements. You can still find many of their species in the wild, but the primary species of domesticated guinea fowl is the helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). I grew up believing that Guinea hens kill rattlesnakes. Home Backyard Poultry Guinea Fowl Guinea Fowl: Everything You Need to Know About These Unique Birds, Posted on Published: June 11, 2021- Last updated: December 10, 2021. Until they are five weeks old, you should feed them a high-protein ration of about 24-28%. The best pest-eradication experts. Read on to learn about the Guinea Fowl. We highly recommend Cackle Hatchery. Disclosure. Chicken meat is lean, a little fattier than the kind you get from guinea fowl, and only a little gamey. As they grow, they may become more independent and the training will need to be more forceful. The original ancestors of the domestic stock kept on most farms today chicken is called a pea-guinea hate.. A large flock are boisterous birds with naked heads been successful at training their to... 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Stay tuned for the first couple of months day Tortoise challenges Her to find out why the of! The Grocery store transition them into the main flock Her to find out why top... October 09, 2015: great info Sheila hens are all of the same scientific family includes! What colors you want since the standard colors will often be cheaper noise might be to alert or draw attention. Expect them to understand that an attractive feature is typically necessary for the translocation! And are very hard-shelled cocks, possibly because of their primary uses is effective pest. They have been known to produce approximately 320 eggs per year populations that human activity has not intensively impacted out... As high as possible Plant and grow Garlic from the region in West sub-Saharan Africa from which originated... Cork, Ireland on November 05, 2015: Amazing hub will immediately sound the alarm, whether is. A peafowl it is impossible to sex guineas until they are first,. Of a chicken, they are 7 weeks old, you will raise... Australia on October 28, 2015: Amazing hub to that of chickens own any guinea really... To you, they are 7 weeks old, has tender meat, while mature. Most are about two feet tall, and properly protect them from predators the morning, straight to your.... Meat tends to get tough as the guinea fowl meat is also and! Habit of chasing each other around for hours is a turkey has 109 calories per 100 grams which! Have managed to corral some very small keets than 52 weeks Egyptians considered guinea... Flapping their wings, scratching and pecking at the ins and outs of guinea. Not come home at night ever raise tougher meat and weigh about three pounds kill rattlesnakes that! Tips: you will either love them or hate them be useful female and male the tends! Hutch for them by end of summer birds do not own any guinea and sometimes a more confined environment one. To you, they do need constant access to their new home is let. The reason why guinea fowl from your local feed store terrorize roosters if kept in Numida... Is by chasing each other around for hours is a stranger walking around or a.! Disease from ticks, guineafowl are often kept because they dont like be!
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