Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[My2butterflies]

Hello everyone, I’ve had guinea hens for about 5 years but this year presents a new problem for me. One of my guineas hens hatched 4 keets that I managed to confiscate and have under a heat lamp. They are 3 weeks old now. What I’m not sure about is when can I move them to the outside coop, I live in northern MN and we have already been seeing freezing temps at night and 50’s to 60’s during the day. I was planning on keeping them indoors under heat lamp until 4 weeks then changing the heat lamp bulb to a 100 watt build until they are 6 weeks. I was going to then move them to the coop outdoors. Is the cold weather we have here going to be ok for them in the coop? I was going to put the 100 watt bulb in the outdoor coop as well. I don’t want to stress them with the cold wrather but the longer I wait to move them outdoor the colder it’s getting outside. Any insight is much appreciated. P.S. I just discovered my other momma guinea is laying...she has a nest of 6 eggs already...I’m assuming they have froze during the nighttime hours though since she is not sitting on the nest yet.

I have keets out in the coop with no heat that are just over 4wks old. Our cold weather in south central Minnesota hasn’t been too much for them. I took them off heat at a week and a halfish old.
I think if you cut off their heat now you should be able to move them outside without heat next week when temps go back up for a bit.

 

[Susan1981lic]

I have keets out in the coop with no heat that are just over 4wks old. Our cold weather in south central Minnesota hasn’t been too much for them. I took them off heat at a week and a halfish old.
I think if you cut off their heat now you should be able to move them outside without heat next week when temps go back up for a bit.

Thank you for your reply! I think I will try this, they are in our sauna now under a heat lamp. The sauna isn’t heated so the heat lamp is all the have for heat. Maybe I should cut the heat lamp and use a 100 watt bulb for a few days and then remove the light for a few days before moving them to the coop at 4 weeks old....???

 

[My2butterflies]

Thank you for your reply! I think I will try this, they are in our sauna now under a heat lamp. The sauna isn’t heated so the heat lamp is all the have for heat. Maybe I should cut the heat lamp and use a 100 watt bulb for a few days and then remove the light for a few days before moving them to the coop at 4 weeks old....???

What is the temp in the sauna without the lamp on? If it’s at least 70f I would just cut any heat source. Not saying doing it the way you suggest is wrong at all. That’s fine too, it just might not be necessary.

I brood my keets, chicks, and poults in my sunroom. That allows me to leave the top of a slid window open at night. It gets them used to temp swings and I swear they feather faster This has been my first year with keets this late. Last year I got my original flock in May.

 

[Susan1981lic]

Well, I removed the heat lamp this morning but I did opt to use a 100 watt bulb. The temp in the sauna dressing room is only about 58 deg. It looks like these keets are fully feathered but I could be wrong. It’s supposed to be in the mid 60’s today so I will open the window to let the air inside. Here’s a pic of the little cuties.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Well, I removed the heat lamp this morning but I did opt to use a 100 watt bulb. The temp in the sauna dressing room is only about 58 deg. It looks like these keets are fully feathered but I could be wrong. It’s supposed to be in the mid 60’s today so I will open the window to let the air inside. Here’s a pic of the little cuties.

Very cute!!!

 

[R2elk]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/unofficial-byc-other-fowl-molt-contest.1415124/

 

[LapisLazuli]

I would like to get several female guineas along with bantam ducks there would be 1 drake. Would there be any problems keeping them together? They would free range in the day and be locked up at night.

 

[R2elk]

I would like to get several female guineas along with bantam ducks there would be 1 drake. Would there be any problems keeping them together? They would free range in the day and be locked up at night.

I don't recommend having just a couple of guineas. They are a flock bird and do best in large groups of their own kind.

 

[LapisLazuli]

How many would you recommend getting I don't have room for more than +/- 10 because I will also have the ducks with them.

 

[R2elk]

How many would you recommend getting I don't have room for more than +/- 10 because I will also have the ducks with them.

I never recommend fewer than 10 although some seem to be able to do okay with 6.

I do not recommend housing guineas with ant birds that are not guineas.