Guinea Keets w/ My Chickens

[Swamp Roo]

Hi all,
Went to my feed store for feed a few weeks ago and they where getting rid of 3 week old chick for $1 each. There were five keets in with them and the DW thought they were cute... They are big enough that they can't get out of the run now (chicken wire w/electric), and if they were chicks I'd probably just let them have at it. The problem is that they are getting 26% protein game bird feed, and the chickens are getting maintenance feed (?%). I let them out for half a day yesterday with limited supervision. No real aggression from the chickens. There are five, so no one keet was singled out and harassed. Just kind of a "get out of my way" peck. Besides the keets are faster and can fly better than the chickens already.

I'd love to let them out with the chickens all the time, but I'm concerned about the food issue, I don't want them stunted(or what ever) plus I still have most of a bag left. Any thoughts or experience? I should add that these birds will eventually be free range, so I don't know what long term results for them will be but I want them to be fit when they get the "boot" as it were. I'd bet the chickens wouldn't last a week here.

Edited to add: I WILL have night time shelter for them with feed in it. Didn't want folks to think I was just going to kick them out and say "to bad so sad".

Thanks

 

[swampducks]

My original 2 keets I got at the feed store were fed the same as the chicks, turned out to be 18% protein and they turned out fine.

MY current keets I started on 21% meat maker, then found some 24% chick starter at TSC.

I'm guessing maintenance feed might be less than 18%? But I'm just guessing. If you can toss them some higher % stuff once a day, that would probably be fine. But then, I'm not quite the guinea expert yet.

 

[rooster0209]

They will be fine on what you feed the chickens. Mine are. I feed both chicks and keats poultry medicated starter/grower. I have some mixed chicks & keats and they don't have any issues getting along.

The grown guinea rooster is a butt tho. He is not liking the chickens of any age or size .... at the moment

 

[brandywine]

If you are concerned about the keets getting their own high-protein food, can you construct a "creep" where they can get in and get to their feed, but the chickens cannot?

If there's enough of a size difference, it should work. You can use whatever materials are at hand. I'd use something like a dog crate with bars the keets can walk through.

FWIW, my keets are getting the same 20% nonmedicated starter as my pullets. I give the keets more of the Japanese beetles from my traps so they get a protein boost. Everyone is doing fine.

 

[the1much]

my keets and guineas eat what my chickens do,,,and ive never had ANY problem with them,,, and i wouldnt worry about them being in with your chicks either,,,mine all live together,,,and get REALLY angry if they cant get to each other.

 

[Swamp Roo]

Thanks everyone. Sometimes I think we(I) just over complicate this stuff. I'll keep them in the brooder for half a dayish so they get some extra protein and then let them out into the run. Once they get too big for the brooder, I'll just mix in the left over gamebird feed with the regular chicken feed to get rid of it. I keep having to remind myself that people have been keeping chickens and guinea fowl etc. long before feed came in bags from the store... Gotta love modern times! Sometimes I wonder how many people would starve if burger joints went away and they actually had to cook.

Brandywine: Not really concered with the chickens getting into the keets food, I was concerned that the keets would only eat the chicken feed not their own. Non issue apparently.