Guinea talk.

[pattyhen]

The pics are great and they are growing so fast. It seems like every morning when you look at them their feathers have changed.

When the weather was nice Spiderman and Mary Jane went out to a pen in the yard when they were about 4 weeks old. They would then come back in the house in their brooder in the evenings. I think it was about 7 weeks old we let them out of the pen in the yard. We have a chain link fence around the yard and I had clipped their wings so they wouldn't fly over the fence. I think since your keets will be free range you won't want to clip their wings. I don't have that much experience with the guineas to reccomend 8 weeks or 12 weeks on being cooped up. You have a lot of area for them to run in and mine are behind the fence. I've read where people turn them lose for the first time and they walk down the road and they never see them again. That would be so sad to never see them again.

The pool noodles sounds like a good idea on the herding. My husband is a big help with the chickens, ducks and guineas. It's a lot easier when you have 2 people helping with the herding.

I'm not sure but I think as long as the poo is not yellow or green there should not be a problem Probably switching their food like that will make a difference.

Yesterday a wild mallard flew in the lot next door. Mary Jane and Spiderman charged the fence trying to get to it. They knew that wasn't one of our ducks and it didn't belong here. I think their turning into little watch birds. Spiderman is a lot friendlier then Mary Jane. He is the first to get on your lap and wants to be around you when your outside. Mary Jane lets you know not to pet her waddles she does like her neck rubbed but don't touch her head. Spiderman doesn't care where you pet him he just likes the attention.

Thanks for sharing the pics with us and hope you have a nice day.

Clay where are you? I miss you.

 

[GlennLee]

It sounds as though you have a safe place for Spiderman and Mary Jane to roam and are able to herd them with help. I think your other ducks and chicks provide a good draw to keep them close as well.

I had some blood in the cages last night. There seems to be one bird (I think it was the runt of the group) who is being targeted. I pulled it and put in in it's own crate for now. I think I'll pull a couple of the gentle ones to put with it to keep it company in another day. Want to give it time to heal up. Do you ever use a product on your poultry to help them heal if injured? I used hydrogen peroxide to wipe off a cut foot (probably pecked) when they were in the cardboard box, but was wondering if it's okay to use a spray on bandage or something. They got his feet and face - I wouldn't put anything on the face.

That was a cute story about your guineas and the mallard. I think you could rename them Rin Tin Tin and Lassie - because they are a lot like watch dogs.

Henry didn't come home last night. There were some fireworks set off and I think it spooked him. I could hear him up above, but he didn't respond to the bell. Rain today, will take a walk up the road to try to locate him. He should come back as he's been pretty good about staying around. I'll keep you posted.

Have a great day. Miss you too, Clay!

 

[pattyhen]

You can put neosporin the kind without the pain relief. I've also put guaze pads when a chicken has bumble foot and wrap it with vet wrap to hold the guaze on. I hope it gets better soon I'm always for the underdog.

I'll keep my fingers crossed Henry comes home today. He should be getting hungry by now. I'm sure the fireworks did scare him and confuse him.

Yesterday it was pouring rain and I finally got Spiderman and Mary Jane to come inside. They sit in their chair as usual and then they started making these noises. Wow they sounded like they had machine guns shooting at each other. They must be practicing on their adult voices. I still don't hear a buck wheat noise from them or a buck buck sound.

Have a nice day and I hope Henry comes home.

 

[GlennLee]

I'll definitely get some neosporin to keep on hand along with the vet wrap and gauze. I think if it gets to that point, I would definitely have to separate for a while. I now have 4 keets in a separate cage and will add one more to the mix today. That will give an average of 5 per cage. This morning, I saw a fight between two of them and the one I have been watching - it's more aggressive than the others. I think I'll pull that one out and keep it alone and see if I notice others fighting. If it's better, I will probably get rid of the real aggressive one - I can't have one poking holes in the necks of others on a daily basis. I don't want to do it until I'm sure that one is the problem.

I'm glad you were able to coax Spiderman and Mary Jane to come inside out of the rain. They are very quirky birds and you never know what they will do next! That's what makes them so entertaining. You will have to let me know when you start to hear the difference in their voices. I think the males and females share a lot of the same sounds and I also notice a difference in their voices depending on what they are doing. I'm sure you do too.

No Henry yet. We had hard rain yesterday and I wonder if he just found shelter and hunkered down for the day. Clear today, so there's a chance he'll return. We didn't even hear him at all yesterday. I will let you know if he makes his way home. Thanks for asking. Have a good day!

 

[pattyhen]

I would seperate the one who you think is the aggresser. It might calm him down. I hope it does. I can't stand for anything to be picked on.

Last night was the first time the keets were in the chicken coop without being in their cage. They were fine this morning when I let them out. The rooster that I worry about picking on them usually stays up in the roost high up until I open the door. I put the keets breakfast on the backporch and they ate there. The ducks don't come up on the porch so they had the bowl all to theirselves.

Spiderman chirps and peeps constantly. It's not a loud or annoying sound or no buck wheats or buck buck sounds either. He is a talker that's for sure. Mary Jane is very quiet except when they get that machine gun sound going it's a duet.

I'm sorry about Henry I hope he comes home. Does anyone else have guineas in your area?

Have a nice day.

 

[GlennLee]

I would seperate the one who you think is the aggresser. It might calm him down. I hope it does. I can't stand for anything to be picked on.

Last night was the first time the keets were in the chicken coop without being in their cage. They were fine this morning when I let them out. The rooster that I worry about picking on them usually stays up in the roost high up until I open the door. I put the keets breakfast on the backporch and they ate there. The ducks don't come up on the porch so they had the bowl all to theirselves.

Spiderman chirps and peeps constantly. It's not a loud or annoying sound or no buck wheats or buck buck sounds either. He is a talker that's for sure. Mary Jane is very quiet except when they get that machine gun sound going it's a duet.

I'm sorry about Henry I hope he comes home. Does anyone else have guineas in your area?

Have a nice day.

I have separated the aggressor and will monitor the rest of the flock - now 11 in between two adjoining dog crates. I had already pulled 4 out to be by themselves - the one had been wounded and was bleeding and I thought I had given it 3 "calmer" ones to be with. Today, I notice there is more blood in the crate with the foursome and one has an injured foot.

I now have the 16 guineas dispersed in 4 separate crates. It's getting a bit ridiculous and I don't know why all the aggression at 5 weeks old? They're not mating yet. I've been trying to search on BYC, but there's not much mention about keet aggression. I don't know what's normal and what's not and am a bit beside myself with this new blood evidence. Not sure who the culprit is and I'm out of crates to put him in if I do find out.

On your end, that's great that the keets went into the chicken coop and that they were fine. Hopefully, the rooster will continue to leave them alone. I only had Henry making adult sounds, so I can only imagine what that sounds like times two with Spiderman and Mary Jane!

Still no Henry, but my neighbor at the top of the hill keeps hearing him once in a while. I try to go up a couple of times a day to check to see if I can hear him and entice him home. Yes, there are two farms that have guineas, so he may end up finding a new home.

Very cool here - so everyone is still in crates and in the garage under heat. I really need it to warm up and get them outside. I think that would be an improvement.

Thanks for listening and always giving good advice. Have a good evening!

 

[pattyhen]

Hope it warms up there so you can put them outside in a pen. I think their getting bored being in the crates and need some exersise. I'm sorry your having so many problems with the aggression. So far these two have been well behaved. I did see Spiderman take a lettuce leaf out of a ducks mouth and one time we were herding the ducks in the coop and they thought it might be fun to herd them too. They chased along behind the duck but didn't peck it.

Yesterday while sitting out on the swing Mary Jane started buckwheating. It was the two words buck wheat. Spiderman is making a little honking noise and twilling. Spiderman makes noises all the time he is never quiet. It's not real loud just twilling and honking.

There is still hope Henry comes home. With the other guineas in the area he may have joined the other flock.

I hope you have a great day.

p.s. Is the crates big enough to put some cabbage in? When chickens start pecking each other they hang cabbage from a string to give them something to peck at.

 

[GlennLee]

Great idea about putting the cabbage in the crate! Will definitely try that - they do need extra stimulation while in the crate. And, good news! Henry is back.

My neighbor at the top of the hill texted me to say she had a Henry sighting. I went up with my bell and meal worms and after a bit of coaxing, was able to get him back in the coop. I think he's going to be there for a while. The weather hasn't been great, so I'm surprised he stayed away as long as he did. 60 and windy today - had to build a fire in the garage/shop area for the keets last night and will probably do that again tonight.

I have all but the one aggressor back in the double crate. I watched them for a a good hour and they seem to be doing fine. Typical foot pecking from below while others are on the roost - nothing real aggressive looking. Several of them will have long term scars from the aggressive one.

My goodness, how Spiderman and Mary Jane are growing and changing before your very eyes! Do you think you will have eggs before the summer is over? Was that part of your plan? I would have loved to have seen them traipsing along with the ducks. They really are very entertaining.

Coop question for you - I've read that guineas need a wider roost than chickens and not a curved one, but flat. What do you have for them to roost on - we were thinking large beams way up as high as we can go. I think you mentioned a swing for them too. Was that a real swing or did you make something special for them and if so, could you describe it?

Thanks! Sorry, I keep at you with all these questions, but everything is so new to me.

 

[pattyhen]

Great news that Henry is home. You have good neighbors to let you know they saw Henry. Poor Henry I bet he's glad to be home and to have food when he wants.

The swing that the guineas love is a 3 seated glider in the yard. You cannot sit in the swing without Spiderman coming up to you and asking to sit on your lap. Then when he gets up there Mary Jane has to join him. It's so funny when Spiderman sits down he falls straight back and lays on his legs. I've read that the guineas like to perch as high up as possible. Mine probably won't do it because their wings are clipped. The perch they have in their cage is a flat perch and they seem to really like it. They go in their cage at night in the coop so they can eat before it gets dark.

I'm happy to answer any questions at all. I just wish I had more knowledge about them. I read that their breeding season is March to September so hopefully Mary Jane won't lay her eggs until next year. They say that is when they really change is when they go threw the breeding season. I want them to stay their sweet selves for a while

I hope you solved the problem with the aggressiveness. Maybe a little solitute will straighten the aggressor out some. When my roosters spurs me I put him in a pen by himself. He does good for about a week then he goes back to spuring me. Then I grab him and put him back in the pen.

Clay how are you doing and how is Madison doing? We would love to hear from you.

 

[Turkey parents]

Hey folks my wife and I are turkey lovers but just bought a couple Guineas. We're wondering if it's possible to have lappers like we do with the turkeys? Our Guineas maybe too old by now but it would be kind of fun