Keet Help~

[animalsroc4evr]

okay if you read my most recent post here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=457654&p=4

you'll see that I've just gotten 5 of my 12 guinea keets. My dad and the neighbor brought over the 5 guinea after they got done hunting. I need some help though, they are crying up a storm! I've put in a stuffed animal and a mirror (They LOVE the mirror) but they are still crying. I have the heat lamp and temp right, their beaks have been dipped and I've got their food both in the feeder and spread out on the paper towels. I know they are probably scared but is there anything else I can do to quiet them down? It's bed time and my mom and dad aren't too happy right now... Thankfully no one has to work tomorrow.

if you can think of anything to get them to quiet down a bit please please share. I love them already, and if it were during the day I would be fine with it, as would my parents. But it's 11 at night.....

Thanks of any and all help!

Here's a picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26458069@N04/5694561043/

 

[animalsroc4evr]

wait, now we only have 1 keet with VERY strong lungs crying, everyone else passed out! yay. Any ideas on how to get this one to go to bed? I turned up the country music I had on the tv and 4/5 zonked out!

 

[animalsroc4evr]

WHEW he/she is out! Even though they are sleeping now, if you have any suggestions for when they start up again I'd love to hear them! Also, how do I go about getting them tame/used to me? I want to make "Friends" with them so they won't be so frightened by me!

Thanks,

Gretchen

 

[LizaBlue]

you are soooo lucky! I just got guineas yesterday and they didn't shut up until FIVE AM THIS MORNING!!!!!!!!!

thankfully they have been quiet all day. I think they just have adjustment issues, so hopefully your babies (and mine) will be better behaved from now on. good idea about the mirror! my baby chickens I got in April love reflective objects, so why not guineas? I gave them a pie plate to play with and they just go crazy with it - they love the sound it makes when they jump on it and will stand there forever pecking at there reflection. my guineas are freaked out by me too, but then again, my chicks were too when I got them and now I can't keep most of them off of me. I kept putting food in my hand and offering it to them, then when they were a little older offered them treats. from the beginning, I talked to them often, quietly, and handled each one. just don't run them ragged chasing them around their cage. when I would finally get one, I'd hold it as loose as I could, but so it couldn't escape, kind of making a cage with my hands, making sure it felt solid ground under its feet and breastbone, and held it close to my chest. I tried to get them to "volunteer" to be picked up by holding my hand in front of their knees and nudging them from behind. I just kept at it until they got used to me. I haven't figured out these keets yet though, lol.

good luck!