Guinea Markings

[Rose66]

My keets will be 6 weeks old this Friday and their markings appear to be more barred looking rather than polka dots. Is this normal at 6 weeks? If yes, at what age do they get their polka dots? They are all pearl guineas. Thanks!

 

[PeepsCA]

Yes that's normal. My Grey Pearls usually lose the barring and all their brown baby feathers at around 10-12 weeks. Sometimes it depends on the weather and temps, but by 16 weeks old they should definitely be all Pearled, feathered out in their adult plumage, with no barring except on their flight feathers.

 

[racuda]

Beware, they are getting ready to enter the Ugly Stage!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Hey, Rose!

Glad to hear you have Guineas, too! One more thing we have in common.

Ugly stage? But, no! Right now mine are so adorable! I don't want an ugly stage. The chicks can do that but not my pretty keets!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Yeh the Pterodactyl stage.... the stage where you will see one say Buck Wheat then turn around to see who said that.... LOL I also call them Tweenagers.... Cept for that whole Texting thing...

 

[CYGChickies]

One of my guineas was yelling Buckwheat before they were two weeks old. It was one of three whites and it was a tiny version but I'd recognize that raspy cry anywhere! Luckily none of the others have started that yet although they're coming up on three weeks. They're still pretty now.

CYG

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
I am hearing a Distinct Two syllable PEEP peep from at least four or five separate voices in my brooder. Very clear peeps but its a buck wheat pattern and timing. They are not quite at the Pterodactyl stage but they are getting biggg fast.