The guinea fowl

Why we keep guinea fowl

One reason and one reason only: ticks. Guinea fowl were incredibly hard to find in our area, and I hunted them down anyway, because with protected woods on the property and deer grazing through the backyard, the ticks were winning. The guineas have done an AMAZING job. Between them and the Muscovies, it's rare that we see a tick now — that's our experience, not a scientific guarantee, but I'll take it.

What is a guinea fowl?

Guinea fowl are game birds native to Africa — the ones you see on farms are usually the helmeted variety, named for the little bony “helmet” on top of a bare, speckled head. They look like someone designed a chicken, a turkey, and a polka dot at the same time, and I mean that as a compliment. They come in a whole wardrobe of colors — pearl, lavender, white, pied, royal purple — and yes, we have all of them. I couldn't pick just one.

Do guinea fowl really eat ticks?

They are relentless foragers and will work a property from one end to the other eating ticks, beetles, grasshoppers, and whatever else moves. Research is mixed on exactly how much of a dent a flock makes in a tick population — but here, alongside the ducks, the difference has been night and day. Your mileage may vary. Ours didn't.

Are guinea fowl loud?

Honest answer: yes. They have a two-syllable alarm call — people write it as “buck-wheat” — and they sound it at strangers, hawks, blowing leaves, and occasionally nothing at all. They are the farm's security system, and the alarm goes off whenever it feels like it.

That said, our neighbor has four geese, and in my opinion geese are louder by a mile. They also always look mildly offended — heads tilted up toward the sky, peering down their beaks at the rest of us like we're beneath them. The guineas may be loud, but at least they're not judging me.

Why I love these odd birds

Guinea fowl look odd. That's exactly why I love them. I've always loved different, unique, odd things — who wants to always be the same and follow the crowd? That's what's boring. And then there's the way they run: somehow graceful, like they're holding up huge skirts with both hands, bloomers flying in the air. It makes me laugh every single time, and I've seen it a thousand times.

Can guinea fowl fly?

Yes — they're strong fliers and like to roost up high, sometimes in trees. Ours free-range the whole property and still know where home is. Like the ducks, they're smarter than they look.

Do guinea fowl lay eggs?

They do — small, pointed eggs with speckled shells so hard you can nearly bounce them. They're seasonal layers, and they hide their nests like it's a competitive sport, so finding the eggs is its own treasure hunt.

What do you call a baby guinea fowl?

A keet. A tiny, striped, extremely fast keet, which is exactly as cute and exactly as hard to catch as it sounds.