Sexing Guinea Fowl

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Physical Characteristics

Determining gender in adult guinea fowl can be challenging. The most noticeable differences are in the wattles and helmet:

• Wattles: The two fleshy skin tags that hang from the bird's face. In males, wattles often curve forward and upward, while in females, they tend to be flatter.

• Helmet: A horn-like structure on the top of the head. Males generally have a larger, more prominent helmet than females.

Their Sounds

Vocalizations are often the most reliable way to tell male and female guinea fowl apart:

• Males: Typically make a one-syllable sound, such as “check” or “chi-chi-chi.”

• Females: Produce a two-syllable call, often described as sounding like “buckwheat” or “okay.” However, females can also make the one-syllable call, so sound alone should be used with caution.

Behavior

Behavioral cues can also help identify gender, especially during mating season:

• Males:

  • Carry themselves in a more upright and alert stance.

  • Display aggression toward other males or roosters, sometimes chasing or pulling feathers.

  • Stand guard near nesting females.

• Females:

  • Tend to pair off with a male during mating season.

  • Sit on the nest while the male remains nearby for protection.

Outside of mating season, guineas typically flock together, making these differences less apparent.

Sexing Guinea Keets

Unlike other poultry, vent sexing is not a reliable method for day-old guinea keets. For this reason, guinea keets are sold straight run (unsexed).