Background: We live in the middle of cornfields,but are not ourselves farmers or any form of livestock beyond my beloved 2 boys (shelties). We have a growing brood of grandchildren and, in past few years, TICKS. I do garden as organically as possible and hate to have to use chemicals for anything. But, TICKS. So, the hubby suggested guineas.
Experience: none, other than reading books & forums such as this to learn and prepare before ever ordering.
Brooder: is in a spare room w/air vent blocked, door shut, no draft. It's a roughly 4x2 clear tote box. I cut the center from the lid &covered w/hardcloth. On the bottom is no-slip shelf liner,covered w/paper towels, a heat plate for warmth,a cone on top so they can't get on it, & feathers around the edges bc-rookie saw & bought it. Purina turkey crumbles, water, etc.
Received: 10 keets yesterday @ 1 pm. I didn't receive a call from upsp, they were delivered to my door, which from all I've read is a no no. 2 hrs later, 1 died. 2 hrs after that, another. 2 hrs later, another. Abt 5 hrs later, another, and woke this a.m. to find 2 more gone. 6 out of 10, so far. Hatchery sending replacements, but is heartbreaking to watch & would like to prevent it?
Symptoms: staggering,falling over,lying on belly,legs straight. Finally, neck hyper-extends straight back, mouth opening & closing silently, then dead.
After 1st one, made dash to shop & added Save-a-Chick electrolytes&vitamins (A,D3,&E). When 2nd one went down,everyone got a dose via 1ml pipette. Have tried raising, lowering heatplate. No sign of pasty vent. Eyes are clear &bright until they die. No drainage from anywhere. No swelling, discoloration, poo is white..not sure what is "normal" it's formed,white,w/a liquid ring surrounding it. I *thought* this was effect of doing 1&2 @ same time, that the ring is urine soaking into paper towel?
I put a heating pad in a shoebox,a plastic bag topped w/a terrycloth towel on top of the pad;the 2nd & 3rd keets went in it, snuggled by terry cloth. So I think I can safely say no diarrhea.
Like I said, newbie. Wish I cld find something that showed what color keets=what color adults, but they're beautiful little guys,is hearbreaking to see them struggle. One little guy (still here) reminds me of a cartoon penguin,except brown/black striped tux.
Have since read adding sugar in a few threads but no where else, and would I do that in addition to Save-A-Chick? Is it safe to add new batch to brooder w/whoever is left? - will do this 1x more,but w/temperature requirements & apparent risks, not sure I'd do another. These guys ran to food & water on arrival, whereas everything has indicated that 1 day olds were still full from the yolk.
What if I put something under the heatplate that kept them more enclosed? Trying to think what wld be safe to use. They do seem to nudge each other out-and not always that nicely. Doesn't seem to matter where I adjust heatplate at, they always huddle, not spread out as product suggests,w/the staggering one left out.
Experience: none, other than reading books & forums such as this to learn and prepare before ever ordering.
Brooder: is in a spare room w/air vent blocked, door shut, no draft. It's a roughly 4x2 clear tote box. I cut the center from the lid &covered w/hardcloth. On the bottom is no-slip shelf liner,covered w/paper towels, a heat plate for warmth,a cone on top so they can't get on it, & feathers around the edges bc-rookie saw & bought it. Purina turkey crumbles, water, etc.
Received: 10 keets yesterday @ 1 pm. I didn't receive a call from upsp, they were delivered to my door, which from all I've read is a no no. 2 hrs later, 1 died. 2 hrs after that, another. 2 hrs later, another. Abt 5 hrs later, another, and woke this a.m. to find 2 more gone. 6 out of 10, so far. Hatchery sending replacements, but is heartbreaking to watch & would like to prevent it?
Symptoms: staggering,falling over,lying on belly,legs straight. Finally, neck hyper-extends straight back, mouth opening & closing silently, then dead.
After 1st one, made dash to shop & added Save-a-Chick electrolytes&vitamins (A,D3,&E). When 2nd one went down,everyone got a dose via 1ml pipette. Have tried raising, lowering heatplate. No sign of pasty vent. Eyes are clear &bright until they die. No drainage from anywhere. No swelling, discoloration, poo is white..not sure what is "normal" it's formed,white,w/a liquid ring surrounding it. I *thought* this was effect of doing 1&2 @ same time, that the ring is urine soaking into paper towel?
I put a heating pad in a shoebox,a plastic bag topped w/a terrycloth towel on top of the pad;the 2nd & 3rd keets went in it, snuggled by terry cloth. So I think I can safely say no diarrhea.
Like I said, newbie. Wish I cld find something that showed what color keets=what color adults, but they're beautiful little guys,is hearbreaking to see them struggle. One little guy (still here) reminds me of a cartoon penguin,except brown/black striped tux.
Have since read adding sugar in a few threads but no where else, and would I do that in addition to Save-A-Chick? Is it safe to add new batch to brooder w/whoever is left? - will do this 1x more,but w/temperature requirements & apparent risks, not sure I'd do another. These guys ran to food & water on arrival, whereas everything has indicated that 1 day olds were still full from the yolk.
What if I put something under the heatplate that kept them more enclosed? Trying to think what wld be safe to use. They do seem to nudge each other out-and not always that nicely. Doesn't seem to matter where I adjust heatplate at, they always huddle, not spread out as product suggests,w/the staggering one left out.
