Mixed flock questions

[minaayindra]

i am getting 4 guinea keets 2 days from now, unexpected. I am also getting a chicken “mom” who has raised them for their 3 weeks of life. The young man who had them said they have been in a barn with mom since hatch and they have already started scratching around outside with her. I also have a 3 week old flock of chicks I am raising inside in a brooder. What he was doing differs from recommendations I have seen and begs a few questions:
1. Does the mom chicken need to stay with the keets? I’m sure they are attached to her and it would be better for them psychologically (my preference too) but I’m concerned about trying to feed them 2 separate types of food. I would love it if they could all blend together but I have 2 different coops designed for these individual types of poultry.
2. Conversely, I am also concerned about possibly having to keep the hen away from the 3 week old chicks since the babies have bonded well together and I don’t want them picking on or hurting mom if I introduce her later into their group.
3. I plan on keeping them, as I’ve seen recommended, in their coop for about 2 months, with a secured run outside. I’ve been assured that they will then associate the coop with great things and come in at night (I have a large number of predators here). Would they be more inclined to stay healthy and return if mom remains in with them?
4. Most frustrating, I have seen so many different accounts of what I should feed when, at different stages. Before I knew these guys would be arriving way earlier than I expected, I had purchased regular game bird food, by what a book recommended. Now I’m seeing people talk about guinea starter food, which I haven’t seen listed online or in any store. What on earth can I feed 4 guinea chicks (3-weeks old) and when does it change to the adult game bird food? What do I feed the hen with them? She shouldn’t have that high of an amount of protein and I don’t know what to do.
Any help on these questions would be very appreciated. I am definitely running out of time!

 

[R2elk]

1. Does the mom chicken need to stay with the keets? I’m sure they are attached to her and it would be better for them psychologically (my preference too) but I’m concerned about trying to feed them 2 separate types of food. I would love it if they could all blend together but I have 2 different coops designed for these individual types of poultry.

The turkey or gamebird starter that the keets need is fine to feed the chicken hen. It is actually beneficial for her as it helps her recover from the time she has spent on the nest.

I do not recommended allowing a chicken to brood keets or brooding keets with chicks. The keets get imprinted by the chickens. When they are adults they will fail to understand that the chickens are not guineas and can cause severe stress to the chickens that are not capable of understanding guinea ways. Everything can seem fine right up to the first breeding season when the real guinea craziness kicks in.

3. I plan on keeping them, as I’ve seen recommended, in their coop for about 2 months, with a secured run outside. I’ve been assured that they will then associate the coop with great things and come in at night (I have a large number of predators here). Would they be more inclined to stay healthy and return if mom remains in with them?

It isn't just a matter of getting them accustomed to the coop. You have to train them to go into the coop every evening either by the use of treats or like I do which is to herd them into the coop. If you don't make sure they are in the coop at night, they will start trying to spend the nights outside which will soon cause predator losses.

The hens prefer to hide their nests out and if allowed to go broody on their hidden nests will also lead to predator losses.

4. Most frustrating, I have seen so many different accounts of what I should feed when, at different stages. Before I knew these guys would be arriving way earlier than I expected, I had purchased regular game bird food, by what a book recommended. Now I’m seeing people talk about guinea starter food, which I haven’t seen listed online or in any store. What on earth can I feed 4 guinea chicks (3-weeks old) and when does it change to the adult game bird food? What do I feed the hen with them? She shouldn’t have that high of an amount of protein and I don’t know what to do.

The chain stores have decided that selling the proper food is not profitable enough so they refuse to carry it. They do not care about the health of your poultry only the health of their profits.

Some places are willing to order the proper feed in but for the quantity you will need, you can order the feed online in smaller packages although it can get very expensive.

Purina makes Game Bird + Turkey Startena which is appropriate for the first 6 to 8 weeks. it is a 30% protein starter feed. It also contains the higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin that the fast growing keets need. It isn't all about the protein.

After the starter they should go on a turkey or gamebird grower (about 24% protein) for the next 6 weeks. After that they can go on a 20% protein all flock (aka flock raiser) with free choice oyster shell on the side.

 

[50-45-1]

Feed the game bird starter and let the mom chicken eat that too.
It will not hurt her.
Some people will recommend not housing guineas and chickens together. I believe the outcome will have alot to do with your coop and housing accomidations. It does not work well for everyone.
My 5 guineas do just fine in my coop with a dozen chickens. My coop is 14 x 11, with a separate section of roost space, ladder style (high and low) with room for twice as many. I also free range during the day.
I have used broody hens to raise keets many, many times. Its a situation that the hen and the keets dont mind and it worksfor me every time.

 

[minaayindra]

I guess this young man already had this hen hatch the eggs and stay with them the first three weeks- now I have to figure out what to do for her and the keets that will make them happiest and safest. So, if she does go in with the main flock of chicks when she arrives, what will the keets do? Isn’t that kind of ripping mom away? I’m sorry, I don’t know anything about behavior. It seems chickens belong together and Guineas belong together but I don’t want to traumatize either group. Good grief, I might become psychotic trying to ensure their mental health!

 

[minaayindra]

The turkey or gamebird starter that the keets need is fine to feed the chicken hen. It is actually beneficial for her as it helps her recover from the time she has spent on the nest.

I do not recommended allowing a chicken to brood keets or brooding keets with chicks. The keets get imprinted by the chickens. When they are adults they will fail to understand that the chickens are not guineas and can cause severe stress to the chickens that are not capable of understanding guinea ways. Everything can seem fine right up to the first breeding season when the real guinea craziness kicks in.

It isn't just a matter of getting them accustomed to the coop. You have to train them to go into the coop every evening either by the use of treats or like I do which is to herd them into the coop. If you don't make sure they are in the coop at night, they will start trying to spend the nights outside which will soon cause predator losses.

The hens prefer to hide their nests out and if allowed to go broody on their hidden nests will also lead to predator losses.


The chain stores have decided that selling the proper food is not profitable enough so they refuse to carry it. They do not care about the health of your poultry only the health of their profits.

Some places are willing to order the proper feed in but for the quantity you will need, you can order the feed online in smaller packages although it can get very expensive.

Purina makes Game Bird + Turkey Startena which is appropriate for the first 6 to 8 weeks. it is a 30% protein starter feed. It also contains the higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin that the fast growing keets need. It isn't all about the protein.

After the starter they should go on a turkey or gamebird grower (about 24% protein) for the next 6 weeks. After that they can go on a 20% protein all flock (aka flock raiser) with free choice oyster shell on the side.

Thanks for the name of that feed- I’ll try to find it. Of course, I live in a rural area so my odds of getting it before they arrive in 36 hours is doubtful. :-(

 

[minaayindra]

Feed the game bird starter and let the mom chicken eat that too.
It will not hurt her.
Some people will recommend not housing guineas and chickens together. I believe the outcome will have alot to do with your coop and housing accomidations. It does not work well for everyone.
My 5 guineas do just fine in my coop with a dozen chickens. My coop is 14 x 11, with a separate section of roost space, ladder style (high and low) with room for twice as many. I also free range during the day.
I have used broody hens to raise keets many, many times. Its a situation that the hen and the keets dont mind and it worksfor me every time.

I have 2 coops, one for Guineas and another for chickens, so it isn’t a space issue. I’m glad I won’t be killing them until I can figure this out! lol

 

[R2elk]

Thanks for the name of that feed- I’ll try to find it. Of course, I live in a rural area so my odds of getting it before they arrive in 36 hours is doubtful. :-(

If you can't find a proper turkey or gamebird starter, you can substitute a 20% protein all flock feed. You will also want to get vitamin B complex and mix it at the rate of 1/2 tablet or capsule dissolved in one gallon of water. Make it the only source of their water and do not add anything else to the water. It should be made fresh daily.

 

[minaayindra]

If you can't find a proper turkey or gamebird starter, you can substitute a 20% protein all flock feed. You will also want to get vitamin B complex and mix it at the rate of 1/2 tablet or capsule dissolved in one gallon of water. Make it the only source of their water and do not add anything else to the water. It should be made fresh daily.

So far I’ve found 16-17%, nothing at 20%.

 

[R2elk]

So far I’ve found 16-17%, nothing at 20%.

All flock feed are also known as flock raiser. They have higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin because they are meant for flock other than chickens. The other poultry whether they are guineas, turkeys or waterfowl need higher levels than chickens can get by on. All of the all flock or flock raiser feeds that I have seen can be found with 18% or 20% protein. My guess is the low protein feeds you are finding are chicken feeds and are not meant for a mixed flock.

 

[minaayindra]

All flock feed are also known as flock raiser. They have higher levels of lysine, methionine and niacin because they are meant for flock other than chickens. The other poultry whether they are guineas, turkeys or waterfowl need higher levels than chickens can get by on. All of the all flock or flock raiser feeds that I have seen can be found with 18% or 20% protein. My guess is the low protein feeds you are finding are chicken feeds and are not meant for a mixed flock.

I ordered the Manna All Flock and discovered it was 16%. I don’t know if there is some type of protein powder I could add or if I should just mix the gamebird feed with some chick feed- argh, I’m hopelessly confused!