The Pearl Guinea is the classic spotted guinea fowl: gray body with white 'pearl' polka dots, blue-and-red bare head, excellent foragers, exceptional alarm callers. The 'security system that pays for itself in ticks' bird. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Pearl Guinea as day-old keets, started birds, and adult birds and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | West Africa - domesticated 1500+ years ago |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Common |
| Adult weight | 3-4 lb adults |
| Size class | Standard |
| Eggs per year | ~80 |
| Egg color | Cream with brown speckles |
| Egg size | Small-Medium |
| Broodiness | Medium (poor mothers) |
| Cold hardiness | Excellent |
| Heat tolerance | Excellent |
| Noise level | Very vocal |
| Flight tendency | Strong flier - roost high |
| Beginner friendly | No |
Native to West Africa (Numida meleagris). Domesticated by ancient Egyptians and Greeks - wall paintings depict them at 1500 BCE. Romans imported them as 'African birds.' Brought to the Americas via slave trade in the 1600s. Pearl variety is by far the most common; over 20 color varieties exist globally including White, Lavender, Coral Blue, Pied, and Royal Purple.
Best for: tick control, alarm system, pest control, farm yard
Pointy-end eggs with thick shells. Hens lay communally in hidden 'dump nests'.
| Indoor coop space | 4 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 15 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 12 in per bird |
Space: Imprint as keets (chicks) on a specific coop - they return there at sundown.
Feeding: Game bird starter 28% protein first 6 weeks; layer 16% after.
Health: Carry blackhead resistance - safer than chickens around heritage turkeys.
Climate: Zones 4-10. Tolerate extreme cold AND heat - true African origin.
You can request Pearl Guinea through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 3 request pages for day-old keets, started birds, and adult birds, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Pearl Guinea are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Pearl Guinea hen lays roughly 80 eggs a year, and the eggs are small-medium and cream with brown speckles. Pointy-end eggs with thick shells. Hens lay communally in hidden 'dump nests'. Broodiness is rated medium (poor mothers). Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
The Pearl Guinea is not rated beginner friendly. Temperament: alert, loud, hardy, foraging, flock-bound; cold hardiness: excellent; heat tolerance: excellent; noise level: very vocal. It is best for tick control, alarm system, pest control, and farm yard. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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