I am having 25 assorted keets shipped on Wed, (from Ideal Hatchery) should arrive Thurs or Fri. I have read this entire thread and think I may have got enough information, but still have a couple questions. I have successfully raised chicks and ducks, but keets seem a bit different.
Feed:
High protein starter feed medicated with Amprolium or high protein Turkey, game, or pheasant feed. Preferably at about 27-30% protein, until 6-10 weeks. Then switched to something at least 20% protein, until 12 weeks, then a min of 16% protein. Put marbles in the waterer so they don't drown (had to do that for the ducks).
At least 95 degrees, at least two to three weeks, then decrease it gradually. Keep in a pen at least 6 weeks-10 weeks, feed at regular times. Best to feed at night so they will return to the coop and can be locked up at night, if allowed to free-range.
Question: here in Mississippi at this time of year it is hot and humid during the day, some nights are cooler (upper 70's), do I need to just turn a heat lamp on at night for them? Can it be a regular light bulb (maybe 40-60 watt), or do I need the red light like chicks need? This time of year when I raised chicks, I only turned the light on at night.
I brood my baby chicks in an old rabbit pen, do 30 keets need about the same amount of room as 30 baby chicks, or more/less?
What age can I put them into my chicken pen on the ground. Covered pen no chickens in it now (lost them to a stray dog that died of lead poisoning from my .45).
I have 3 adult free ranging semi-wild adult Guineas, will they accept the new keets when they are old enough to turn out, or will they cause my new keets to turn wild or attack them?
BTW, I love my Guineas. They do terrorize the cat, the UPS man, and the mail man though. Lol my mail man won't get out of his car when they are around. He tells me he isn't afraid of my dogs, but my Guineas are hazardous to his safety.
Think that is it for now, unless someone has something I forgot.
Feed:
High protein starter feed medicated with Amprolium or high protein Turkey, game, or pheasant feed. Preferably at about 27-30% protein, until 6-10 weeks. Then switched to something at least 20% protein, until 12 weeks, then a min of 16% protein. Put marbles in the waterer so they don't drown (had to do that for the ducks).
At least 95 degrees, at least two to three weeks, then decrease it gradually. Keep in a pen at least 6 weeks-10 weeks, feed at regular times. Best to feed at night so they will return to the coop and can be locked up at night, if allowed to free-range.
Question: here in Mississippi at this time of year it is hot and humid during the day, some nights are cooler (upper 70's), do I need to just turn a heat lamp on at night for them? Can it be a regular light bulb (maybe 40-60 watt), or do I need the red light like chicks need? This time of year when I raised chicks, I only turned the light on at night.
I brood my baby chicks in an old rabbit pen, do 30 keets need about the same amount of room as 30 baby chicks, or more/less?
What age can I put them into my chicken pen on the ground. Covered pen no chickens in it now (lost them to a stray dog that died of lead poisoning from my .45).
I have 3 adult free ranging semi-wild adult Guineas, will they accept the new keets when they are old enough to turn out, or will they cause my new keets to turn wild or attack them?
BTW, I love my Guineas. They do terrorize the cat, the UPS man, and the mail man though. Lol my mail man won't get out of his car when they are around. He tells me he isn't afraid of my dogs, but my Guineas are hazardous to his safety.
Think that is it for now, unless someone has something I forgot.
