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| Domestic guinea fowl | |
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| Adult "pied" domestic guinea fowl | |
Domesticated | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Numididae |
| Genus: | Numida Linnaeus, 1766 |
| Species: | N. meleagris |
| Binomial name | |
| Numida meleagris | |
Domestic guinea fowl, sometimes calledpintade, pearl hen, orgleany, ispoultry originating fromAfrica. They are the domesticated form of thehelmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) and are related to other game birds such as thepheasants,turkeys andpartridges. Although the timing of their domestication is unknown, there is evidence that domestic guinea fowl were present inGreece by the 5th century BC.[1]
They lay 25–30 eggs in a deep, tapering nest. Their eggs are small, dark and extremely thick-shelled. The hens have a habit of hiding their nests, and sharing it with other hens until large numbers of eggs have accumulated. The incubation period is 26–28 days, and the chicks are called "keets". As keets, they are highly susceptible to dampness (they are indigenous to the more arid regions of Africa) and can die from following the mother through dewy grass. After their first two to six weeks of growth, though, they can be some of the hardiest domestic land fowl.
Sexing the birds is not as simple as telling arooster from a henchicken. When they are adults, the helmet and wattles of the male are larger than those of the female (Guinea-hen), and only the female makes the two-note cry imitated as "Buck-wheat!" or "Pot-rack!" while the male only has a one-note cry. Aside from that, though, the two sexes are mostly identical in appearance.
As domestics, guinea fowl are valuable pest controllers, eating manyinsects. They are especially beneficial in controlling theLyme disease-carrying deertick, as well aswasp nests. While they are rarely kept in large numbers, a few are sometimes kept with otherfowl to be used as a security system againstbirds of prey. They will call with their loud, high shrieking voices if concerned about intruders. They are highly social birds and tend to languish when alone.
Within the domesticated species, many color variations have been bred forth aside from the "pearl" or natural color of the helmeted guinea. These include white, purple, slate, chocolate, lavender, coral blue, bronze, pewter, buff dundotte, blonde, and various pieds.
It can be cooked using any recipe that calls forchicken, but is considered to be more flavorful and, because of its higher cost, is generally served at special occasions. It is particularly common inFrench andItalian recipes.
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