Guinea hen showed up with keets

[cgmccary]

I had a Guinea hen show up with 10 keets this morning (a couple of lavenders, some pearls, a bonaparte, and other pieds -- nice group). She had nested out in my pumpkin patch but I was unsure when when she went to setting, so didn't know when to expect them. Based on what I had read on here numerous times, I took them from her. I am interested in some way I can let her see her keets but not roam around them -- ideas on what has worked for others? I noticed her nest that some were pipping so I moved those to an incubator & I found a couple of dead keets too -- BUT TEN ALIVE! I really like the Lavender and Bonapartes.

I am down to 10 adults down from 14 (and best I can tell just 3 adult males) I have found two hit by cars and another two have completely disappeared (I am assuming hit by cars and unfound OR on a nest and caught by something or caught in the forest).

I have another group of 15 juveniles I have raised and they are out free ranging but a group is roosting on the power line to the barn (don't know how to stop this -- anyone had them roost on a power line?)

 

[PeepsCA]

What's a bonaparte? Haven't heard or seen that term used with IDing keets ever before.

An outdoor cage made out of (or over lapped with) 1/4" hardware cloth set in the grass where the momma Hen can see and be near the keets during the day might work. You may need to provide shade for them. Letting them see each other might just cause everybody a bunch of stress every time you separate them tho.

Try hanging CDs, aluminium pie plates, reflective bird tape etc (anything shiny) on your power line (cut the power off while you are doing this of course, lol). Guineas hate strange new things and change, so give that a try, might break their bad habit of roosting there. You may need to change the spooky things out a few times if they get used to them and start roosting up there again. If all else fails.... the hose always works, or running sprinklers right at their roosting time right under the power line. Motion activated sprinkler heads are handy in cases like this, but kind of expensive.

Congrats on your score of 10 keets! We need pics!

 

[cgmccary]

A Bonaparte is just another name for a White Breasted Pied Pearl -- looks like they are wearing a coat.

I had the keets in the mudroom and the Guinea mother sat at the back door "buckwheating" and the keets would not stop with their loud chirping back to her so I tried putting them in a round wire mesh cage outside. When I went out there after an hour, the keets had their faces smashed up against where their mother was so I just turned them out. I've kept my eye on them. Rescued one from the inside (the hole) of a cinder block. Had to rescue all of them from another female Guinea (higher up than the Guinea mother-- picking on her too. Guinea mother moving slowly and has moved and resting off my property right where the field meets the forest -- just inside the shadow start of the woods -- had to use binoculars to see her. I'll bring 'em in tonight. or if it rains. It is about 95 F out there so if anything, it is way too hot. I'm worried most about the fire ants. If they go across one of those hills, they're dead -- many dangers.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
Ah, ok... makes sense, Thanks.

Sounds like you've got your hands full with battling the heat and rescuing/babysitting keets (and the Momma!). Any room in your coop to section an area off for Momma and babies, and maybe have a fan running to keep them cool in there a week or so until the keets are a little older? It's hot here too, I have had to provide extra shade for the brooders and my misters have been going every day since June!