Moving keets outside

[anninaustralia]

Hello from Australia,
We have four 4-5 week old keets who somewhat appear ready to go outside. Though we are not sure if they are 1. old enough, and 2. what they would need to survive outside. We have a fully enclosed garden (top to bottom) and could put them in there. Our adult guinea keets are completely free ranging and roost in trees. The idea is to introduce the little fellas to their adult friends once they are big enough. How would you go about this all? Can we put them outside into our garden enclosure? What do we need to consider? And how long will they need to stay locked up for?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[R2elk]

Hello from Australia,
We have four 4-5 week old keets who somewhat appear ready to go outside. Though we are not sure if they are 1. old enough, and 2. what they would need to survive outside. We have a fully enclosed garden (top to bottom) and could put them in there. Our adult guinea keets are completely free ranging and roost in trees. The idea is to introduce the little fellas to their adult friends once they are big enough. How would you go about this all? Can we put them outside into our garden enclosure? What do we need to consider? And how long will they need to stay locked up for?

Thanks in advance for your help

They need to be acclimated to the ambient temperatures first. Second they should have a predator proof enclosure. Once your flock stops trying to attack them through the wire of their enclosure you can start trying to release them.

Guinea flocks are very accepting of keets they raise. They are not usually very accepting of guineas being added to their flock if they haven't raised them.

 

[anninaustralia]

Hi R2elk! Thanks for your reply. When you say acclimated to ambient temperatures, what exactly does that mean? They are currently inside at a controlled 27-28°C. Our current outside temperatures range between 33°C (by daytime) and 15°C (at night). We could of course take them out during daytime and relocate them back inside during the night. Though they are very skittish and it’s probably best not to handle them too much. What are your thoughts?

 

[R2elk]

Hi R2elk! Thanks for your reply. When you say acclimated to ambient temperatures, what exactly does that mean? They are currently inside at a controlled 27-28°C. Our current outside temperatures range between 33°C (by daytime) and 15°C (at night). We could of course take them out during daytime and relocate them back inside during the night. Though they are very skittish and it’s probably best not to handle them too much. What are your thoughts?

At their age, I would turn off the heat inside. The warmer you keep them inside the less they grow the feathers they need to keep them warm at cooler temperatures.

It is a good idea to let them out in the daytime. If possible, herd them out and then herd them back in when it is evening.

Guineas can be taught to be herded. It helps to use long sticks in your hands as extensions. You do have to go slow. Going too fast will panic them.

 

[anninaustralia]

At their age, I would turn off the heat inside. The warmer you keep them inside the less they grow the feathrrs they need to keep them warm at cooler temperatures.

It is a good idea to let them out in the daytime. If possible, herd them out and then herd them back in when it is evening.

Guineas can be taught to be herded. It helps to use long sticks in your hands as extensions. You do have to go slow. Going too fast will panic them.

That sounds great! Thank you. We’ll give it a go and fingers crossed they’ll appreciate us trying. Guineas really have a mind of their own. Cheers again for your help!

 

[SamLockwood]

Hi R2elk! Thanks for your reply. When you say acclimated to ambient temperatures, what exactly does that mean? They are currently inside at a controlled 27-28°C. Our current outside temperatures range between 33°C (by daytime) and 15°C (at night). We could of course take them out during daytime and relocate them back inside during the night. Though they are very skittish and it’s probably best not to handle them too much. What are your thoughts?

At four weeks if you have an outdoor enclosure that keeps them dry and out of the wind they should be fine. I even had a few escape into the woods one night where we had a thunderstorm and two out of the three showed back up the next morning not looking too much the worse for wear.

As far as integrating them with the adults, the method R2elk mentioned works the best. But even then, they take a while to fully integrate. The adults won't persecute the newcomers, but the youngsters will be a distinctly separate clique within the flock. Usually after the first mating season cycle completes then they'll fully merge.