Helmeted Guineafowl;

 Grey-breasted Guineafowl

 Numida meleagris galeata

 The domesticated strain of the guineafowl was obtained from the Grey-breasted or Helmeted guineafowl, which ranges in western Africa's dry areas.  They prefer open grasslands and rocky areas.  These birds were introduced into the Americas and Europe by Portuguese explorers.

 In the wild these birds form large groups that move about and forage as a group.  Food consists of a variety of items such as seeds, grasses, fruits, insects, and small animals.  During the breeding season, the hens go off on their own to nest but return to the group with their chicks. 

 Domesticated birds are easy to keep if given room to wander.  However, they are aggressive by nature and will attack other animals and people as a protective response.  They are not the most successful of birds when it comes to incubating eggs or raising their chicks.  In captivity eggs are artificially incubated and surrogate mothers raise the chicks.  Guineafowl are constantly on the move.

 Our eight guineafowl were donated in July 1997 and are fed gamecock mix and dog chow.  The top photo is of a Pearl or "wild type" guineafowl with black and white spotted feathers.  There were a pair whose feathers are all white, and we also have a Lavender with grey feathers and light dots.