Guineafowl at the Animal Shelter

[RavensGryf]

So this is what I saw today. Had to go to the city licensing office about the dog, and while we were there, we stopped by to see the animals for adoption.

It was sad seeing how depressed looking many of the dogs were. I couldn't stand it.

There was a back row of cages for exotics, and they had a "stray" rooster, a pheasant, and this!!!

They called it a "Guinea" of unknown sex, but from a google search it looks like a Helmeted Guineafowl. Maybe male? Hard to tell in pics, and I am by no means a Guineafowl expert... :52:

The thing that got me laughing was that (just like the pheasant and the rooster, which they called a male chicken), HE WAS A STRAY ALSO!!! In this part of California in the suburbs, you just don't see STRAY chickens, pheasants, and GUINEAFOWL!! I know that in the seedier parts of town some people do illegal **** fighting which is probably what that escaped rooster was from.

As I was there, two young guys were looking at it, and one was teasing it and making it hiss and strike out. I told them to stop, that he was scaring it!! They then walked away. Guineafowl have feelings too!

If I lived on a farm and had proper accommodations for it, I'd have been tempted to take him home!!

 

[thekarens]

I've now seen it all. Who would have thought.... Stray guineafowl.

 

[henpecked]

Good thing my wife wont see this, LOL.

 

[merlinsmom13]

They are very loud, but great watchdogs for those of you in a remote area. I would take it if it were closer

 

[TessieB]

All kinds of critters end up at an animal shelter. Roosters are common as they are illegal in most cities, are mean, and young roosters are often forced out of a flock due to male competition. Guineas are very, very noisy, and are often released to a shelter. Unfortunately this is the time of year when all those Easter chicks have matured and are no longer wanted.

 

[aliray]

Many years ago when I lived up north ,we had a flock of guineafowl and I never found them very loud. Peacocks on the other hand are beautiful but very loud. The nice thing about guinea hens is they love all kinds of bugs but especially ticks and will just wander around and eat. Very easy to care for and also cute....Alison

 

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Yes this is Helmeted Guinea fowl & its male.The males helmet is longer in length than females.They make a great pet birds & looks nice in flocks.They are suitable for big property & not for a home with limited space as they need free roaming.Another thing they make loud calls which can disturb your neighbors.

 

[Abigal7]

They are loud so I can not see them in city limits ( to me they sound like they are saying buckwheat) [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5GnmSg0ct4"]Female guineas calling - YouTube[/ame]. I grew up on a farm and we had guinea fowl. They did a good job getting rid of the ticks around the farm house. You always knew when someone pulled up in the driveway because they would get noisy. Unlike the chickens they never would get inside the chicken coup but would roost in a tree. The owls and coyotes did not manage to get that many of them. They did get along with the chickens though. They also do not like snakes

 

[henpecked]

That looks like my turkeys with a snake, They somehow know the difference between the rattlesnakes and the black racers. If they're standing around "clucking: it's a rattler. That's a great pix.

 

[Kiwibird]

Poor thing, it looks so sad. I hope it finds a good home somewhere with a lot of acreage and others of it's kind (or at least other fowl).

After hearing that call (thanks Abigal7) I can see why this poor little guy/gal was a "stray". Unless you had plenty of property, having one of those in your backyard would probably drive you and the neighborhood nuts:52:

 

[RavensGryf]

I hope the poor guy gets a good home soon also. He looks so depressed along with all the other animals there.

Abigail, I love that picture with the snake! I've heard they were noisy. Thanks for the video . Better not to have one in your backyard in the city or suburbs! Also looks like they rather be in a flock.

 

[RavensGryf]

Very easy to care for and also cute....Alison

As ugly as he is, I also find him cute! I love his "Elizabethan collar"... It's adorable!