Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-01-23
FARMERS ATTENTION
The Guinea Fowl a Valuable Adjunct
TO the Farm.
FEW RAISED IN GRAT|0T CO.
Gould be Raised with Profit Both for Market
Ing and Egg Production.

The guinea hen as viewed from the
standpoint Of the shipper, is a bird
that could be raised in Michigan with
profit to the raiser. Mr.. G.. II. Peery
of the Central Michigan Produce Co
furnishes us with the following his
tory and characteristic habits of the
bird whose breeding has been neg
lected on most Gratiot county farms
THE GUINEA FOWL.
The guinea fowl is native of Al
rica, and is found in wild state IN
many sections Of that great country
Guineas were known by the ancient
Romans, who were very fond OF them
for food They called them Hen OF
Numidia. - They also called them
Neleagorie, from the tabled sisters OF
Neleager. Ncleagori's life was said
to have depended on the preservation
of a certain frebrand. From feelings
of revenge, his mother cast this
brand into the fire, where it was de-
stroyed and the man died
His sisters grieved so deeply over
his death that they were transformed
into guinea fowl. Possibly the COM
planning wall, which is one of the
cries of the male guinea, is a survival
Of the demonstrations of sorrow IN
which Neleager's sisters bemoaned
him. Who can tell?
They were raised as table birds by
the ancient Greeks and Romans, but
disappeared from Europe during the
dark ages, and were introduced later
it is said from Jamaica and Cuba
They were evidently taken to the
West Indies by the early settlers, and
have been abundant in the islands
ever since In some of the islands
they have gone back to their wild
state and in their season are hunted
as game birds. They are known in
England as game birds, where large
ks are at times kept in game pre-
serves. On the continent they are
more common and more domestic
ated, where they are priced as table
birds.
In the United States few breeders
raise them in large hocks, however
they are raised in small numbers by
many poultry men in the middle west
as is shown by the fact that con-
siderable of the market supply comes
from that territory.
Their chief objections seem to be
their harsh cry, wandering and quar-
relsome habits. While their cry is
disagreeable, it is not much worse
than that of ducks and geese. 1t is
considered an argument in their favor
by many, as it gives warning to ma
rauders.
Their pugnacious disposition al
times leads them to trouble with
other poultry, but it also makes them
show fight against hawks and other
common enemies, which makes them
protectors of the more peaceable
birds.
Guinea fowl are inclined to stray
away and steal their nests i'll out-of-
the-way places, but they can with
care be trained into more domestic
habits. If allowed to range, their
feed will cost little, as they will live
almost entirely on insects, seeds, etc
fondness for ripe strawberries, but
will do no injury to any other berries
or fruit.
Both eggs and flesh are considered
delicious eating in Europe, and in
our larger cities, where the demand
is constantly increasing. This in
creasing demand in our city markets
as we'll as the demand for export
makes it seem probable that they
should be a recognized source oi
profit to the poultry man, fit to be
bred fed and marketed as carefully
as other poultry and not raised as a
curiosity only.
When secluded nests are provided
guinea hens will lay in the poultry
house, and If high perches are pro.
vided and are regularly fed at night
they will roost at home with the
other poultry.
Five or six hens TO each male i:
recommended for breeding purposes
for ii the proportion of hens is xpc
large the eggs will tend to be infer
tile.
The breeding season begins in Ap
ril, and they will continue laying
through the summer With proper
method Of housing and handling they
can be bred to lay in the winter
which is a great advantage in raising
early broilers for the city markets
When guinea hens arc used to hatcl
the eggs and are not confined, the
mother and chicks may wander away
and be lost 1t is therefore prefer
able to hatch the eggs under com
mon hen or turkey. Guinea eggs are
usually quite fertile and the proper