New and my keets are dying!

[newb1rdmom]

The grit will help them digest what ever they eat including wood chips.

Oh! That’s actually extremely helpful I wasn’t aware there was something like that for them! Thank you so much I am definitely going to look into that!!

 

[newb1rdmom]

the grit helps digest what they eat-particularly important when using wood chips. I just avoided bedding all together until they were. You never want cedar chips as those are toxic, and w/my luck I figured I'd end up w/a batch of aspen chips that ended up getting cedar mixed in.

Oh I wasn’t aware that different wood types are toxic. What about the Cedar makes them toxic?

 

[newb1rdmom]

sorry, not much time to read - we use non-slip shelf liner - never had a problem with them eating it - got it at Walmart, can be cut to brooder box size - can be washed for re-use after drying

I put newspapers and paper towels underneath to absorb liquid

this is a great thermometer - I tape the lead at keet level on the wall

https://incubatorwarehouse.com/incubator-remote-thermometer-hygrometer.html

Thank you! I will look into that thermometer and try it out! Everyone seems to be suggesting puppy pads and shelf liners so I think I will take a look into those as well for my smaller keets so they have something better than just an old towel.

Thank you all for such amazing feedback.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

don't use cedar - I would not use wood at all under keets until they are a few weeks old - and then only pine shavings

for grit - make sure you get chick grit - I think it may be in the chick starter already so I also would be careful giving it too early - maybe after 1 week? - I raised tons of keets on game bird starter (24-28% protein) but chick starter will work, too - for the first week I gave them nothing but that and water

they tended to spill it so the feed would become bedding and be cleaned out with poo - oh well - otherwise just shelf liner in the brooder box for the first week I would say

if you make the box long enough, and put the heat lamp on one side, they can also move towards or away from the heat as needed - maybe others have said that already

 

[R2elk]

this is a great thermometer - I tape the lead at keet level on the wall

I measure the temperature right at the bedding level.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

I measure the temperature right at the bedding level.

Yup - that is best - I don't lay it in the bedding so they don't poop into the probe but as low as possible after that

 

[R2elk]

for grit - make sure you get chick grit - I think it may be in the chick starter already so I also would be careful giving it too early - maybe after 1 week? - I raised tons of keets on game bird starter (24-28% protein) but chick starter will work, too - for the first week I gave them nothing but that and water

There is no grit in starters. It is fine enough that they can digest it without needing any grit. Grit is needed as soon as they are being given treats or have bedding that they can possibly eat but can't digest.

The problem with using chick starter for keets is that it doesn't contain the levels of lysine, methionine and niacin that keets need for proper development. The lower protein levels aren't helpful either. Can they survive on chick starter, yes. Can it stunt their growth and lead to a shorter life span, yes. Can it lead to more than normal leg problems, yes.

 

[Sydney65]

The oil in the wood. Great bug killer, bad for guineas.

 

[Sydney65]

only way to know for sure is check the temp.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

There is no grit in starters. It is fine enough that they can digest it without needing any grit. Grit is needed as soon as they are being given treats or have bedding that they can possibly eat but can't digest.

The problem with using chick starter for keets is that it doesn't contain the levels of lysine, methionine and niacin that keets need for proper development. The lower protein levels aren't helpful either. Can they survive on chick starter, yes. Can it stunt their growth and lead to a shorter life span, yes. Can it lead to more than normal leg problems, yes.

R2elk, is this true for adults, too? I think feeding is a weakness of mine - remember when I killed one of my favorite hens with treats one winter? She died of a fatty liver that spring. Oh, I was so upset. Now I worry about what you said: I am feeding layer pellets to the adults because I wanted to get organic feed and the game bird feed is never organic. Am I hurting my adults with that? Should I go to game bird feed with the higher protein even if it has pesticides in it? Some game bird feed also has fish meal, I think, and I am not fond of that (I am vegan myself and I think we kill way too many ocean creatures). Our flock does free range and eat bugs and grasses, etc. but they do eat a good amount of pellet food, too. Advice please?

Sorry to hijack the thread for this one question. May be of interest to you as well, when you have an adult flock (hopefully soon).