- Aug 26, 2014
- 12
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Hi there - We currently have two barred rock hens in a converted shed. They are free range and their door is open all day.
We also have six, six or seven-week (about) old guinea keets of undetermined sex. And we have eight, slightly younger laying pullets (probably five or six weeks old).
My husband divided off an area in our coop with scrap wood a couple weeks ago. He put in a barrier between the keets and chicks. The keets are eating game bird feed and the chicks starter/grower.
About four days ago the keets started roosting - at various times of the day - on the divider between them and the chicks. Since, they have been roosting, jumping down into the chicks place, and also jumping down into the main coop (just today I saw this last occurance).
They seem to be depleting the chicks of their food, and I was nervous today after seeing them in the main coop, that they will find the door and escape!
My questions:
Is it okay to feed both species chick starter/grower? Should I take out the divider?
What do I do with the keets now? I need to leave the door open for our two hens during the day.
I have heard it is a must to give the keets a small free ranging space before letting them go wild. How do I do this?
Thanks!
We also have six, six or seven-week (about) old guinea keets of undetermined sex. And we have eight, slightly younger laying pullets (probably five or six weeks old).
My husband divided off an area in our coop with scrap wood a couple weeks ago. He put in a barrier between the keets and chicks. The keets are eating game bird feed and the chicks starter/grower.
About four days ago the keets started roosting - at various times of the day - on the divider between them and the chicks. Since, they have been roosting, jumping down into the chicks place, and also jumping down into the main coop (just today I saw this last occurance).
They seem to be depleting the chicks of their food, and I was nervous today after seeing them in the main coop, that they will find the door and escape!
My questions:
Is it okay to feed both species chick starter/grower? Should I take out the divider?
What do I do with the keets now? I need to leave the door open for our two hens during the day.
I have heard it is a must to give the keets a small free ranging space before letting them go wild. How do I do this?
Thanks!