Guinea Hens Hatching and Raising Keets

Below this article are six photographs of three different Pearl Grey Guinea Fowl hens that are raising their new hatches of Guinea fowl keets. Refer to the photographs as necessary. Be sure to see the last photograph in the group, and note the broken Guinea fowl eggs from which keets have already emerged into their new world.

At some point in time, and for reasons unknown to this writer, Guinea fowl hens got a reputation for being bad mothers. While I am sure there are some bad Guinea fowl hen mothers, I can attest to the fact that these must be quite rare.

Our pearl gray Guinea fowl hens will protect their clutches of eggs with unparalleled enthusiasm and bravado. They will remain sitting on their nests through the most horrific storms, and many will go extended periods of time (weeks) without leaving the nest even for food and water. Once the Guinea fowl hen's keets start to hatch, the Guinea fowl mother becomes a formidable protector and full time teacher. Note that in all of the photographs below, there is an adult Guinea fowl hen visible with the keets. The hens take the keets out of the nest area and start training them on day one.

It is our suspicion, based on countless hours taking photographs and videos over the years, that Guinea fowl keets learn by three methods: 1) observing 2) mimicking 3) punishment for wrong-doing. Guinea fowl hens share the responsibilities of raising the flock's keets, and the males will also often get involved with teaching and protecting the keets. Groups of keets born to different hens in different nests will all join together in one keet flock within three days of their birth.

The Guinea fowl hens teach hard courses that start on the day the keet is born and continue for several weeks. Notice the photographs of the keets in the dense underbrush. Now, imagine how hard it is for a day old keet to make his way through this. We have lots of gravel areas with no growth and lots of areas with sparse growth where the hens could take the keets – and they sometimes do – but they also make them go through this dense growth. Keet schooling is tough, and lasts all day long, every day.

The Guinea fowl hens do a marvelous job of teaching the keets about life here on our place. They teach them everything from how friendly the dogs and people are to coming to the sound of the cowbell for their millet treat. They also teach them foraging routes, safe hiding places, where to find water and feed at all times and too much more to mention. All of the keets raised by our Guinea fowl hens are robust, healthy and a joy to have around.