Zonnendal area (Cape Town) Guinea Fowl

[Gill-b]

Look who visited again, early this morning, but this time with four keets; which leaves me wondering where the fourth one came from?

All five Guineas flew off after something scared them (and no, it was not my dog as he came out to see what the fuss was about). Hop-a-long, seen in the above picture, then stayed on the roof of the neighbour's house, along with one of the keets and a dove, preening himself.

 

[kikiruru]

Hi Jasper

 

[Gill-b]

This morning both Two-toes and Hop-a-long together visited, along with the four juveniles and a few other adults.

Neither Two-toes nor Hop-a-long are in the above picture as they were standing closer to me, but you can see how big the juveniles are getting; almost no longer keets.

Hop-a-long.

I am fascinated by the feathers that hang down the back of Hop-a-long's neck.

Hop-a-long and Jasper have never minded each other's company.

 

[Gill-b]

This morning only Two-toes came for a visit... all on his own...

Two-toes is the largest of the Guinea Fowl that visit here.

He does not have as many feather hanging down the back of his neck as Hop-a-long has.

Two-toes and Jasper also do not mind each other's company.

 

[Gill-b]

I forgot to mention to take a closer look at how long Two-toes' eyelashes are.

 

[Gill-b]

This is the female that visits often...

I recognize her by her helmet which to me reminds me of a comma mark ( , ) ...

Notice how much smaller and unpronounced colour her wattle is to a male's (compare it to that of Two-toes' and Hop-a-long's wattles, seen in pictures found in my pervious two posts on this thread). I use the wattle as one of the indicators to help me to identify the females from the males...

Are these wattle differences between the sexes the same for the Domesticated Guineas?

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[In the breeding season the wattles of the males here do appear to be bluer (more noticeable) than during out of season, partly giving rise to my theory that Guinea Fowl have a reactive response to the same colour blue wherever it may be found. An example of this can be read about on the following linked thread:
My Guineas are terrified of my parked car.]

 

[R2elk]

Are these wattle differences between the sexes the same for the Domesticated Guineas?

No. You cannot sex guineas here by the size or shape of their wattles. I have had male guineas with the same size and shape wattles as the hens. I have had guineas with one large cupped wattle on one side and a small flat wattle on the other side.

I have seen photos of known hen guineas with large cupped wattles.

There can be a difference between the varieties as to the size and shape of their wattles. Hens of one variety may have bigger casques than males of a different variety although cocks of the same variety usually have bigger casques than hens of the same variety.

 

[allenw]

I've been able to sex them by wattle and helmet size, it helps if they are the same age when doing it.

 

[R2elk]

I've been able to sex them by wattle and helmet size, it helps if they are the same age when doing it.

You have been lucky and probably have only one variety.

 

[allenw]

You have been lucky and probably have only one variety.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I messed with them for years never had a big problem telling them apart. Not going to say I was right every time but could do alright sexing them. Sold enough babies to pay for Christmas several years.