Can I free range my keets?

[JB8907]

Hi JB,
Cool! Have you picked them up?

Yes I got them today and they are set up in my brooder/Xtra bathroom.

Very fast and jumpy. They're only 2 days old. And they are very small. But seem very healthy and active. All are golf ball sized and one in half that.

Looking forward to the process.

 

[Nathaliexx]

Yes I got them today and they are set up in my brooder/Xtra bathroom.

Very fast and jumpy. They're only 2 days old. And they are very small. But seem very healthy and active. All are golf ball sized and one in half that.

Looking forward to the process.

Ah so nice to hear!
They’re growing up so fast!
Make sure to take pictures of them
It’s so cute seeing their wings develop! That started already in the first week or 2nd (if i’m not mistaking)
Try to cuddle them a few times a day (they might love to sit in your neck, like mine or crawl in your sleeve)
Enjoy your little keets

 

[Nathaliexx]

Before i forget: if you let them walk/play somewhere inside (the house) for example, and their wings are developed, make sure to blind windows!
They’re able to fly at a very young age.

My very first guinea flew against the window and broke his neck (i was so devastated).
We learned the hard way, and it wil never happen again..

 

[JB8907]

First off that Is sad I'm sorry to hear that. Second off I'll be clipping their wings as soon as they start getting feathers just to keep them kind of limited on their mobility for their first year.

 

[Nathaliexx]

First off that Is sad I'm sorry to hear that. Second off I'll be clipping their wings as soon as they start getting feathers just to keep them kind of limited on their mobility for their first year.

Thank you.
And yeah that’s a good idea

 

[Nathaliexx]

How are the guineas?

 

[JB8907]

How are the guineas?

They are moving out side in the morning. Went on a date night with the wife and came back to all my birds sleeping on top of the coop. Got them wrangled back in and found out 3 are missing.I'm sure they'll be back in the a.m.

 

[Nathaliexx]

They are moving out side in the morning. Went on a date night with the wife and came back to all my birds sleeping on top of the coop. Got them wrangled back in and found out 3 are missing.I'm sure they'll be back in the a.m.

Aww, i hope those 3 will return.
Thanks for the update

 

[JB8907]

Aww, i hope those 3 will return.
Thanks for the update

2 did and I find a tuft of feathers by the coop.

 

[baby-blue]

My guineas are all roughly 9-10 weeks old (I actually forget.. whoops!) and they all get out to ‘free range’ for a few hours each day while I’m outside doing chores. They all hated me when they were little - even as 3 day olds, they’d scream and do whatever they could to get away. When I moved them out to their temporary coop, they started seeming feral and I doubted I would ever have ‘tame’ guineas. I kept them pretty strictly in their coop for about a week, but I would let 1-3 (I have 7, I had 8 for a while. One passed last night.) out for a few hours. They wouldn’t stray very far from the coop since they’re such social animals, but they got the lay of the land. In the meantime, whenever I would give them their FF (fermented food), I would do a special whistle. They all learned very quickly that that whistle equalled their breakfast/dinner, and they would yell and get so excited to eat.
The first time I let them out, they would not stop following me. At all. They were out for about an hour and then I did the whistle and put their dinner in their coop. They all tried very hard to figure out how to get back into the coop, but to no avail. I had to help herd them into their coop for the first week and a half. Now, though, the second they hear the whistle, they load themselves up into their coop with no problem. Whenever they’re out, they’re usually right behind me or one of my dogs. If they get distracted by something (usually dirt that seems PERFECT for a dirt bath or a bit of yummy looking grass), they’ll yell and run off to eat/get all dirty and they’ll entertain themselves for a while. If they realize that I’ve walked away, they stop what they’re doing and they scream their heads off until they hear me whistle. Then they run off to find me like a bunch of wild banshees. They’re really truly some of the sweetest, most loving creatures.
My favorite little one, Fiona, just passed. She used to ride on my shoulder/back/head while I did chores and tended to the other animals on the farm. She’d yell randomly just to make sure I knew she was there - my ears certainly didn’t appreciate it, but it was precious. Her sister has been distraught but she seems to be coming around.
Best of luck with your keets! Enjoy them!