48 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. 



The guineas seldom sit until too late in the season to rear a good 

 brood, but if they can be induced to sit they generally hatch well 

 and are remarkably successful in rearing their brood. 



Another advantage in having chicken hens raise the young gui. 

 neas is that they grow up more gentle and manageable than when 

 reared by the guinea hens. Guineas have a natural disposition to 

 roam, and are disposed to seek their nests in secluded spots at a dis- 

 tance from the farm house. They will pair off if the number of 

 males equals that of the females, but if the number of the latter is 

 in excess of that of the former, oiie male will consort with more 

 than one female. In this case, however, the tendency to use the 

 same nest will be increased. 



Guineas are very cross to other fowls, and by their nervous, sud- 

 den mode of attack so surprise less active fowls that they gain the 

 mastery over those much larger than themselves. We have no 

 domestic fowl equal in table qualities to half grown guineas. 



In quality and flavor of the flesh they approach those of the pheas- 

 ant. No farm yard is complete without guineas. They famish an 

 abundant supply of eggs during the warm summer months when 

 the chicken hens, except the Leghorns, fail. 



In addition to the other good qualities of the guineas, they sound 

 a note of alarm at any unusual occurrence during the night. 



THE PEAFOWL. 



This is a highly ornamental bird and is generally grown with 

 special reference to this quality. They are, therefore, suited only 

 to spacious grounds and lawns, in which they are peculiarly appro, 

 priate. 



They are out of place in a general poultry yard on account of 

 their ill nature, the mail taking special pleasure in annoying a hen 

 with a brood and killing the chicks. One indulging, therefore, in 

 the luxury of the peafowl as an ornamental bird must weigh well 

 its disposition to destroy the more useful part of the flock. 



It requires three years in which to reach maturity. The hen lays 

 the second year, seeking a secluded, retired spot for her nest. She 

 lays from five to nine eggs about the size of those of the turkey 

 hen. The time of incubation is from twenty-eight to thirty days. 



