How to Brood Guinea Keets With Gail Damerow

At what age can you tell males from females?

Male and female guineas look pretty much alike until they’re nearly mature. Until then, the only way to tell the difference for sure is to listen for the call made by females, starting at about six weeks of age.

The call sounds something like “good luck” or “come back.” Males never make this type of call. Around the time the females start calling, you might notice that the males’ heads become a bit less refined than those of the ladies.

By maturity, males (cocks) and females (hens) differ from one another not only in sound, but also in size, behavior, posture, and headgear. The males are a little bit bigger than the females. They are also more aggressive, and more alert to danger while foraging. On the move, the males hold themselves a little more upright, while the females are more horizontal.

The males’ head knobs, or helmets, are slightly more vertical than the females’ knobs. And the males’ wattles are larger and more deeply cupped. Both make loud alarm sounds, but only females make the characteristic two-syllable call.

Are keets as easy to tame as chicks?

Guineas are a little less trusting than most chicken breeds. The best way to overcome their shyness is to take advantage of imprinting while they’re young. The more time you spend with keets, the more strongly they will bond to you.

Also, I find that raising keets and chicks together helps. As the chicks become more friendly, so will the guinea keets.

Why are baby guinea fowl called “keets”?

The word keet derives from the old Nordic word cytling (keetling), which means a young animal. The most popular guinea fowl are pearl guineas, so called because their gray feathers feature attractive white pearl-like dots.

Pearl keets look quite different from the adults. They have beady black eyes, bright coral beaks and feet, and chipmunk-like two-tone brown stripes down their backs. “Adorable” is the best description for pearl guinea keets.