Guide to Ordering and Keeping Vulturine Guinea Fowl

To order the Vulturine Guinea Fowl, shop our website. 

How are Vulturine Guinea Fowl shipped?

IMPORTANT ORDERING INFORMATION: Vulturine Guinea Fowl are shipped on Wednesdays, USPS Priority Mail Express, and will typically arrive in 1-2 days at your local post office. Vulturine Guinea Fowl are not available for pickup. Wings can be clipped upon request.

What type of housing does the Vulturine Guinea Fowl need?

Vulturine Guinea Fowl do well in larger aviary settings with small trees and bushes as they enjoy higher roosting areas. Guinea fowl prefer to roam in a group over a large area, so you will need to set up a very large run with overhead netting if you intend to keep them completely confined. Otherwise, allowing them to free-range during the day and cooping them up at night may be the best way to keep both the keeper and the guinea fowl happy. Be aware that guinea fowl do not naturally go into a coop at night and prefer to roost in trees, so training early on to go into a coop is needed. 

What do I feed my Vulturine Guinea Fowl?

Vulturine Guinea Fowl consume a diet primarily of plants and greens, leaves, fruits, berries, bulbs, as well as larger insects such as spiders and scorpions. Generally, they will forage on the ground. In captivity, you will want to allow as much natural foraging as possible as well as a commercial game bird diet. As a treat, you may give them chopped, leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli. They may also enjoy picking through a scattering of a wild bird seed mix as a supplement to their daily game bird ration.

Can I keep the Vulturine Guinea Fowl in hot or cold climates?

Vulturine Guinea Fowl originate from East Africa and are a heat-hardy breed. Summer heat is not an issue for them as long as they always have some shade and clean, fresh water. However, they will need special accommodations if winter temperatures go below freezing as they can easily suffer from frostbite. During the winter months, a warmed shelter is a must. Put in lots of straw or other bedding so they have something warm to bed in as well.

Can I house the Vulturine Guinea Fowl with other types of poultry?

The Vulturine Guinea Fowl is a gregarious species and can live peacefully with other types of birds that are also calm, quiet, and not aggressive or territorial. In a mixed-species aviary; doves, pigeons, quail, and some types of pheasants may get along well with Vulturine Guinea.

What is the lifespan of the Vulturine Guinea Fowl?

They can live up to 15 years if well-cared for and protected from predators.

What predators do I need to be concerned about?

Coyotes, foxes, domestic dogs, and possibly raccoons will be the most common predator threats to Vulturine Guinea. Because of the guinea's larger body size, more alert nature, and loud call, smaller predators such as mink, rats, or hawks are less of a threat to the Vulturine Guinea Fowl.

What are the correct names for male, female and young Vulturine Guinea Fowl?

A male guinea is called a cock. A female is called a hen. A young male under 1 year is called a cockerel, and a young female is called a pullet. A new hatchling is called a keet.