Pics of Development Stages of Guinea Fowl?

[Gill-b]

I am wanting to compare my keet's development (size) to the average keet to be reassured that it is growing as it should. I understand that there are a few factors that could influence a keet's development, but maybe there is a standard scale one can go on? I have been searching on this website and on the whole of the internet for images of Guinea Fowl at various (hopefully weekly) stages, but thus far have been unsuccessful (I could be Google-ing the wrong words). Can anyone please provide development pictures or please point me in the right direction?

 

[SamLockwood]

I don't have the greatest pictures, nor do I know if my guineas are "average" or not. But here goes.

Here's when my first batch came in in 2022: About 2 days old.

About two weeks old.

3.5 weeks old

4 weeks old

Five weeks:

Six weeks. The pullets are the same age.

2 months

3 months

12 weeks

4 months

5 months

6 months:

 

[Gill-b]

I have updated the layout of development pictures of the keet. It still has some "baby" fluff on its head, but it has lost a lot of it over the past two or three days.

 

[Gill-b]

I found this beautifully illustrated book 'Gamebirds of Southern Africa' by authors Rob Little and Tim Crowell; and artist Simon Barlow.
On page 97 of this book are images of the Helmeted Guineafowl growth and development. The illustration of the juvenile at three and a half months compares really well to what our keet looks like which is now at the same age. I feel quite relieved of my worry that the keet was not developing correctly. I can only assume that wild Guineafowl develop differently to domesticated ones.

Book cover

The keet compares correctly to all the growth and development stages that are on this illustration plate.

Yay!

 

[Sydney65]

Are you giving it food as well as free ranging, and is it a singleton or part of a flock? The fluff on it's head is the last thing to go. Size-wise, yours is comparable to Numi at 2 months, if a bit slimmer. A few reasons for that could be: 1) Numi was a singleton raised inside through the winter & quite spoiled. 2.) You aren't supplementing enough feed in addition to free-ranging. 3)it's part of a flock that limits it's time at the trough. This is common for weaker,smaller birds. Is your bird developing well otherwise, ie flight, running, stamina? If so then I wouldn't worry about it, some are smaller. Just make sure it's getting adequate nutritional needs without going overboard (being overweight isn't good, either).

 

[Gill-b]

Here's a BYC article that might help.

Good luck!

Thank you for the link.

 

[Gill-b]

Up until it was three days old it could not walk as it was lame in its lower legs. It was fully able to fly at 20 days old, and it flys really well.

 

[Debbie292d]

Here's a BYC article that might help.

Good luck!

 

[Slothinc]

@SamLockwood beautiful pictures! And their enclosure is so amazing!

 

[Gill-b]

I don't have the greatest pictures, nor do I know if my guineas are "average" or not. But here goes.

You are an absolute star!!!
Thank you so very much for this. It certainly helps.