Heat wave 10 week keets

[TrishRom]

I’m just learning how to navigate this forum and also raise our 10 keets. They are now 10 weeks old and have been outside in the coop/run for 2 weeks. I plan to keep them there for 6 weeks total before free ranging in hopes to keep them coming back. I have 2 concerns-

1. It’s been so humid hot this past week like I’m sure many others are experiencing- I put them up top of the run inside the coop with the windows closed at night for the most predator proofing. I have a temp gage in there. It’s at 85. I put them to bed but i feel kind of bad they are not getting any air circulation now bc I closed the windows. They do have ½” hc behind the windows but we have seen weasels and I can’t risk it since it’s not 1/4” hc under the windows. Are they going to be ok all night? The temp is supposed to drop to mid 70’s and rain early morning 3 am & all day tomorrow. They have been panting like breathing for days. I keep their water stocked every cpl hours I’m checking in it and giving them
Fresh if it’s dirty (it usually is- they are SO messy!)

2. We had been training them with millet inside from 0-8 weeks to come when called so we could have that advantage to get them in the coop if the didn’t by themselves after free ranging. It seems the longer they are outside in the run /coop the less they are coming when called now. We spent a lot of time training them and it seems to be out the window now. I’m worried about letting them free range now. We got them for tick control so it would be pointless if we didn’t let them free range. They seem scared of us every time we get near the run and they huddle up and run away. What are we doing wrong! And on that note- they do not go up to the coop and the roosting bars on their own like I was told they would x I have to pick them up and put them in there. It’s a stressful event for all. I use millet and mealworms for treats. I don’t feel comfortable leaving them out in the run all night. I like them to be safe locked up in the coop which is above the run.

So I guess i have 3 concerns!

Thank you so so much!

 

[R2elk]

I’m just learning how to navigate this forum and also raise our 10 keets. They are now 10 weeks old and have been outside in the coop/run for 2 weeks. I plan to keep them there for 6 weeks total before free ranging in hopes to keep them coming back. I have 2 concerns-

1. It’s been so humid hot this past week like I’m sure many others are experiencing- I put them up top of the run inside the coop with the windows closed at night for the most predator proofing. I have a temp gage in there. It’s at 85. I put them to bed but i feel kind of bad they are not getting any air circulation now bc I closed the windows. They do have ½” hc behind the windows but we have seen weasels and I can’t risk it since it’s not 1/4” hc under the windows. Are they going to be ok all night? The temp is supposed to drop to mid 70’s and rain early morning 3 am & all day tomorrow. They have been panting like breathing for days. I keep their water stocked every cpl hours I’m checking in it and giving them
Fresh if it’s dirty (it usually is- they are SO messy!)

2. We had been training them with millet inside from 0-8 weeks to come when called so we could have that advantage to get them in the coop if the didn’t by themselves after free ranging. It seems the longer they are outside in the run /coop the less they are coming when called now. We spent a lot of time training them and it seems to be out the window now. I’m worried about letting them free range now. We got them for tick control so it would be pointless if we didn’t let them free range. They seem scared of us every time we get near the run and they huddle up and run away. What are we doing wrong! And on that note- they do not go up to the coop and the roosting bars on their own like I was told they would x I have to pick them up and put them in there. It’s a stressful event for all. I use millet and mealworms for treats. I don’t feel comfortable leaving them out in the run all night. I like them to be safe locked up in the coop which is above the run.

So I guess i have 3 concerns!

Thank you so so much!

I would at least crack the windows open so they have some air circulation.

If treats aren't enough you can train them to be herded. I did not use treats but did herd my guineas into the coop every night. I only fed and watered them in the coop which also helped.

Do not bother picking them up to put them on the roosts. I built my roosts at staggered heights so they could use them to go up sort of like having stairs or a ladder. They will roost on their own when they are ready.

Definitely make sure they are locked in the coop every night. Don't wait until too late to get them in. They do not like going into a dark place.

I trained mine to be herded into the coop at any time of the day. It made it a lot easier for the times I needed to catch some during the daytime.

Good luck.

 

[TrishRom]

How did you herd them? I thought that would make them run away and fly into a tree for the night? I didn’t mean I pick them up and put them on the roosting bars- sorry for the confusion- I meant I picked them up from the attached run and put them in the coop bc they won’t go up on their own. I’m also not certain what time they naturally would do it if they were too… I put them up around 6:30pm bc of predators And I have to go in and get my own kids to bed haha I let them back out into their run around 6:30am. They love the roosting bars! I’ve seen some go up in the daytime and use them too. They almost all are up there pretty quickly after they chow down from a fresh feed and treats I give to lure them up- which doesn’t work. I’ve noticed they have to see the little grains to be interested.. so they can’t smell it to come?

Speaking of darkness- do you keep a light on all night for them in the coop? I had a solar lightbulb I hung up in there so they had some dim light but they pulled the wire out somehow- maybe getting up/down from the top roost. Is it needed?

 

[R2elk]

How did you herd them?

I started with two long sticks to use to extend my arms into a wide "V". Go slow. Do not ever rush at them. If they break away, start over. Once you start, never let them win. You must always be the winner even if it takes hours at first. With repetition it will get easier. What helped me is that there is a fence line leading up to the coop. I kept them between me and the fence and the coop until they were all in the coop.

I’m also not certain what time they naturally would do it if they were too… I put them up around 6:30pm bc of predators And I have to go in and get my own kids to bed haha

Once they were trained mine naturally would go in the coop before dark if I was late getting them in. It didn't hurt that they were comfortable with the coop and always had food and water available in the coop.

I’ve noticed they have to see the little grains to be interested.. so they can’t smell it to come?

Their sense of smell is not that great. They are vision oriented as are the majority of all birds. Rattling the treats in a can can also get their attention. One member had his trained to come to a ring tone on his phone.

Speaking of darkness- do you keep a light on all night for them in the coop? I had a solar lightbulb I hung up in there so they had some dim light but they pulled the wire out somehow- maybe getting up/down from the top roost. Is it needed?

I did not use a light in the coop. Some people do. I always got mine in before dark. I do have the coop wired and there is a light in it for when I need to be in the coop after dark. I do not use it as a night light.

 

[TrishRom]

I started with two long sticks to use to extend my arms into a wide "V". Go slow. Do not ever rush at them. If they break away, start over. Once you start, never let them win. You must always be the winner even if it takes hours at first. With repetition it will get easier. What helped me is that there is a fence line leading up to the coop. I kept them between me and the fence and the coop until they were all in the coop.

Once they were trained mine naturally would go in the coop before dark if I was late getting them in. It didn't hurt that they were comfortable with the coop and always had food and water available in the coop.

Their sense of smell is not that great. They are vision oriented as are the majority of all birds. Rattling the treats in a can can also get their attention. One member had his trained to come to a ring tone on his phone.

I did not use a light in the coop. Some people do. I always got mine in before dark. I do have the coop wired and there is a light in it for when I need to be in the coop after dark. I do not use it as a night light.

How would a herding dog work instead of this? We are looking into getting a border collie. Would it be helpful for the Guineas?? I’ve noticed they scare easily. I hope they get used to my kids wild nature soon. They got comfortable with them inside but now outside they are acting afraid of everything and all of us (the least bit me bc I walk up slowly and start talking to them on my way over) my kids come barreling up to it and scamper inside to hold them x which they don’t love. A cpl of them will be hugged but most run for their lives. I’m sad about it bc we worked for hours a day for 2 months to get them comfortable with us and the kids to be hands on (4 & 8 yrs old) and it seems like wasted time. My kids are a little disappointed but they are not giving up on their efforts. I just don’t want to terrify and traumatize the poor keets either. I read guineas do not like to be held. But I thought the training process would help tame them enough to like it…

 

[Yardmom]

When I taught guineas to free range. My first attempt didn't go well. I just let them out hoping they were homed to the coop. They just kept roosting outside and not very high, so we caught them and put them back in the coop.
After a bit I added a platform to my second story coop. Then I let one out while keeping the others inside a pen in the coop. First one didn't leave the coop, but when I let a second out they did leave, but kept flying back in to the coop. I let a few more out each day. They continued to come back to the penned ones. After the final one was released they still came back to the coop to eat, drink, and sleep.
Unfortunately day time fox and possibly a fisher have gotten all, but one guinea. She still goes to her second story roost at night even though she eats and drinks on the first floor with the chickens. (Hope to get more guineas soon).

 

[R2elk]

How would a herding dog work instead of this? We are looking into getting a border collie. Would it be helpful for the Guineas?? I’ve noticed they scare easily. I hope they get used to my kids wild nature soon. They got comfortable with them inside but now outside they are acting afraid of everything and all of us (the least bit me bc I walk up slowly and start talking to them on my way over) my kids come barreling up to it and scamper inside to hold them x which they don’t love. A cpl of them will be hugged but most run for their lives. I’m sad about it bc we worked for hours a day for 2 months to get them comfortable with us and the kids to be hands on (4 & 8 yrs old) and it seems like wasted time. My kids are a little disappointed but they are not giving up on their efforts. I just don’t want to terrify and traumatize the poor keets either. I read guineas do not like to be held. But I thought the training process would help tame them enough to like it…

If a dog ever gets a taste of a guinea, it will eat them. They are delicious. It is their very nature to be afraid of predators and they would consider a dog a predator. A guinea got into my dog pen, i found only a couple of feathers.

Slow and calm is what works with guineas. Slow and calm works better with all animals. Teach your kids not to run at or after any animals.

Your keets are going through a traumatic period in their life. Guineas do not handle change well. Even wearing different colored clothing can set them off.

Good luck.

 

[TrishRom]

When I taught guineas to free range. My first attempt didn't go well. I just let them out hoping they were homed to the coop. They just kept roosting outside and not very high, so we caught them and put them back in the coop.
After a bit I added a platform to my second story coop. Then I let one out while keeping the others inside a pen in the coop. First one didn't leave the coop, but when I let a second out they did leave, but kept flying back in to the coop. I let a few more out each day. They continued to come back to the penned ones. After the final one was released they still came back to the coop to eat, drink, and sleep.
Unfortunately day time fox and possibly a fisher have gotten all, but one guinea. She still goes to her second story roost at night even though she eats and drinks on the first floor with the chickens. (Hope to get more guineas soon).

A day time fox and fisher!?! What time of day was it? We have fishers too so I don’t want them sleeping out in a tree at night I’m sure they won’t last the night with a fisher around. I thought they were less apt to get caught bc they could run fast and fly up. I read about the one Guinea at a time method. I plan to do that as well. How does the one Guinea do solo since they are flock birds?