I'm getting Guinea keets!!

[Kbagwell1]

So hubby finally says I can get some guinea keets!!!!

They will only be about 2 days old when I pick them up....they are hatching as we speak...I'm picking them up on Friday!

My question is....are they the same as chickens? Do they need a heat lamp until they are fully feathered? Will they be ok to put them in the brooder with my chicks? And as long as they are raised with chickens...will they be ok with them when they are older??

 

[Kbagwell1]

No one can give me advice???

 

[kuntrygirl]

This sticky can probably answer all of your questions.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=312682

 

[terrilhb]

I just hatched my 1st guinea eggs last week. No they are not like baby chicks. Awhole lot fiester. I love mine. They are so adorable. Good luck. And enjoy them.

 

[lutz123]

That's so exciting! I just took the plunge as well! Mine are great - I have 2 keets a few weeks old and 5 that are 1 week old. You will be absolutely amazed at how fast they grow!! I think I read somewhere that they need 95 degrees until they are fully feathered. But my older keets seem to have feathered much faster than the chicks. Marbles in the waterer is recommended. I actually picked up a quail waterer for the first week and that worked fine.

I have mine in with chicks (in both brooders). I've heard that it helps them to bond with the flock better and makes them more likely to stay at home. My 5 smaller ones are actually in with a single Ameraucana (EE) chick and I felt terrible for the chick initially because she wanted to sleep all the time and the keets were in constant motion. They've adjusted now. The only thing about keeping them together is the fact that keets should ideally be on higher protein game starter. I have opted to just use Purina Flockraiser as a personal choice.

Good luck!

 

[terrilhb]

Did you find out the info you needed. Their is an awesome person on here who knows alot. Their name is PEEPSCA. Might not be all caps. But they can help you. Sure have helped me. I will tell you they are so fiesty.Mine are a week old today and already changing. And chasing bugs. It is so funny to watch.