Keets - OMG!

[lutz123]

I've never had keets before, but I have 12 eggs in a bator due May 11th-ish. I picked up a couple today that look very young at the feed store, along with 2 BO chicks, 2 RIR chicks, and one tiny little blind RIR. All doing well, except that these keets are bonkers! I knew they would be more active, but how do I keep them from pecking at the chicks' toes & feathers? I put a little parakeet toy with a mirror in there and that helped for 20 minutes or so. It's not constant that they peck chicks, but they are constantly looking for something to do. Twice I had to pull chick toes away from a keet that had a grip and was dragging. The chicks are all larger, but a week or less old. I don't really want to make the brooder bigger because of the blind one.

I do have older chicks (2-3 weeks) in another brooder. Could I move the keets in there at some point? (Worried about quarantining though)

 

[PeepsCA]

Try sprinkling some starter crumbles on the floor of the brooder, to give them something else to peck at. They may just not know quite where the feeder is yet, so their hunger is making them to peck and grab at anything that resembles food. You could also try a red bulb instead of a white one if that's what you are using.

 

[2many2count]

Quote:
this was going to be my suggestions....good luck!!

 

[lutz123]

I actually had done both of those already. I expected "active" but geez! They seem to be more settled today, but definitely more wired than the chicks! Is it possible to tell gender this young? They make very different noises already.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
How about putting a divider. A piece of hardware cloth would work. The bigger chicks might hurt the keets... Last and only time I raised Keets they had their own cage that I put cardboard in the bottom. They also need turkey game fowl starter too which is higher protien.

 

[lutz123]

perchie.girl :

How about putting a divider. A piece of hardware cloth would work. The bigger chicks might hurt the keets... Last and only time I raised Keets they had their own cage that I put cardboard in the bottom. They also need turkey game fowl starter too which is higher protien.

I will definitely divide if I need to, but there is no problem with chicks bothering keets right now at all. I'm feeding Purina Flock Raiser - is that okay? If I'm remembering correctly it's 20%.​

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
I will definitely divide if I need to, but there is no problem with chicks bothering keets right now at all. I'm feeding Purina Flock Raiser - is that okay? If I'm remembering correctly it's 20%.

I was thinking about your considering putting the Keets in with Older chicks.... those may bully.
WRT keet feed I think it needs to be Higher protien of Turkey/game bird.... but I will let the experts here say for sure. The feed store sometimes will sell a small bag but if you have more in the incubator it may be good to buy the Higher protien to cover them as well.

 

[PeepsCA]

I'm not an expert but I'll add my 2 cents on the nutritional requirements of keets...

Guineas are a game bird, the keets do need more protein than chicks... between 28% and 30% is optimal. Medicated with Amprolium is best. You can raise keets on chick starter, but then again you can raise kids on twinkeis too, lol. I recommend that you feed the higher protein starter feed to everybody (keets and chicks) so that the keets develop and grow at the proper rate, the chicks will pass the extra protein with no problems.