First time hatching Guinea Fowl

[HoneyDreameMom]

I don't expect much taming from what I've read about them but it'll be an interesting experience. They're so funny when they sleep, all sacked out like the dead.

If you handle the keets regularly - get them familiar with you and your voice - they'll be a bit flighty, but they'll warm up to you. As they grow, give them occasional treats. They love millet - they adore grasshoppers and crickets. It takes time and consistency, but most of my guineas fly or run over to me when they hear me come out the back door, and they'll follow me around the yard while I work. A couple of them will eat out of my hand, and one of them on extremely rare occasions will even perch on my shoulder. Definitely not as tame as chickens, but they can be fun and friendly.

Lol - and about the sleeping, I agree. I remember the first time I had keets and they fell asleep, I was terrified I'd done something wrong and they had somehow all died.

 

[Plucky Clucks]

I do try to handle the keets several times a day and I've noticed that when I change their water then tap my finger on the dish it makes them curious and they'll come right up to take a drink next to my hand. I had 4 guineas (5 really but one had development issues and didn't make it), 5 chickens and 4 quail hatch all at once so they're all in the same brooder. I worried about having them all together at first but it seems the quail are have a positive impact on the keets. They're curious little things and get over excited when I put my hand into the brooder and even jump on my hand. The keets get excited and rush forward, forgetting to be scared. The chicks let the quail and keets snuggle up between or on top of them, two of them seem very attached, always following each other around. It's cute, I'm going to hate to separate them!

 

[NanaBanana6995]

When did their eyes open my poor lol guy just won't open his eyes.

 

[MeepBeep]

Eyes should be open at birth, or very shortly after, if they are not open it might be a birth defect or they might be stuck shut... Take a cup of luke warm water and some q-tips and lightly rub around and across the eye lids and see if they open...

 

[NanaBanana6995]

Didn't work. His eyelids Ait pretty high when I opened um he blinks continuesly

 

[NanaBanana6995]

In the picture the grey is his eyes and you can see where his lid is. What will happen to him.

 

[charid]

Do you wait for all eggs to hatch before taking the baby out or just wait until it dries? Also how long do the keets stay in the brooder? Does the temp stay at 99 the whole time? Im afraid my humidity is too high. Hygrometer errored out right in time of hatching. Figures.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Do you wait for all eggs to hatch before taking the baby out or just wait until it dries? Also how long do the keets stay in the brooder? Does the temp stay at 99 the whole time? Im afraid my humidity is too high. Hygrometer errored out right in time of hatching. Figures.

In my experience (two hatches) you really can't have humidity too high during hatch. I take them out once they are very alert and running around since with super high humidity it takes a long time for them to dry. I lower the temp slightly (95ish),

 

[Victoria-nola]

Quote: In my experience (two hatches) you really can't have humidity too high during hatch. I take them out once they are very alert and running around since with super high humidity it takes a long time for them to dry. I lower the temp slightly (95ish),

I have guinea eggs in the incubator now, have only done one batch previously with regular chicks. When do you lower the temp? I've heard the temp should go down at lockdown?

 

[R2elk]

I have guinea eggs in the incubator now, have only done one batch previously with regular chicks. When do you lower the temp? I've heard the temp should go down at lockdown?

The temperature should be lowered by 1° at lockdown, the same time that you raise the humidity.