I need help figuring what may be wrong with my flock

[Motherhenny]

Speckled,
I feed the keets the same as I feed the chicks so I should be feeding them gamebird feed? which kind of game feed? I read so many bags of different feeds but quineas are not listed on any of them. I learned the hard way not to let the keets free range with their mother quineas. I lost all the keets and the mother in less then a week. Each day she had less and less keets untill one day she didn't come in at all. I found out that quineas makes bad parents so I let my hens hatch them and they do a fine job. I do enjoy my quineas they are so funny to watch. I have my backyard fenced in to keep my boston terrier and min pin in. They will fly over the fence which is only 4' and pick bugs out of my flower beds. The funny part is when they want out the seem to forget they can fly and they run the fence calling out to the ones on the other side. I have to go and open the gate to let them out. they make great watch dogs and great buggers.
Thanks, Henri

 

[speckledhen]

They can live on regular chick starter, but they should thrive on Gamebird Starter. Most feed lines carry it-Purina, Southern States, etc. It should be 25-30% protein for guinea keets. I know the problems of feeding them if they are eating with others. If they do only eat the chick starter, they will just be smaller than they would normally be, but it wont necessarily hurt them.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Sorry I didn't see your question to me til this morning ...I'm in Randolph Co....I'm pretty sure your no egg laying is the molt thing...cat food wet or dry is really good to be throwing into them...

Always nice to meet someone else on here from WV....

 

[Motherhenny]

I want to say thanks to everyone for your help. I believe that it is from their molting and from the shorter days. My bantums are laying everyday so I'm not completely without eggs. My RI, N.H. Reds, Ply. rocks have completely stopped laying. How long will the hen not laying last? This is the first time that they have stopped laying. I quess I was spoiled. lol. I've done everything that you have told me and I believe that you are right. So many thanks, everyone.
Henrietta

 

[Motherhenny]

Cynthia,
Do adult quineas always chase and pick on chickens? My quineas free range all summer and spend the winter in the coop with the chickens. This summer when I turn the hens out they will chase and peck the hens for awhile. I am worried about locking them up with the hens with winter. What do you think? They really hasn't hurt any of the hens but they do stress them out sometimes.
Henrietta

 

[speckledhen]

All I can say is that mine did. I had to rehome them after trying all sorts of things. My alpha guinea male tried to kill my RIR hen over and over, then the other three joined in. Finally, it was the guineas or the chickens. Guineas are nothing like chickens and they attack as a pack. Not even the toughest rooster can handle attacks from four sides at once. I miss them, though, because I really like guineas.

 

[Motherhenny]

cynthia,
This is the first time I have raised guineas and I really like them too. When I walk outside they follow me around. I am going to build them their own house and running pen. I don't want to lose any of my hens. You are right they do attack as a pack. I hope that it works out because I wouldn't want to lose them but, like you, I will choose my hens over them.
Thanks, Henrietta