2Wk Old Guineas "Bathing" in The Brooder?

[MysticalMom]

My 2wk old guineas are happy in their brooder in the laundry room. I love to watch and listen to their antics and goings on. And they are doing the funniest thing... they scratch up the newspaper and are, what I can only describe as, trying to dust bathe. They scratch scratch scratch and shred the paper and hunker down, fluffing up their feathers and wings and throwing their heads back in that funny way.. like you would see adult guineas doing in the dirt.

Am I misinterpreting this behavior? If not, should I give them a little area of the dusty dirt from dry areas in the yard in the brooder so they can dust bathe? Do you guys do it? Or do you just make 'em wait til they're outside with the rest?

 

[PeepsCA]

This is what Guineas do, dustbathe like crazy... and it's cute to watch the babies trying it

They would be happy with clean sand, shavings or small bark chips to dust bathe in, just make sure they don't ingest it. Dirt will work too, but if you have other poultry you risk of bringing organisms into the brooder that they don't have immunity to yet.

 

[MysticalMom]

Oh thanks! I didn't think about bringing something in from the barnyard that they wouldn't be immune to yet. And I do have a large flock of ducks and other animals. Clean sand is an awesome idea!

 

[lutz123]

Mine were in shavings by then and LOVED burrowing down and flipping around. I also got a new small cat litter box and filled it with play sand - they were in HEAVEN (BTW, I had first used a shoebox lid and it worked great until they grew)!

Maybe in another week or two you could just get dirt. I agree that I was a little cautious, but if they were under a broody hen they would have been exposed day one, so don't worry too much about organisms. The only way to get used to it is to be exposed.

 

[MysticalMom]

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I agree, give them a pan, or shallow bowl full or sand! They'll be in guinea Heaven!!

~ Aspen

 

[MysticalMom]

Great! Thanks. I have to go to The Amish store today and get some duck feed. I'll pick up a small bag of play sand too! Can't wait now.