POULTRY LORE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 18

POULTRY LORE.

GUINEA FOWLSThe quaint, restless, clamorous, speckled Guinea fowls, which were so common a few years ago, seem to have fallen into disfavour. Yet they have been bred and raised in domestication for nearly two thousand years, and have many 'good qualities to commend them. Guinea fowls were brought from Africa into Italy during the early years of the Roman Empire. They were taken to Jamaica two hundred years ago. Findingthereacongenial climate, they soon ran wild and multiplied to such an extent as to become troublesome with depredations on the cultivated fields, and have long been hunted as wild game. The Guinea fowl possesses much beauty of colour and form. The crimson helmet and wattles, bluieh grey plumage, spangled and barred with white, gracefully poised head and plump body, all go to make a strikingly handsome bird. It also has substantial qualities which show in the egg-basket and on the gridiron. Guinea fowls, in a state of nature, are monogamous, pairing like pigeons, and remaining very faithful to each other. But in domestication they have been taught to be more gregarious, and two to four hens are kept for every male. Still if the main object of keeping them is to taise young, it is better to follow nature and keep the breeding fowls in pairs. There is such a close resemblance between the Boxes that it is difficult to distinguish them at a glance. But the difference becomes apparent by listening to the cries emitted. That of the hen consists of two harsh grating notes like the creak of an uhgreased axle, and sounding like the two syllables ‘ come back !’ incessantly repeated. The note of the male is an ocoasional shrill mournful cry. The Guinea hen is very shy and secretive with her nest, hiding it in obscure and out-of-the-way places, and deserting it if disturbed. The eggs are smaller than average hens' eggs, but are richer and more nutritious. The perio.l of incubation is from twenty-six to twentyeight days, and the chicks are beautifnl and interesting little creatures with bright oraDge bills and legs and striped down. They ore very strong and lively, ‘ but require great care for the first few weeks. They must be fed as soon as thoy are out of the shell, and at frequent intervals until they begin to feather out, when they may be allowed to run free with the mother hen. They require about the same kind of food as young turkeys. For village homes or other suburban places, Guinea fowls can scarcely be considered as desirable, on account of their ceaseless clamour and restless disposition. But on the farm 4 where there is plenty of room, they are well worth keeping. There is a very general belief, whether correot or not, chat the strident note of the hens scares hawks away from the farmyard. But if Guinea fowls are a protection by day, their habit of roosting in trees betrays them to the large owlb at night. The Guinea fowl is really a tamed, rather than a domesticated bird centuries of breeding and care in captivity have not modified it in fornj and colour, or dispelled its wild, shy instincts.