I put my guineas out in thier temporary coop last night for the first time (they will be 100% freerange). I even went out after dark and put them all on a roost so they wouldn't sleep on the damp ground (which may have contributed to the problem) At some point my girlfriend let my dog out and she must have freaked the birds out (you know how guineas are). GF said she heard all kinds of flapping from in the cage. This morning one is dead. I assume from a broken neck. Is this common? Any way to avoid it short of putting up padding (which I'm not going to do).
Another question. They are about 4 weeks old but seem fairly well feathered and the nights here in SC have gotten pretty mild (around 70 degrees). I read posts advising waiting till they are TWO MONTHS! Is this correct? Could it have died from exposure at 70 degrees? I cannot put up with those stinking birds in my back room for another 4 weeks (all of this years birds came in at one week intervals so we have had bird in house for two months now and I'm at the end of my rope.
Another question. They are about 4 weeks old but seem fairly well feathered and the nights here in SC have gotten pretty mild (around 70 degrees). I read posts advising waiting till they are TWO MONTHS! Is this correct? Could it have died from exposure at 70 degrees? I cannot put up with those stinking birds in my back room for another 4 weeks (all of this years birds came in at one week intervals so we have had bird in house for two months now and I'm at the end of my rope.
