caring for guineas

[Its Just Us Chickens]

I now have 3 baby guinea

They are 2 weeks old. This is my first time with guineas and with babies, so I don't have a nursery. What do I need to do, how get started? Right now I've got them in a box, in a warm room, about 85* with a bowl of water. What else? What do I feed them?

 

[noodleroo]

I started mine with game bird starter; you can leave them on it for the first 6 months or so. Handle them every day, several times a day if you want them people friendly. They aren't as domesticated as chickens and can literally get up and fly away! For now, just keep them fed, watered and their bedding clean and love them every day.

 

[Its Just Us Chickens]

Quote:
Thanks! I didn't realize they weren't as domesticated as chickens. They're so sweet right now, we'll look forward to giving them love every day.

One of them has an injured leg, and the vet recommended we put egg shell foam inside the crate while his leg heals and I've been trying to figure out how to keep that clean.

 

[Finn's Mom]

I used thick/fluffy paper towels with a thin layer of pine shavings (like you use for chicks) and that seemed to give my one day old (feeble) keets plenty of grip. I also used game bird starter, though they LOVE my organic chick starter which I give them as a treat at night (only in hopes of conditioning them to expect a treat at night and they will come home!) 2 weeks is a great age. Make sure you have a screen over the top of your brooder -- they will surprise you.

Good luck!

 

[Finn's Mom]

And I guess we should move this convesation to guineafowl . . .