author(s)
R Prabakaran and S Ezhil Valavan

abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the production performance of guinea fowls in hilly area of Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 800 day old guinea fowl keets were obtained from a private hatchery and distributed to farmers in hilly area. The cumulative body weight of guinea fowls at 4^th, 8^th, 12^th and 16^th week was 207.85±3.01, 487.52±8.52, 816.74±5.67 and 1089.47±4.14 g respectively. The overall hen day egg production and hen housed egg production in layers from 28 to 51 weeks was 49.51±1.25 and 47.38±2.45 per cent, respectively. The livability (%) upto 16^th wk was 95.68. There is market among specific segment of people for guinea fowl because of its watching qualities and gamey flavor of meat. As an alternative poultry farming, guninea fowl rearing can be promoted to improve the socio-economic status of economically weaker sections of the society in the country.