Grumpy Guineafowl Becomes a Dad at Edinburgh Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: November 3, 2020 12:01 am

A guineafowl chick at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Photo Credit: RZSS

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is celebrating the birth of six vulturine guineafowl chicks at Edinburgh Zoo. Their parents journey was covered in the recent BBC Scotland documentary, Inside the Zoo.

Keepers at the conservation charity were hoping that their grumpy guineafowl, Phillip would find love with female, Anne.

The chicks were born at the start of September and will be fully fledged when they reach 10 weeks old.

A guineafowl chick at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Photo Credit: RZSS

Sean Meechan, senior bird keeper at Edinburgh Zoo said, “We are thrilled to have successfully hatched these chicks here at the zoo. This is the first time in over six years we have bred the species, which is native to East Africa.

“Philip has a reputation for being a little grumpy and has been known to take a disliking to some of our hoofstock keepers who go into the enclosure to look after our herd of Kirk’s dik-dik, but we’re sure he’s going to make a great dad.

“We have hand-reared the chicks to make sure they get the best possible care whilst they are so young and vulnerable, and they are all doing great, but they aren’t out and about just yet.”

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A guineafowl chick at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Photo Credit: RZSS

The name, vulturine guineafowl comes from their bald head and neck which is similar to that of vultures. While they can fly most of their time is spent on the ground.

Learn more about Edinburgh Zoo on their website – RZSS Edinburgh Zoo