Dekers Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 (edited) Ok, I'm the first to admit that I know very little about Guinea Fowl, but I am convinced I saw a group of around 8 wondering around yesterday. I know they are farmed in the UK, and I have the likes of Ostrich, Llama, Alpaca etc farms in my areas, so it would not surprise me if there was a Guinea Fowl farm as well, but these were out and about. Would they wonder then go home? It also goes through my mind that if they are here, then surely some must have got into the wild. Do any of you know of "wild" populations around the UK, or indeed have any of you seen the odd Guinea Fowl wondering around, or even shot one? Edited February 24, 2013 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 Some shoots release them dekers but they tend to stay about and not breed successfully. Also domestic ones if left will wander and return to base, I've never seen or heard of any truly wild ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 We bought a pair last year;they live in our pen and come and go at will. Just up the road an old boy has them free-roaming around his house and all the locals know to slow down when passing his house as they will possibly be on the road.I used to buy their eggs off him,until some 'farmers market' wifey type offered to buy all eggs they produced at an inflated rate.Nice eggs and good eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 on my uncles farm he has about 10 or so that just wander around,i would say they are wild as they go all over the fields and very rarely come back to the farm.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 I wouldn't be at all surprised to find escapees living in the "wild", a mate kept them on his vinyard in Kent to control the bugs. I bet they might breed and escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 Shot one this winter....very scrummy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 I don't know if "domestically kept" ones that have escaped will breed but if they do then there might well be some "wild" ones around the Killin/Loch Tay Area of Perthshire. I used to keep a dozen or so up there back in the late 70s when I was living on and working a croft in the area - They do make excellent eating - if you can catch them! Mine were kept as "free range birds" and loved to roost in the fir trees that surrounded our garden but eventually decided to "wander"! They would often turn up when I was feeding the chickens, goats and other small livestock I kept but eventually they seemed to completely disappear. This could well have been due to predation (I didn't shoot at the time) but I would like to think/hope that there were a few that survived and went on to breed! When you keep them as "pets" they certainly let you know if there is anyone about - Noisy little devils! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 There probably will be a tiny number of wild ones somewhere. After all, some will likely escape from somewhere in the country. Whether they breed or not is a different matter though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 There's a number of these that roam about on Galleywood Common near Chelmsford. A local householder keeps them but let's them roam free. There's another place on the outskirts of Epping where someone keeps them along with geese and chickens and lets them 'free range' in part of the forest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 are they classed as game birds?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmar fudd Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 we have about 20 on our farm that wander as they please sometimes go in with the chickens at night but not all the time, they just do theyre own thing, i shot a couple last season when me and a mate where having a walk round, as said very tasty! fudd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 Got a 8 on the farm but you dont see them for weeks sometimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 Just like Peafowl, many are sold by breeders to those who fancy keeping a few and some keepers release a few with their poults as their call warns of predators. They do not breed successfully when free roaming so numbers tend not to be sustainable. Most people who keep them tend to let them roam free and they are happy to wander round the neighborhood roosting in favored trees at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 We got a few, they come snd go as they please. Sometimes going in with the chickens at night other times with the pigs or goats. Most of the time I don't have a clue where they are but they do seem to turn up at feed time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenman99 Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 Theres a number of them on the boundry of Holkam Hall Norfolk, saw them again this season. fenman99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 The estate next to our shoot released some turkeys a few years ago, they seem to be thriving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 I have about 30 wandering around they are great guards and they make a hell of a noise in the trees at night i have given loads away to the local shoots and a few lads on here to teach the pheasants to go into the trees to roost they wont breed in the wild because when the first egg hatches the mother guinea fowl gets off the nest and leaves the rest we rear them in incubators or on broodys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 are they classed as game birds?? No, so you can`t shoot them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 I had some but they came into the garden and the dog had them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yates Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Not sure about their breeding prowess but i know of a chap got into trouble with the police last year for 'mistakenly' shooting two as they passed his hide. Apparently the owner of the birds reported him to the police. I believe no action was taken after he compensated the owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil3728 Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 I'm sure there is a few in a farm not far from me, they seem to disapear for a few weeks then they are back. they always stand in the middle of the road, makes the cars slow down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 No, so you can`t shoot them... The only description I have seen of them is Game. (largely on Menus, so hardly a definitive answer). What are they if not, because they are not indigenous as far as I'm aware (or are they?) so, what about the Wildlife and Countryside Act? indeed, if they are not indigenous why aren't people locked up for letting them roam around free? :hmm: . Like I said I know very little about them or the rules surrounding them, what have I missed, why can't you shoot them. Not after a scrap, just information, educate me on this one please! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 They are in the same class as turkeys, peafowl, quail and hens. If you own them there is nothing to stop you killing them by any means that is humane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P~MX Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 there's a pheasant shoot about 20 miles from me who have a facebook page advertising their shoot and they'd pictures of guinea fowl hangin up in their game rack durin the days shoot, they also recorded them as birds shot, I've never seen them fly so I can't say if they'd make a good sportin shot or not . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Isnt it illegal to "release" them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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