First time Guinea Mom and Dad raising keets!

[BennieAnTheJets]

You mean like this...

I remember we had a discussion once, too, about which way to turn the 2x4s to make them more comfortable - oh we do go a long way back, don't we, ha ha - I guess broad side up won for me.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

I have not noticed frostbite with the guineas.

Thank you!!! That is good information from a cold weather veteran!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

You mean like this...

I remember we had a discussion once, too, about which way to turn the 2x4s to make them more comfortable - oh we do go a long way back, don't we, ha ha - I guess broad side up won for me.

View attachment 2356145View attachment 2356146

I love your white but not white guineas - ivory?

Re: Winter temps, I’m in Oklahoma with constantly changing weather and sometimes quite hot summers. Typical winter low temps are around 20-30 F, but we sometimes have spells well below freezing with lows to about 0 F, lower with wind chill. This upcoming winter will be my third with poultry, including guineas. We don’t use heat for the adult poultry. All of our coops have a good deal of ventilation, with the South walls being all or mostly wire. The only bird that had issues was a tiny Showgirl, so naked neck silkie, whose head feathers were pulled by a rooster. We would bring her into the garage on cold nights. Otherwise I haven’t observed issues.

I’ve been on a lot of discussions on BYCs about chickens and winter heat. In considering additional heat as a risk vs benefit equation, what’s stood out is that, for me, the benefits don’t outweigh the risks. Key benefits for adult birds would be greater comfort on cold nights. Key risks would include: 1) that if the electricity goes out, which is pretty frequent for our ice storms, then the poultry can be injured by the cold because they weren’t acclimated to it due to the usual heat light. 2) An even greater risk is that posed by fire from the heat light. Having now seen numerous photos of coops after a fire caused by a faulty heat light and read the anguish of the people involved, it’s hard for me to imagine taking that risk. Photos: Marilyn the Showgirl, healthy and after losing her head feathers, and... Guineas on Ice!

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

I love your white but not white guineas - ivory?

Buff dundotte

 

[My2butterflies]

We used a heat lamp last winter for our guineas. Only at night, unless day temps were passed -10 during the day. Then I’d leave it on day and night till the cold spell passed. It was our first year with poultry and knowing they are an african bird I just couldn’t imagine them making it through -40 and lower. Plus I had just lost a pond full of fish the winter before that, so I couldn’t handle another full winter die off.
This year I don’t plan to give heat. It seems that no one else does and I haven’t heard of any birds freezing to death. So I’d like to give it a try, and really hope for the best.
Im also hoping we don’t have such a harsh winter this year. We haven’t gotten any breaks the last three years. So much snow, wind, and very low temps.

 

[R2elk]

We used a heat lamp last winter for our guineas. Only at night, unless day temps were passed -10 during the day. Then I’d leave it on day and night till the cold spell passed. It was our first year with poultry and knowing they are an african bird I just couldn’t imagine them making it through -40 and lower. Plus I had just lost a pond full of fish the winter before that, so I couldn’t handle another full winter die off.
This year I don’t plan to give heat. It seems that no one else does and I haven’t heard of any birds freezing to death. So I’d like to give it a try, and really hope for the best.
Im also hoping we don’t have such a harsh winter this year. We haven’t gotten any breaks the last three years. So much snow, wind, and very low temps.

The key for no heat necessary is draft free, good ventilation and no build up of humidity.

I keep my goldfish pond alive with a constant flow of well water. It keeps it from freezing over. Some places use a windmill pumping air to keep an open area in their reservoirs.

 

[My2butterflies]

The key for no heat necessary is draft free, good ventilation and no build up of humidity.

I keep my goldfish pond alive with a constant flow of well water. It keeps it from freezing over. Some places use a windmill pumping air to keep an open area in their reservoirs.

I *think*my coops have those areas covered. The guinea coop last year was pretty warm on cold days. I’d take my coat off while hanging out with them. I still worried they’d be too cold though. Haha.

My pond had a heater, air, and was completely covered with a tarp. The location of my pond I think is the problem. It gets hammered by the wind and the water freezes so fast heat and air don’t stand a chance to keep it open. It broke my heart. I bring my koi inside now. In fact I’ll be setting up their winter pond in the next week.

 

[R2elk]

I *think*my coops have those areas covered. The guinea coop last year was pretty warm on cold days. I’d take my coat off while hanging out with them. I still worried they’d be too cold though. Haha.

My pond had a heater, air, and was completely covered with a tarp. The location of my pond I think is the problem. It gets hammered by the wind and the water freezes so fast heat and air don’t stand a chance to keep it open. It broke my heart. I bring my koi inside now. In fact I’ll be setting up their winter pond in the next week.

My goldfish are on their own. I have no idea how many there are as they have lots of hiding places. I don't even feed them. They are constantly replacing any losses with new ones without any interference from me.

It is a 20' wide by 30' long pond that is approximately 4' deep.

 

[My2butterflies]

My goldfish are on their own. I have no idea how many there are as they have lots of hiding places. I don't even feed them. They are constantly replacing any losses with new ones without any interference from me.

It is a 20' wide by 30' long pond that is approximately 4' deep.

Sounds like a great pond! Mine is only 11’x11’ and 4.4ft deep. So not nearly as big. Another reason for the freezing issue. We plan to dig another bigger deeper pond, but even then I might be leery of keeping them out. I get very attached to my koi.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

We used a heat lamp last winter for our guineas. Only at night, unless day temps were passed -10 during the day. Then I’d leave it on day and night till the cold spell passed. It was our first year with poultry and knowing they are an african bird I just couldn’t imagine them making it through -40 and lower. Plus I had just lost a pond full of fish the winter before that, so I couldn’t handle another full winter die off.
This year I don’t plan to give heat. It seems that no one else does and I haven’t heard of any birds freezing to death. So I’d like to give it a try, and really hope for the best.
Im also hoping we don’t have such a harsh winter this year. We haven’t gotten any breaks the last three years. So much snow, wind, and very low temps.

So I guess Minnesota is COLD, huh? I’d be miserable - I’m such a cold wimp - grew up in Florida and never really developed a good cold tolerance.