Guinneas came in today! (although a sad moment) *pics added*

[peepsandquacks]

My guinneas came intoday, I had 16 in the package (extra chick, just in case). All came alive....but one had issues. His feet were completely balled up (hammer toe looking), and he was having a very hard time walking and he was shaking like in pain. So after some thought, I had my husband put him down. That was hard for me. Was my first animal I had to put down.

The others are doing well! WOW are they crazy! I had to try 3 different water containers before I found one that wouldnt kill them. The first, was the classic chick waterer. They all went for a mass suicidal dive. So I cleaned up the water mess (most of it was on the bottom)....then tried again. I filled the chick feeder up with water (has the holes for heads) and after 4 of them got stuck in the holes, I went to a classic condiment dish (2 of them on each side). That is workind so far, just need to fill them back up every few hours.

They are all now eating and drinking and some are tripod sleeping.

They are in the house for the weekend. They are just wayyyyyy too small (and cute) to stick outside in that big pen right now. Although, they make 10x more noise then my ducks....

 

[duckyfromoz]

I hatched some for a friend about a week ago- and they went home last night- I am kind of sad- but also glad they are gone. I was starting to worry that the were going to get out of the brooder and go wandering around the house. They sure are cute looking babies- but I have to agree, much , much noisier than ducks.

 

[peepsandquacks]

They are the cuttest babies ever. Even cuter then ducks or chicks. I didnt think anything could be louder then 2 rouens though......man oh man. One in there wont shut up, the rest are sleeping but that keet is just going on and on. do they drow fast? I am hoping they will grow a bit by monday so they can be in the big(er) pen out in the garage and out of here!

 

[patty12]

put marbles in waters made for baby chicks. that keeps them from taking a bath. if no marbles find marble sized gravel and use.

 

[PeepsCA]

Congrats on your new babies! Sorry for the loss of one, that's hard to deal with, but you did the right thing.

Just to warn you... newspaper for bedding causes splayed legs because it's too slippery and will do damage to their soft developing leg and hip joints. If I were you I'd change that out ASAP to old towels or rubberized shelf liner or even textured paper towels like Brawny... or you may end up treating several that develop splayed legs

If they are peeping loudly they may too cold or too warm... they should be able to get away from the heat if they need to and it should be 90-95 degrees in the center of the circle of light from brooder lamp.

Keets need more space than chicks or ducks do, so if you can find a big cardboard box to use for at least a few days in the house then you can just cut open one end and put that inside their bigger brooder when you move them out and they can still use it for a contained heat area, they need protection from drafts.

The keets would enjoy having a mirror in their brooder, it gives them the illusion that there are twice as many of them, and makes them feel more secure. It's a good idea to make sure it's taped to the brooder wall really well so it does not fall on them and they can't get stuck behind it. The noisy keet may just be missing the rest of it's hatch mates, but could be stressed from the shipping. Hopefully the mirror will help quiet him.

And yes, if they are on high protein game bird starter feed they will grow fast, They should start to get some wing feathers starting at about 4-5 days old.

 

[peepsandquacks]

Thanks! I thought it was just the ducks that got the leg issues from slippery floors. I will put some paper towel down.

Its only the 1 that is having issues and is cherping loudly, not all of them. The rest are doing the quiet (ish) peeps. If I move the lamp any closer they start panting, but if I move it further away they huddle and REALLY peep....so I think I am in the right place. My husband wakes up at 12, so I will get them a bigger box and new flooring then.

The small dishes are working well with the water, so I will keep it like that intill they get bigger and can use the chick waterer. I dont mind refilling them every so often.

I still feel really bad about putting the one down. I keep thinking 'maybe he could have made it'. It really sucks :-(.

I have little windows cut out of the ducks box across the room, and they keep popping their heads out and cherping at the keets. Taste of their own medicine, hahaha!

ETA: They are too funny when they are going to sleep. THey do a 15 bird pile up. They could care less about stepping on, or getting stepped on by other birds.

 

[lutz123]

Cute!!! I love the little sounds that keets make. It reminds me of songbirds - and a cockatiel we used to have! I know, I know...enjoy the peace now... I only have 2 keets that are a week plus old, and a dozen eggs in the bator. Mine were crazy for the first day or so but settled down quickly. I actually think it's helping to have them in with chicks too. The RIR's are so brave and curious that the keets seem a little more settled.

In TSC today I saw some tiny little chick waterers that I'm going to pick up when my keets hatch

in a couple of weeks. I think it still used the quart jar but the base had a significantly narrower opening.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I put marbles in my chick waterer for the 1st week when my guineas arrived.....worked really well.

 

[ColbyNTX]

I do agree, they need to be off the newspaper ASAP. Thats for all new hatched fowl or poultry. If they are still on it, just put a few paper towles down for now.