Helmeted guinea fowl surviving snow

[bugmankeith]

I live in New York and heard in more natural areas they released helmeted guinea fowl to control ticks. From what I'm reading the birds fly, are tougher and can fend off small native predators, and are cold hardy. I know people who see them feral in small populations. How does something from Africa survive average 20F winter temps, or to 0? I know a neighbor with a chicken he never feeds it or shelters it and its been around for years eating whatever it finds. Do these guineafowl really survive well?

 

[catfishrod69]

Im not sure how they can be from africa and survive out winters, but they do well. I had a few pearl guinea. They were gorgeous creatures. However they are not something to have if you can handle the noise.

 

[VictorHernandez]

Guineafowl are pretty hardy birds. They are wild birds, and not really domesticated. I am thinking of getting myself the Royal Purples sometime. They kind of look like mini Cassowaries to me.
Royal Purple Guineafowl -> Dwarf Cassowary -> Cassowary

 

[bugmankeith]

Im not sure how they can be from africa and survive out winters, but they do well. I had a few pearl guinea. They were gorgeous creatures. However they are not something to have if you can handle the noise.

I know some farms keep them with chickens because they alert the flock of danger so they can get to safety. What noise do they make, is it only in danger? I've seen them in person but never really heard much noise.

 

[catfishrod69]

Yeah they are excellent "gaurd dogs". They make it in alot of moods. They will use it for danger, excitement, and just plain to be loud. Here is a link to what they do, but its alot louder in person. It will make you cover your ears if you are near them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt7rXN8IJoo&feature=related

I know some farms keep them with chickens because they alert the flock of danger so they can get to safety. What noise do they make, is it only in danger? I've seen them in person but never really heard much noise.

 

[bugmankeith]

I see what you mean, boy I'd love to get one just to annoy my neighbors. In the video they look like raptors running.

 

[catfishrod69]

Yeah they are pretty crazy. The loud noise they make dont seem to bother them lol. Haha yeah they do look like little raptors. Too bad they arent. When we had ours, they would make those noises anytime i fed/watered them, someone they didnt know came around, they seen something they didnt understand. We ended up letting a friend have them, and luckily our cockatiel caught on. He would sit in there all the time making the same noises they did lol.

 

[Louise E. Rothstein]

They ARE "little raptors!!!"
Raptors and birds were VERY close relatives.
Why,some raptor fossils had "feather traces"!!!
They may have borne feathers while they were alive.