bare heads? when? and other questions

[Turkeyrun]

We have 5 week old pearl keets. They are starting to look a bit scruffy on the back of their necks. When do they lose the sweet stripes on their heads, and will their heads really look very blue or purple for a while?

I think some are trying to make the buck wheat call. . . . isn't this a little early?

When are guineas considered fully feathered?

Are there other key developmental phases to watch for?

When do you let them out to free range?

Thank you

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

They will loose thier stripes when they're about 3 - 4 months old.
I noticed my guineas looked pretty funny when they were 1 - 2 months old!

They look prettier when they get older!

When they're about 1 month old. Just as long as all their fluff is gone.

I have a broody hen that hatched out 4 keets, they have free ranged since day 1. Makes it easier when they're older, because you don't have to leave them locked up for 6 weeks when they're older.

 

[ColbyNTX]

They will go through a few molts during this time and look pretty scruffy! If you have never raised guineas before then you might think they have lice or some other problem. That is a normal stage. By the time they are about 5 months, they should look like normal guineas. I let mine free range when they are fully feathered and can fly. I don't let them out when they have any fluff. The fluff gets really wet from dew and will chill them and usually kill them. About 6 weeks is when I let mine out. I move them out of the barn to a 25X25 uncovered pen that is 6ft tall. When they start to fly out, I let them go where they want.

 

[flgardengirl]

I have 5 guinea and the 2 males, especially, have more blue on thier heads than the 3 females now. I haven't heard of that meaning anything but its wierd.