Chickens Vs Guinea Hens: How to Choose Which to Raise
When it comes to raising backyard poultry, there are a lot of different options out there. Two of the most popular choices are chickens and guinea hens. Both have their own unique benefits, so how do you choose which is right for you?
Chickens and guinea hens are both popular choices for backyard poultry. But which is best for you? Here’s a quick guide to help you choose between chickens and guinea hens.
Size: Chickens typically weigh 4-6 pounds, while guinea hens can weigh up to 8 pounds. So if you’re looking for a smaller bird, chicken is the way to go.
Eggs: Both chickens and guinea hens lay eggs, but chickens lay significantly more – around 200 per year, compared to just 40-60 for guineas.
If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck in terms of egg production, chicken is again the better choice.
Meat: Guinea hen meat is darker and gamey tasting than chicken, and is considered a delicacy in many cultures. If you’re interested in trying something different or want to raise your own gourmet meat birds, then guineas might be right for you.
However, if you’re just looking for good old fashioned chicken meat, then stick with regular old chickens!
Noise: Guinea hens are much louder than chickens – their high-pitched squeals can carry for quite a distance. So if peace and quiet is important to you (and your neighbors), then chickens would be the better choice.
Guinea Fowl Advantages Vs Chickens And Why We Prefer Guineas
How Many Guinea Fowl Should I Get
Guinea fowl are a popular choice for many homesteaders and small farmers. They are relatively easy to care for, provide good pest control, and are excellent foragers. But how many guinea fowl should you get?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors, such as the size of your farm or homestead, what other animals you have, and your personal preferences.
If you have a large farm or homestead, you may want to consider getting a flock of guinea fowl. A flock typically consists of 10-12 birds, but you can have more or less depending on your needs.
If you have other poultry (chickens, ducks, etc.), it’s often best to keep the guinea fowl separate from them. This is because guinea fowl can be aggressive towards other birds and may carry diseases that can affect your other poultry.
If you only have a small backyard or garden area, then 1-2 guinea fowl may be sufficient.
These birds do not require a lot of space and can often find enough food in a small area. Just make sure that there are no areas where they can escape – otherwise they may wander off and become lost!
Ultimately, the decision of how many guinea fowl to get depends on your individual circumstances.
Consider what you need from these birds and make sure that you get the right number for your situation!
Are Guinea Fowl Friendly
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, friendly bird to add to your backyard flock, you might want to consider the guinea fowl. These interesting birds are native to Africa and have been kept as domesticated pets for centuries.
Guinea fowl are social creatures and do best when kept in pairs or small groups.
They’ll get along with most other poultry, but can be aggressive toward birds of prey. Guinea fowl are also known to be good watchdogs, alerting their owners to any potential predators or intruders.
While they’re not typically considered cuddly pets, guinea fowl can be tame if raised from chicks.
They enjoy being scratched and will even perch on their owner’s shoulders. Just be warned that guinea fowl can be noisy, especially when alarmed or excited.
If you’re considering adding a guinea fowl or two to your backyard flock, there are a few things you should know about their care and feeding requirements.
Keep reading to learn more about these fascinating birds!
Guinea Fowl Size Compared to Chicken
When it comes to poultry, there are many different types of birds that people can choose from. However, two of the most popular options are chickens and guinea fowl. While these two types of birds may seem similar, they actually have some key differences – including their size.
So, how do they compare?
When it comes to overall size, chickens tend to be larger than guinea fowl. Chickens typically weigh between 4 and 8 pounds, while guinea fowl usually only weigh 2 to 4 pounds.
This difference in size is also evident when you look at the bird’s body – chickens have longer bodies than guinea fowl. Additionally, the legs of a chicken are usually longer in proportion to its body than those of a guinea fowl.
So, why the difference in size?
Well, chickens are bred for meat production while guinea fowl are not. As a result, chickens have been selected for traits that make them larger and heavier over time – which has resulted in the average chicken being significantly bigger than the average guinea fowl today.
How Many Guinea Fowl Per Acre
If you’re considering raising guinea fowl on your property, you might be wondering how many of these interesting birds you can keep per acre. Here’s what you need to know.
native to Africa, guinea fowl have been domesticated for centuries and are now popular poultry birds in many parts of the world.
These social creatures are known for their loud calls and unique appearance, which includes spiky feathers on their head.
Guinea fowl are relatively easy to care for and can live in a variety of climates. They’re also considered low-maintenance when it comes to feeding, as they mostly eat insects and other small animals.
So how many guinea fowl per acre can you realistically keep?
As a general rule of thumb, experts recommend 10-12 adult birds per acre. This number will vary depending on the quality of the habitat and whether or not supplemental feed is required.
For example, if your land is heavily wooded or doesn’t have enough open space for the birds to roam, you might need to reduce the number slightly. Conversely, if there’s plenty of food available naturally, you might be able to increase the number slightly. Ultimately, it’s best to err on the side of caution when starting out, as it’s easier to add more birds later than it is to remove them once they’ve become established.
Credit: www.motherearthnews.com
Are Guinea Hens Hard to Raise?
No, guinea hens are not hard to raise. In fact, they are quite easy to take care of and make great backyard chickens. They are also known to be very friendly birds that enjoy human interaction.
Can You Mix Guineas And Chickens?
Yes, you can mix guineas and chickens. In fact, many people do because the two species get along very well together. Guineas are actually quite helpful to have around chickens because they will alert the flock to predators and other dangers.
Additionally, guineas help aerate the soil and eat pests that can harm your chickens.
Can You Put Baby Guineas With Chickens?
No, you cannot put baby guineas with chickens. Guineas and chickens are different species and have different care requirements. Baby guineas need to be kept warm and dry, while chickens need a more humid environment.
Additionally, guineas are known to be aggressive and can injure or kill chickens.
Will Guineas Protect Chickens?
No, guineas will not protect chickens. Guineas and chickens are two different species of bird and do not have a natural instinct to protect each other. In fact, guineas can be quite aggressive towards chickens and may even attack them if they feel threatened.
Conclusion
Chickens and guinea hens are both popular choices for raising poultry. But which is best for you? Here are some things to consider when making your choice:
-Chickens are typically cheaper to buy and easier to care for than guinea hens. They also lay more eggs.
-Guinea hens make better watchdogs, as they are more alert and vocal than chickens.
They also have a higher meat yield per bird.
-If you want to raise both chickens and guinea hens, it’s best to keep them in separate enclosures as they can sometimes fight with each other.
So, which should you choose?
It really depends on what your priorities are. If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to get started in poultry farming, then chickens are probably the way to go. But if you’re looking for birds that will provide more meat or act as better guards, then guinea hens may be a better option.
