Pharaohs are becoming more and more popular. Not only is their meat tender and flavorful, but they also protect farm animals from predators, help control parasites and can even reduce the presence of deer ticks, which are responsible for Lyme disease. Whether you have only one guinea fowl or several guinea fowl, it is important to know what the differences are between males and females.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Listen to the Guinea Fowl
Step 1. Wait until the pharaohs get older in age
The most reliable way to determine the guinea fowl's sex is to listen to her vocalizations. The guinea fowl does not begin to vocalize before 8 weeks of life. If you have juveniles, wait until they reach 2 months of age before listening to their vocalizations.
The female guinea fowl may not begin vocalizing until later in life, so you may wait longer to determine its gender
Step 2. Listen to the male's call
Guinea fowl males make a 1 syllable sound that sounds like 'chek'. The vocalization of the male can also be a chirping or a yelp repeated at variable intervals. Its vocalization has also been likened to the sound of a machine gun.
Step 3. Listen to the call of the female
Here things could be a little more complicated, as the female guinea fowl also makes a sound similar to 'check'. However, females also emit a 2-syllable call that might sound like a variety of words like 'qua-cokua', 'put-rock' or 'qua-track'. Usually the first syllable will be shorter, the second longer and with an increasing pitch.
Part 2 of 3: Observe Wattles and Cornea Crest of a Guinea Fowl
Step 1. Observe the wattles
Wattles are flaps of skin that hang from a bird's head or neck. Although the male and female guinea fowl look very similar, it is possible to determine their sex by looking at their wattles. In adult males, the wattle is larger, elongated and folds up towards the upper jaw. The female's has a rather flat appearance.
The female guinea fowl's wattle is usually smaller than that of the male
Step 2. Observe the measurement of the corneal crest
A guinea fowl's horny crest, also called a helmet or helmet, is a prominent, horn-like outgrowth on the top of its head. The horny crest in males is larger than in females. The horny crest in guinea fowl female tends to be short and narrow.
Remember that the horny crest can look very similar between males and females
Step 3. Don't rely on visual differences alone
Since the male and female guinea fowl look similar, you shouldn't just base yourself on the physical characteristics between the two sexes. In fact, the young specimens are virtually identical, making the distinction between males and females even more difficult.
Part 3 of 3: Observe the Anal Orifice to Determine the Gender of a Guinea Fowl
Step 1. Turn the guinea fowl upside down
Another way to determine a guinea fowl's sex is to examine their anal orifice, which is the genital area of a bird that controls the elimination of body fluids. To do this, turn the guinea fowl upside down and push its tail towards the head. It is recommended that you have the help of a friend to complete the procedure.
- It would be helpful to sit with the guinea fowl resting on your legs with your back.
- Establishing sex from the anal orifice can be tricky and can injure the bird. If you feel unable to do this, consult a bird expert.
- Sex is determined by observing the anal orifice on young specimens that are at least a few weeks old.
Step 2. Expose the cloaca
The cloaca in a bird's body is the circular opening from which reproductive, urinary, and digestive fluids exit. With your other hand (or your friend's hand), place your index finger and thumb on each side of the orifice. Gently separate your fingers to spread and push out the cloaca. Practice gentle but firm pressure as you expose the cloaca.
Step 3. Examine the phallus
It is usually very difficult to distinguish the female sexual organs from the male ones. A male guinea fowl's phallus is longer and thicker than that of a female. The organ becomes more distinguishable between the two sexes around 8 weeks of life.
