Recent content by Hardwarehank

  1. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Been away for awhile but wanted to give an update. The guineas survived and bred through the winter in my garage. The average temperature all winter was 40 degrees F. For a period of three weeks I did end up running the heater when temps dipped to just below freezing in the garage. Lost 4-5...
  2. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Perhaps I need to rethink my management strategy! Somehow missed adding the quote about Mr. Randy the guinea pig and his escapades :O
  3. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    I meant to post this last week and have a proper 1 week baby update but I got busy and then the weekend was busy as well with some ziplining on Saturday. What an awesome experience and highly recommended. Out of the 5 from my first litter there are 3 remaining. The runtiest one did not make...
  4. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Thanks for your take on the necessity of a breeding break between litters. Am I correct in assuming that's how you manage your stock(with exception to medical issues, etc.)? I plan to forgo them mostly because it will simplify my management and am fairly certain that my nutrition regiment is...
  5. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Got home earlier today to check up on the pups and all still doing well and sprightly. They're all bedded down now with their mom in a hut laying on top of some old sweats. Here's a group shot of the pups in an upturned tub hanging out while I move their tractor. Mom and the pups in the tub...
  6. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Respectfully, the attached pdf doesn't hold much weight with me. The recommended temperature range is for guinea pigs and other rodents, including rats and mice which exist outdoors in localities with below zero winters. I repeat, these are recommended generalized temperatures. To drive the...
  7. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Sorry I have been quiet for a bit, been real busy with the garden and other projects lately. I want to expressly thank @Fuzzy Torpedoes for offering up their perspective and experience breeding professionally. So sorry to hear how Pocket's last litter ended up @Bug n Flock. Hopefully it was...
  8. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Well, summer's pretty much gone. If it was ever here to begin with. A little good news though. I'm pretty sure one of my sows is pregnant and judging by when I introduced her to Moose she should be popping any time now.
  9. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    I'll start by saying I haven't successfully bred any guinea pigs yet. Hopefully be seeing some babies soon if I have fertile breeders. That being said, their average gestation is 59-72 days. Allowing for about a month of rest from birth to mating you could expect about 4 litters a year...
  10. H

    Supplementing protein for quail with crickets

    I may have to mash the majority of whatever roaches I end up feeding then stirring into the fermented feed right before setting it out. However, when they're born roaches can be as small as an 1/8th of an inch. I figure the adult coturnix could be able to get up to a 1/2 inch one down.
  11. H

    Supplementing protein for quail with crickets

    Slight change of plans. I will be going with Dubia roaches instead of raising crickets. From the research I've done they seem to be superior to crickets in regards to management and feed quality. Going to start with 30 females and 10 males for breeders from a local source on Craigslist...
  12. H

    Supplementing protein for quail with crickets

    Thanks for the suggestion. Didn't think to dry and grind them up and mix them directly with the feed. That might be the best way to go for the chicks. Wonder how the house would smell with roasting crickets in the oven o_O.
  13. H

    Supplementing protein for quail with crickets

    Good morning, Looking to the seasoned quail raisers for some advice. I'm looking to purchase some jumbo coturnix day-old chicks in the next couple of weeks. Will be starting with about 40-50 to get a nice size flock started for next spring and will be culling all but a handful of the roos...
  14. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Sorry to hear about the accident but glad no one was too badly hurt. Good luck with your rabbit project. I'm thinking of starting a little rabbitry next year but first quail for the eggs and a little meat. I'm thinking of contacting a local farmer for alfalfa/grass mix hay for about 4 dollars...
  15. H

    farm guinea pigs (meat cavy!)

    Gus Gus is quite the looker. Being kept as just for pets?
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