16 new keets from first year pullets

[JLeigh]

Well, those (PEEPS!) who said "don't hold your breath for JLeigh to take a picture"....all I have to say is "HA". LOL.

16 keets, and two more on the way. Day olds. Got that? "DAY" olds. (I had the camera charged and ready this time.) I even have a white 5 gal bucket ready for their swirl picture.

Oh man, I'd forgotten how little they are, and how totally adorable in person. The first season episode of "Keet TV" tonight.


The mash pit. Lotsa Pearl Grays



A buff?



A lighter buff? I think these are pieds?

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Very nice. I have a 1st year sitting on a nest myself. And another hen has a nest somewhere, but not sure if she's pullet or a hen. Too many peral grays to keep track of which is which for me. And I only have 6 gray 2 white. The other 4 hens/pullets are piling eggs in a nest I have been leaving seeded. Set 30 eggs last night from this nest. Not sure yet if I want to collect these fresh eggs or let somebody sit on em.
Good luck with your babies

 

[JLeigh]

Congrats, 5 Acre. I know what you mean though. I just tossed a bunch of eggs I'm just not ready to hatch (timing) and they're too old to collect and eat. I just gave away 2 dozen eggs anyway. I hatch all mine. I suppose I'd let my hens sit on a nest, but I can't keep my hands off the eggs long enough to give them a chance. LOL.

 

[JLeigh]

The two were dead, as I suspected. Bummer, but 16 out of 18 eggs is an EXCELLENT hatch IMO. I'm thrilled. Everybody healthy, good toes & legs and large appetites. Lots of poop, too. Sigh.

Edit: I hope the lighter keets are pieds. I've been hoping for a Buff/Buff Dundotte pied. Now I might have two? Peeps?

 

[JanO]

Congrats JLeigh. Those are great numbers, and cute keets.

 

[guineaguy]

Congrats jleigh cute. I want the buffs!!!

 

[JLeigh]

Thanks guys. It's my first hatch from my own guineas this season. Can't wait for the next hatch but I have to time it right so I can go out of town, so it's going to slow me down this summer.

I really thought I might hatch 18 out of 18, which would have been incredible, but two died in the shell after pipping. Wonder why...So anyway, I'm extremely happy with 16.

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Congrats, 5 Acre. I know what you mean though. I just tossed a bunch of eggs I'm just not ready to hatch (timing) and they're too old to collect and eat. I just gave away 2 dozen eggs anyway. I hatch all mine. I suppose I'd let my hens sit on a nest, but I can't keep my hands off the eggs long enough to give them a chance. LOL.

My prob is the same, can't keep myself away. I set 57 couple days after mothers day and I think that was from 4 hens only. I had only found 1 guinea egg before that and it was in the coop. They had a decent % of devolopers when I candled them and a few i took out to toss I cracked and was in early developement so I said enough and just cooking them all.
Right now I have 80 guinea eggs in bator. And can get another 2 1/2 dz per week from my nest. Not counting the broodies. Which I have no idea how many they are sitting on. Can't catch the white off the nest and the pearl just disappeared yesterday or day before.
I just got some poor news today so guineas may be my extra income we need, since chicks are not in super high demand. Maybe a little farther into summer I can sell started birds. I'll wait/hope and post on CL when I can.
Bad storm blowing right now hope don't drowned the broodies.
Figuring numbers I shouldn't but would love the results if I get what I am hoping. 10 dz a month, 85% hatch, leaves me with about 104 keets per month. $3 each (Really conservative price I think) thats $312 a month for 3 months. That will pay my electric bill even with A/C's running. Man I hope these guineas work out. I have 4 people looking for them and thats not advertising or posting ON CL for them. Keep our fingers crossed.

 

[JLeigh]

I hope that works out for you, and wish you the best. I would think raising that many keets would be at least a part time job,and a fun one at that! There isn't that good a market for them where I live, but I'll be able to sell whatever I hatch this year, which should be around 75 - 100. And then there's the one or two I'll sneak into my own flock .

 

[bantamfarm]

I have a question, I just purchased 10 keets, the man said they are 4 weeks old, but they are flying out of the brooder. Can I move them to a coop that has no heat source, with a run? or should I just keep them closed in the brooder ? May sound dumb, but never had keets before and never thought of them flying so young.