Cleaning Guinea Brooder

[Dobiegirl22]

Hello! Brand new to the bird world. I ordered ten guinea keets that arrived a week early, yesterday! I spent the previous weeks researching guinea for tick control. I frequently see Guineas around my neighborhood (wandering, screaming, trying to get hit by cars ) and I’ve been fascinated. So fast forward, I pick up the keets from the post office after creating the perfect brooder from a really knowledgeable thread on here. I ended up getting 11, however, one was dying when I received it (did everything to revive to no avail), and when I woke up this morning one more was dead (it appeared to be blind? Even when it was moving around it’s eyes were closed, and wouldn’t feed when the other chicks were). WELL, besides that, everything’s been great! The keets are four days old, got their first egg yolk today and look great. Very energetic, running around, checking themselves out in the mirror but I am having one issue. My brooder is a huge dog crate with one opening. So today was my first day cleaning it. I put a warm towel fresh out of the dryer in a box, with a bug screen and heating of on top. I quickly cleaned up and then the problem started. I took one Keet out and put it back in, then the moment Iifted up the bug screen, keets started jumping out from every single angle.When i was able to grab the second one, the first one fought to get back out the brooder as I put him in. When trying to put the third back in, the two in tried breaking out. When I tried to put the fourth back in, the three inside tried breaking out. A little stressful but their cute so I can look passed that ha! But I have no idea what I will do in just a few days when they are jumping high and when they flying. Is there a trick to this that I’m missing?? Also, the largest one in the group keeps charging at my hand whenever I go in there. Is that normal?? Help please

 

[hysop]

They’re eventually going to need a bigger brooder. At a 5-6 weeks I would move them their permanent coop. If you want to coop train them I would build them a pen and let them enjoy the outdoors inside the pen. Wait until they’re 6+ months before letting them free range.

 

[Dobiegirl22]

They’re eventually going to need a bigger brooder. At a 5-6 weeks I would move them their permanent coop. If you want to coop train them I would build them a pen and let them enjoy the outdoors inside the pen. Wait until they’re 6+ months before letting them free range.

Of course! I have a 8 x 11 coop on the way for them.. but struggling atm

 

[R2elk]

Hello! Brand new to the bird world. I ordered ten guinea keets that arrived a week early, yesterday! I spent the previous weeks researching guinea for tick control. I frequently see Guineas around my neighborhood (wandering, screaming, trying to get hit by cars ) and I’ve been fascinated. So fast forward, I pick up the keets from the post office after creating the perfect brooder from a really knowledgeable thread on here. I ended up getting 11, however, one was dying when I received it (did everything to revive to no avail), and when I woke up this morning one more was dead (it appeared to be blind? Even when it was moving around it’s eyes were closed, and wouldn’t feed when the other chicks were). WELL, besides that, everything’s been great! The keets are four days old, got their first egg yolk today and look great. Very energetic, running around, checking themselves out in the mirror but I am having one issue. My brooder is a huge dog crate with one opening. So today was my first day cleaning it. I put a warm towel fresh out of the dryer in a box, with a bug screen and heating of on top. I quickly cleaned up and then the problem started. I took one Keet out and put it back in, then the moment Iifted up the bug screen, keets started jumping out from every single angle.When i was able to grab the second one, the first one fought to get back out the brooder as I put him in. When trying to put the third back in, the two in tried breaking out. When I tried to put the fourth back in, the three inside tried breaking out. A little stressful but their cute so I can look passed that ha! But I have no idea what I will do in just a few days when they are jumping high and when they flying. Is there a trick to this that I’m missing?? Also, the largest one in the group keeps charging at my hand whenever I go in there. Is that normal?? Help please

If you can manage to capture them without any escapees next time, put them in a smallish box that can be fit into their "brooder". When you are finished cleaning the brooder, place the box of keets in the brooder and let them go. Remove the box and shut them in.

 

[Qualien]

When mine were little I treated them just like chickens. When I cleaned their cage I just let them run around the floor while I cleaned it. They sleep alot in the first few days, so that is the time to get them to bond with you. I also walked, and exercised my keets daily. When they are big enough to be full time in the coop, I kept them in the coop for two weeks, and then started letting them out one per day until I got up to half the flock out. Let alternating halves out of the coop for two weeks, then you can let them all out.

 

[Dobiegirl22]

If you can manage to capture them without any escapees next time, put them in a smallish box that can be fit into their "brooder". When you are finished cleaning the brooder, place the box of keets in the brooder and olet them go. Remove th box and shut them in.

Why didn’t I think of this! Thank you!!

 

[Dobiegirl22]

When mine were little I treated them just like chickens. When I cleaned their cage I just let them run around the floor while I cleaned it. They sleep alot in the first few days, so that is the time to get them to bond with you. I also walked, and exercised my keets daily. When they are big enough to be full time in the coop, I kept them in the coop for two weeks, and then started letting them out one per day until I got up to half the flock out. Let alternating halves out of the coop for two weeks, then you can let them all out.

I’ll try this first tomorrow! I have them on wee wee pads so I thought it may be too complicated to leave them in but worth the shot. How do you walk and exercise them?

 

[Qualien]

After your chicks bond with you, they identify you as mama. Chicks naturally want to follow their mom. I set mine on the floor, lay down a few feed crumbles (not too many just enough for them to know there's food), and start picking the crumbles with my finger, then I move a few feet, and repeat. I move farther and farther with them until they get the idea that they should be following. Usually by day 5 I have them on outside training, and walking. Just make sure they follow well before you take them outside. They're quick! If you want to train them to come to your call you'll need to start this early, and every time you put down feed (even if your just putting food in the brooder) , use your call. I use a "chick chick" call for my guineas. My guineas think they're chickens. They come to my call, and coop every night with my chickens. They also like to follow me when I take walks even though they're big now.

I’ll try this first tomorrow! I have them on wee wee pads so I thought it may be too complicated to leave them in but worth the shot. How do you walk and exercise them?

 

[Dobiegirl22]

After your chicks bond with you, they identify you as mama. Chicks naturally want to follow their mom. I set mine on the floor, lay down a few feed crumbles (not too many just enough for them to know there's food), and start picking the crumbles with my finger, then I move a few feet, and repeat. I move farther and farther with them until they get the idea that they should be following. Usually by day 5 I have them on outside training, and walking. Just make sure they follow well before you take them outside. They're quick! If you want to train them to come to your call you'll need to start this early, and every time you put down feed (even if your just putting food in the brooder) , use your call. I use a "chick chick" call for my guineas. My guineas think they're chickens. They come to my call, and coop every night with my chickens. They also like to follow me when I take walks even though they're big now.

This is so helpful! Thank you. One last question, I thought I was supposed to leave food in the brooder at all times? Do you not do this? Or do you take it away sometimes for a little so you can work with them

 

[des7598]

After your chicks bond with you, they identify you as mama. Chicks naturally want to follow their mom. I set mine on the floor, lay down a few feed crumbles (not too many just enough for them to know there's food), and start picking the crumbles with my finger, then I move a few feet, and repeat. I move farther and farther with them until they get the idea that they should be following. Usually by day 5 I have them on outside training, and walking. Just make sure they follow well before you take them outside. They're quick! If you want to train them to come to your call you'll need to start this early, and every time you put down feed (even if your just putting food in the brooder) , use your call. I use a "chick chick" call for my guineas. My guineas think they're chickens. They come to my call, and coop every night with my chickens. They also like to follow me when I take walks even though they're big now.

After your chicks bond with you, they identify you as mama. Chicks naturally want to follow their mom. I set mine on the floor, lay down a few feed crumbles (not too many just enough for them to know there's food), and start picking the crumbles with my finger, then I move a few feet, and repeat. I move farther and farther with them until they get the idea that they should be following. Usually by day 5 I have them on outside training, and walking. Just make sure they follow well before you take them outside. They're quick! If you want to train them to come to your call you'll need to start this early, and every time you put down feed (even if your just putting food in the brooder) , use your call. I use a "chick chick" call for my guineas. My guineas think they're chickens. They come to my call, and coop every night with my chickens. They also like to follow me when I take walks even though they're big now.

Thank you for this insight. I will have to give this a try for myself.