Keets arrived from Guinea Farm of Iowa. Pics included.

[Sydney65]

Us too! We had the droughtiest fall and spring and now we have rain, lightening, hail and tornados! And that’s how I found out that my new Guinea run floods badly. I had just driven a 1,167 mile trip and came home to a flooded run and panicked guineas trapped by the lake of gross water. I had to push it out with a snow shovel. Now I'm looking at today’s rain and worrying it’s flooded again but I'm on my way to work and can’t scoop water right now. I do have a plan to improve the drainage but may need to wait for the weekend.

Fortunately the new run doesn't appear to have flood or pooling issues. But then -our back yard is not what I guess would be subdivision regulation? it wasn't obvious until I put the pavers down between the raised beds, but there's a slight incline, so that helps. I was thinking a light covering of rock just to help drainage. Not deep or complete bc I plan to put an herb garden in there for them once plants are big enough to be sustainable. Lovage, borage, mint. And their dustbath in there is a 7.5'x4' box

 

[Sydney65]

@R2elk Whats up? I can't see your profile pics and it says you've limited who can see your info? I was looking for your pics, because I *think* you have the kind of roost I'm considering & wanted to ask about it. Granted a cartoon representation, but I think you have one similar? My question is if it works without the ones below getting pooped on?

 

[R2elk]

@R2elk Whats up? I can't see your profile pics and it says you've limited who can see your info? I was looking for your pics, because I *think* you have the kind of roost I'm considering & wanted to ask about it. Granted a cartoon representation, but I think you have one similar? My question is if it works without the ones below getting pooped on?

The link to My Albums is in my signature and should be viewable by any member. The pictures that you are thinking about are in My Coop.

The lower ladder area tends to not get crapped on. Guineas on the branches can and do get dumped on at times. They clean themselves off.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

@Mixed flock enthusiast, yes, they have chick grit.

@R2elk phew! And thanks for sharing your opinion. It was the lower one closer to the bottom of the "1" that looked odd. I can tell you it was super duper fresh -I saw it land- and was right after a period of mild stress. They had just returned from their transport carrier back to their freshly cleaned pen.

Since they are big kids now at 3 weeks, they have decided they will roost like adults when the heat lamp is off during the day. Apparently, they are also too grown up for the heat plate. They totally eschew it this week. But turn on the heat lamp at night and they are like moths to a flame. They return to being babies who like to pass out nestled together under a warm glow.

At what age do you think they can rely on the chicken nipples for water? They've had two types of waters for two weeks. This weekend, I watched when one was pecking: the inside of the plunger was wiggling around but I could not see on the keet's side if he was getting water. They certainly prefer the traditional waterer. But having two waterers in the outdoor brooder will be too crowded. I'd like to transition them to the chicken nipple before the move.

My chickens use nipple waterers, but I have t been very successful getting the guineas to use them. My chickens use the RentACoop nipple waterers.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DVSL74D?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

My guineas use Rentacoop cups instead.

https://www.amazon.com/RentACoop-Au...85816&pd_rd_wg=W4LD9&pd_rd_i=B07D6W2JK8&psc=1

 

[R2elk]

My chickens use nipple waterers, but I have t been very successful getting the guineas to use them. My chickens use the RentACoop nipple waterers.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DVSL74D?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

My guineas use Rentacoop cups instead.

https://www.amazon.com/RentACoop-Au...85816&pd_rd_wg=W4LD9&pd_rd_i=B07D6W2JK8&psc=1

My guineas drink out of a bucket or the overflow from my pond.

 

[Sydney65]

Mine use the nipples- outside
And inside

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Mine use the nipples- outside View attachment 3092343
And insideView attachment 3092345

I don’t know why mine seem to dislike nipples but they really don’t drink well from them. I did use a little vertical nipple waterer for my original set of keets and they did better with the bigger nipple waterers but they still didn’t drink a lot from them. Their water consumption went up once I switched them to cups. During summer I switch the roos to cups too so they can dunk a little more in the heat. I can’t use the cups with the ducks because they will fling the water everywhere and empty the 5 gallon container in a day!

 

[Bicoastal]

This photo is dated 4/24, so they are bigger now but you can see they do peck at them. They were working on them today before I put the traditional waterer back in after cleaning.

It sure is a tiny amount of water that comes out. Of course they would prefer the open water over a single drop at a time. I would too!

But I’m glad to know they won’t die of dehydration if they only have nipples.

 

[Bicoastal]

I decided on a photo shoot today. Their feathers are doing some really interesting things. Several look white but their heads have some shading going on, so I’m curious to see what they’ll turn out to be.

Some birds have more than one photo, some have one. I tried my best to show wing and head, but it was a struggle. Sorry for the shadow of the phone. If anyone wants to see particular colors, let me know and I’ll try again on a sunnier day.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I decided on a photo shoot today. Their feathers are doing some really interesting things. Several look white but their heads have some shading going on, so I’m curious to see what they’ll turn out to be.

Some birds have more than one photo, some have one. I tried my best to show wing and head, but it was a struggle. Sorry for the shadow of the phone. If anyone wants to see particular colors, let me know and I’ll try again on a sunnier day.

Beautiful babies!!! Those feathers are really coming in. Your pinto is going to be really splashy.