Guineafowl

Guineafowl originate from Africa. The domestic variety have a characteristic bony helmet on top of the head. The flesh is dark, but very delicate, and of a gamey flavour. As a rule the common Guinea fowl is very uniform in colour  the wattles being red, the neck bare near the head, with a great deal of white about it and a thin mane of bristles behind, and the general plumage marked with small round white spots all over a very dark purplish grey ground. Variations do, however, occur in a state of domestication. In some birds the spots have almost disappeared: in a few the colour is reversed, the spots being dark and the ground-colour light grey: quite white birds are also known and from crosses of these last, pied fowls have been produced.

Carriage

Carriage of stern very low, the profile of back and tail appearing almost like a segment of a circle. It has an upright but balanced stance with legs straight and strong. Guineafowl are alert, bright and active.

Type

The guineafowl has a well-proportioned body. It is a compact, deep-bodied bird, slightly rounded.. It has a broad breast, a full keel and a firm back which is rounded. Muscle tone firm and well developed, not emaciated. Tail is carried correctly, not drooping or splayed. Length is proportional to body size.

Head, Neck & Helmet

It is long-necked with a skin-covered horn at the top of the head, and a fringe standing out from the upper part of the back of the neck. 

The helmet is well-formed, upright, and symmetrical. It should not be too large or lopsided.

Wattles and ears are prominent, bright red wattles, ear lobes smooth, symmetrical. The red pendant wattles extend around the base of the beak with white ace below the eye, extending a short distance down the side of the neck. 

Beak is short, stout, and well-shaped.

Eyes are clear, alert, bright and correctly positioned.

Legs & Feet

Feet clean, strong, well-formed and free from deformities. The male will have spurs.

Sexual Differences

The cock closely resembles the hen, but is generally slightly larger, has larger wattles, his voice is a more shrill shriek instead of the female's well-known "come-back" note, and he has a peculiar habit of strutting on tip-toe, and arching his back.

Colour

For colour details see table below. Note that the colour varieties officially standardised in Australia are Pearl, Lavender, Cinnamon, Pied, and White.

Plumage

Feathers are smooth and glossy with no missing patches. Texture is soft and close-lying, but with a firm crisp look overall.

Judging

Additional notes for judging. Spot uniformity is a key factor in all varieties, especially Cinnamon and Pearl. Leg colour should match the breed standard, strong and clean legs indicate good condition. Head and helmet symmetry is important for exhibition scoring. Overall condition (feather quality, alertness, and health) contribute heavily to judging points in guineafowl. 

Points

Type and Conformation - 30

Head, Helmet & Face - 15

Plumage & Color - 25

Legs & Feet - 10

Condition & Presentation - 20

Total  100

Weights

The birds are smaller than they appear, rarely weighing more than 3 lbs (1.36kg); but the bones are small and fine also.

Faults

White feather (except in the White variety)

Any other structural deformity as per general standards

SOURCES

• Wrights Book of Poultry 1885

• Australian Poultry Standards 2nd Edition

• Raising Guinea Fowl by United States Aricultural Research Service. https://archive.org/details/raisingguineafow519unit_0

• GUINEA FOWL. (1907, May 7). Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), p. 3. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151599371

• Guineafowl International: https://www.guineas.com/

• THE GUINEA FOWL, OR GALLINA. (1906, February 14). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), p. 26. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71527208