You probably can't get the temp of the brooder up to 95 without a heat lamp to start. Put a thermometer under the brooder plate and see how hot it gets. I use both to start. You need to warm them up as fast as possible when they arrive. I have found that they are drawn to the heat lamp...
Agree that the spacing on a dog crate is too large to keep chicks in for about the first 10 days. Put them in the largest cardboard box or plastic tote to start if that's all you have available.
If you are brooding in the house, skip the pine shavings. The dust will kill you. I slit feed...
I got my first chicks of the year Jan 20. (CO) Lucked out on a warm spell (50's) and the chicks got here overnight, 800 miles. I always start chicks Dec-Jan as I sell started pullets and they need to be ready to sell in April. I can count shipping deaths on one hand out of 1000 chicks. I...
What colors of guinea fowl are you raising? Just getting back into guinea after this summer's grasshopper invasion. Currently have pinto. Want another color.
As part of a team, a cattle dog is usually very tuned into this environment but I would be concerned about him going uo against a pack just because of the size disadvantage.
0 recall, selective hearing, not coming when called, they do eventually return home when they are good and hungry just not now.
I have keeped an adult Akbash (wired just like a GP) and a GP in a 4' fenced area. They were both heavy 120#+ not athletic dogs. They tended to go through instead...
Is your property dog fenced? GPs will roam and have pretty much 0 recall. I love GPx. Still have the guarding instincts but is more interested in hanging with the family. I also like a dog who wants to patrol and bark at night. Sleeps during the day.
Instead of going out and buying, start with your freezer. Clean out open bags of fruits and vegetables. I give them mystery freezer burnt meats, rolls... just about everything I can no longer identify. Can't justify throwing it away. You can fill plastic containers with kitchen scraps, cover...
You are probably fine with 4. It's pushing it. Do you have any adult hens that can teach teenage boys some manners? My best roosters got put in their place over and over by the big girls.