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What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
http://australianpoultryforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=25866		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  ash1 [ Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:07 pm ]
Post subject:  What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
I have ten guinea fowl, who are approximately 6-7 months old. They have just started laying eggs, but it appears they are not fertile.
Are the males too young to be fertilising the eggs? I haven't seen any hanky-panky going on, but then again I don't watch them 24/7 either.
Author:  Ace [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
No it will more than likely be the hens that are too young, males can bo fertile at 6 months old but 9 months is when they are mature as are the hens
Author:  ash1 [ Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
Thanks Ace, looks like we'll just have to try again next year!
Author:  CinnGuinea [ Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
They still could breed in January or even feb woohoo4
Author:  NightMare [ Thu Nov 15, 2012 7:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
Some of my cinnamons were filling out eggs at 6 months old but to older hens as Ace wrote work on 9 months or older
Author:  CinnGuinea [ Thu Nov 15, 2012 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
The hens take that 3 or 4 months more to get going but its a lot of work laying eggs I would bet
Author:  enzzo [ Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
Yep thats what I found with mine all the egg from the first female at 10 months old were not fertile but 2 month later she laid again and they were
Author:  MYNEWGUINEAS [ Sat Nov 17, 2012 8:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
Do they breed so young because they dont live long? what is the normal age span
Author:  ozguineafowl [ Sun Nov 18, 2012 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
No they do live quite long 10 to 15 years they breed young to build their group for safety in numbers
Author:  ash1 [ Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What Age Are Guinea Fowl Fertile?
Thanks all for the advice.

I had let them out to free-range after realising that the eggs weren't fertile, but then my wretched young dogs killed one of them [smilie=a_blue.gif] two days ago (it flew out of the chookie pen and then couldn't figure out how to fly back over the fence back into the chookie pen where the rest of the flock were) so the guinea fowl are now locked up back in their temporary pen while I attempt to re-train the dogs. (Have found a great video source on exactly this problem, so we are working through the steps now).

Great to know we may have another shot early next year, I am having good success with my peafowl and chookies, but none with my turkeys or guineas (think the turkey girls may also be too young, all of their eggs end up clear as well).

What surprised me with the guineas was that they went back into their temporary cage each night to roost, which I was thrilled about as it meant I could simply close the door and know they were safe for the evening. I had thought that they would have flown up to the trees to roost, but obviously they are attached to their cage. On the other hand it is a really fugly cage which was only ever intended as a temporary accommodation while they bonded to the property, so looks like I am stuck with it now. Ah well, at least it is mostly out of view!
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