Keets wasting crumbles

[ejb3810]

I just got some keets and find that they throw all of their crumbles out of the feeder. I have had many chicks and never had this problem with them. Can anyone suggest a feeder that will prevent them from doing this?
What I am using is the type that screws onto a jar that holds the feed. It has a number of holes around the screw on base.

 

[perchie.girl]

Welcome to the world of Guineas..... LOL. One thing that helps is to raise the feeder up. on a brick or something where they have to reach up a little to get their food. The little buggers are growing fast so wastage is pretty common the first couple of weeks. When mine were two weeks old they could fly six feet up.....

I dont know what you are feeding but They should be getting Game bird starter too because of their rapid growth. Chick starter doesnt have enough protien. You risk leg and development issues....

My next batch of Keets are going on wire.... wont stop the wastage but certainly will be easier to keep the brooder clean. Of course while they are itsy I will have shelf liner in there. But they dont stay itsy long.

deb

 

[ejb3810]

Thanks for the reply. I will raise the feeder as you suggest. I had them on mesh to start, but I put a temporary solid floor in because more of the crumbles were on the floor than were eaten. I am feeding them game bird starter, and I feeder all of my brood stock chickens and layers game bird breeder pellets. So when they come of the starter I plan to switch them to the game bird breeder.

 

[bestgear]

I'm new to guineas (31 3-week old keets) so I really don't have the experience that others on this forum have but I too experienced alot of wasted feed with my keets. I had a hard time with raising the feeder because we had two keets that were significantly smaller than the others and I didn't want to deprive them from free-feeding too. What I did to help with the waste problem was to fill the feeder and place it in the brooder for 20-30 minutes 5-times/day. This gave the keets enough time to eat and throw some of the crumbles on the floor afterwhich they pecked the feed from the floor of the brooder. Where I live feed is $15 for 50 pounds so I think it's a small price to pay even if some of it gets wasted.

PS - I believe that I read on this forum that when raising the feeder the bottom of the feeder should be level with their backs when standing which forces them to be more upright when eating and they will not be so prone to throwing the crumbles. Good luck!

 

[perchie.girl]

For the little ones I put feed in a dish like a flower pot water dish. They all jack boot through it but everyone gets fed. The food gets tossed out too. Just about as bad.

My dream brooder would have feed bins on the OUTSIDE of the brooder with a solid smooth wall on the inside with verticle wire that they have to stick their heads through to eat. Sort of like a homemade version of the chick feeders on the tin brooders at the feed store. Wastage would be at a true minimum. Then I could free feed as they need alot of food in the first few weeks.
Water would also be supplied this way as well so they couldnt walk in it or drown in it and it would be easy to access and clean.

So my goal will eventually be no food OR water actually IN the brooder.

My own issues in the past trying to raise them up in plastic tubs have been spilled water in the bedding. Or bedding kicked up into the waterer on the back side causing the waterer to be emptied by wicking it all out. Of course not seeing it and wondering why all my keets were wet. Urrg. Or having mom "help" and not getting the waterer lid screwed on right....

All this reminds me I need to get cracking on my brooder build for next spring. I lost everyone about a month ago to coyotes.... So I need to talk to PeepsCA again for some more next year. Am also going to get some Jumbos from Ralph Winter...

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Thanks for the reply. I will raise the feeder as you suggest. I had them on mesh to start, but I put a temporary solid floor in because more of the crumbles were on the floor than were eaten. I am feeding them game bird starter, and I feeder all of my brood stock chickens and layers game bird breeder pellets. So when they come of the starter I plan to switch them to the game bird breeder.

Wow.... The reverse of what I usually come across. Awesome. So how did you come to the decision to feed your chickens this way....?

I would so love to just have ONE feed.

deb

 

[ejb3810]

I was concerned that my chickens would have enough protein and additional nutrients to be in top reproductive condition. As a result, I started feeding the game bird feed which has higher nutrients. I give pigeon grit and oyster shell on a rotating basis as well. I do feed them some wheat and corn mixed which occupies their desire to scratch and graze.
My birds all free range during the day, and so in the summer they don't consume nearly as much feed. Unfortunately summers are very short here.
I pay over $19 per fifty for the game bird feed, but I want to keep my birds in top condition.
It will be many weeks until the keets will be old enough to free range, but come next spring they will be a valuable asset in controlling the ticks.

 

[perchie.girl]

I was concerned that my chickens would have enough protein and additional nutrients to be in top reproductive condition. As a result, I started feeding the game bird feed which has higher nutrients. I give pigeon grit and oyster shell on a rotating basis as well. I do feed them some wheat and corn mixed which occupies their desire to scratch and graze.
My birds all free range during the day, and so in the summer they don't consume nearly as much feed. Unfortunately summers are very short here.
I pay over $19 per fifty for the game bird feed, but I want to keep my birds in top condition.
It will be many weeks until the keets will be old enough to free range, but come next spring they will be a valuable asset in controlling the ticks.

I just realized you are in Minnisota Wow. No wonder you go with the higher protein. Here in the heat we have to be careful not to let them get too fluffy.... LOL.

I had a conversation with a woman who raises Cassowaries and rare Guineas for zoos. She is actually on BYC. byt the way. I mentioned I was concerned because I could not free range my guineas that they wouldnt get enough insect protien in their diet. She said to buy Catfish chow as a supplement. Its pelleted just like the chicken food and about the same size and boy do the Guineas love it.

How long have you been feeding your chickens like this? I am a research nut so forgive me my non Guinea questions.... LOL.

deb

 

[ejb3810]

I have fed my chickens like this for several years, and it seems that there are no adverse results from too high protein diet. The hens have been great producers of excellent quality eggs. I thought at one time about using a trout pellet, but I decided the game bird feed which has animal protein as a component would do what I wanted. So far I am very satisfied with the results.

 

[perchie.girl]

You have decided me. I lost all my birds this month to bad circumstance. Kind of a cascade of failures. Coyotes got in and took the whole flock. Next time around I am Starting with Guineas and Sumatras only. Sumatras are going to be my Broodies. But Sumatras are very very good fliers.... almost as good as guineas. So I want everyone to be in tip top condition to free range here.

Its too hot to rebuild right now so I wont start again till next spring. But I really like the idea of not messin with feed adding bits of this and that and changing the nutrient ratio. This way if I feel I need to ad extra I can just do it with a supplemental feed dispenser.

I am designing the whole poultry house from the ground up including feeders and waterers. My coop rebuild link is in my signature. I just started making the page so its just a few bits thrown in there.

deb