Save with a $40 Farm Membership for the remainder of 2025!

***Forgot to order before the deadline? No Problem! Orders placed after our standard deadline date may qualify for expedited processing with a Rush Order Charge. ***

Please email orders@ctranch or text 903-268-0522 to verify RUSH ORDER availability.

The Wonderful World of Guinea Hens

written by

Nicole Caballero

posted on

June 22, 2024

g-hens.jpg


At CT Ranch, we love sharing farm life fun facts and nuggets of wisdom with you, and today, we're excited to share all the amazing benefits of Guinea hens. (Yes, this is our second newsletter about Guinea hens but let that just speak to how much we love these birds!)

Whether you're a seasoned farmer or a budding homesteader, Guinea hens could be the perfect addition to your property. FYI, we have Guinea keets (baby Guinea hens) available for sale! Read on to discover why these fascinating birds are a must-have.

The Benefits of Guinea Hens

1. Natural Pest Control: Guinea hens are voracious insect eaters. They can significantly reduce the populations of ticks, beetles, grasshoppers, and other pests. This makes them an excellent, eco-friendly solution for keeping your property pest-free.

2. Protection and Alarm System: Guinea hens are known for their loud, distinctive calls. While this might seem like a nuisance, it actually makes them excellent watchdogs. They will alert you to any unusual activity or intruders, including predators such as foxes and snakes.

3. Low Maintenance: Compared to other poultry, Guinea hens require minimal care. They are hardy birds, resistant to many common poultry diseases, and can forage for much of their food if given enough space.

4. Egg Production: Guinea hens lay eggs that are rich and flavorful. Though they may not lay as prolifically as chickens, their eggs are a unique addition to any kitchen.

5. Weed Control: In addition to eating insects, Guinea hens also help control weeds. They forage on various plant seeds, which can help maintain a more manageable garden or pasture.

Fun Facts About Guinea Hens

1. Unique Appearance: Guinea hens are known for their striking appearance, with speckled feathers and helmeted heads. Their unique look adds a touch of exotic beauty to any farm, and they are just plain fun to watch!

2. Social Birds: These birds are highly social and thrive in flocks. They often move and forage together, creating a lively and dynamic atmosphere on your property.

3. Historical Significance: Guinea hens have been domesticated for centuries, originating from Africa and do well on savannah pastures. They were highly valued in ancient Roman and Greek societies for their meat and eggs.

4. Flight Ability: Unlike most domesticated poultry, Guinea hens are capable fliers. They prefer to roost in trees or high places, which can help them avoid ground predators.

Their flying abilities are also the number one complaint about them. Guinea hen haters will tell you they aren’t worth it because they don't stick around.

However, we have found the solution to that…TURKEYS! Read more about how we  accidentally stumbled upon that bit of know how here.

5. Long Lifespan: With proper care, Guinea hens can live up to 10-15 years, providing long-term benefits and companionship on your farm.

Interested in Adding Guinea Hens to Your Property?

At CT Ranch, we have healthy, vibrant Guinea keets ready to join your farm or homestead. If you're interested in purchasing Guinea hens or want to learn more about their care, please reach out to us.

Contact us today and take the first step toward enjoying the many benefits of our favorite bird!

And if guinea hens at home aren't for you, feel free to come visit the Guineas and other animals at CT Ranch anytime!



More from the blog

The Truth About Fats: Part 1

The Truth About Fats: Part 1

How Seed Oils Took Over Our Tables 🧑‍🌾 A New Series from CT RanchWelcome to the first part of our three-part series, The Truth About Fats. Over the next three months, we’ll be walking through how our food — and our health — changed when the world turned away from traditional animal fats and toward industrial seed oils. It’s a story that goes back much farther than most people realize… all the way to the 1800s. 🕯️ From Candles to the Kitchen It all started in 1837 when two enterprising men, Proctor and Gamble, began making candles out of cottonseed oil instead of animal tallow. It was a clever use of a cheap byproduct of the cotton industry, and for a while, it worked — until the lightbulb came along. When Edison’s electric company lit up homes in 1882, the need for candles plummeted. Suddenly, Proctor & Gamble had barrels of leftover cottonseed oil and no place for it to go. But instead of throwing it out, they looked for another way to sell it — and that’s where everything began to change. 🥣 The Birth of Crisco By 1903, scientists had figured out how to hydrogenate cottonseed oil — changing its color, texture, and smell to resemble animal fat. A few years later, in 1911, Proctor & Gamble launched their new product: Crisco. It was marketed as “cleaner, lighter, and modern.” Ads showed smiling homemakers and happy families gathered around golden-fried foods. It was cheaper than butter or lard, and before long, kitchens across America were filled with tins of Crisco instead of jars of rendered fat. By 1933, the company switched from cottonseed to soybean oil, an even cheaper option — and the rest is history. 🌾 A Shift Away from Tradition Over time, the oils that were once considered cheap industrial byproducts became everyday staples. And somehow, the fats that nourished generations before us — butter, tallow, lard — were labeled as “unhealthy.” But if you trace the story back, you’ll see that this wasn’t about health at all. It was about marketing, money, and convenience. The result? A nation that lost touch with the natural, stable fats that were part of God’s good design for nourishment. 🔍 Time to Look Deeper Today, the debate continues — seed oils vs. traditional animal fats. But when you start digging into the history and science, the truth speaks for itself. In the meantime, check out below of the traditional fats we offer here at CT Ranch to bring real nourishment back to your family table. Beef Fat (Suet)Butter And be sure to keep an eye out for next month’s newsletter, where we’ll dive into Part 2: The Hidden Side Effects of Seed Oils — what they do inside the body, and why returning to time-honored fats can help us heal.

Read more
Farm Dogs: The Real Bosses of the Ranch

Farm Dogs: The Real Bosses of the Ranch

Farm dogs don’t clock in—but they DO have very official roles that conveniently come with zero paperwork and unlimited union breaks. While every farm runs a little differently, most hard-working ranch mutts and pedigreed pros share a familiar list of “job duties,” whether they live here at CT Ranch or somewhere across the country:

Read more
“Shots, Germs, and Terrain:” Unpopular Opinions and Controversial Topics.

“Shots, Germs, and Terrain:” Unpopular Opinions and Controversial Topics.

Out here at CT Ranch, we keep things pretty simple. When it comes to our animals, the only shot we give our calves is for brucellosis — and that’s just once, when they’re little. Why? Because in our experience, brucellosis is a very real risk, and the vaccine does a good job of minimizing it. We haven’t yet found a better way to handle that particular threat, so we use it. Beyond that, we put our trust in strong terrain, good forage, clean water, and plenty of sunshine. That got me thinking about the bigger picture: vaccines, germs, and the theories we’ve all been taught to accept as gospel.

Read more
Return To Top

Meet Our Family

Learn

CT Ranch

  • 1143 RS County Road 2300
    Emory TX 75440
  • 903-268-0522

Join Our Farm Family!

Follow Us

Privacy Policy and Terms of Service