New guinea owner...

[PeepsCA]

Quote:
Add a small mirror secured to the brooder/cage wall, it gives them the illusion that there are more keets in the brooder with them and may help calm/quiet them. Hopeflly they are just missing their hatch mates. Are you sure you have the correct temp under the lamp at just one end? If they are "feathery" I'd try about 85 degrees to start and keep an eye on them, are they panting, or huddled in a pile shivering? If so, adjust the lamp accordingly. I'd drape a sheet or towel over the warm end (or close the end in with cardboard) and ditch the heating pad, they need to be able to get away from the heat if they need to.

 

[Pecknscratch]

I'm suprised someone didn't direct you to the topmost post of the Guinea Fowl page.

Read through there and you will be much enlightened...I know I was.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Probably not warm enough do you have sides on the cage to keep out drafts. The temp should be around 95 degrees. You can cover the sides of the cage with cardboard to keep the heat in.

 

[Dutchgirl]

Below the heat lamp it is about 90 degrees, possibly more. It's a rabbit cage so there's a ramp they can go up to escape the heat. We tried mirrors and they love it! They've calmed down considerably, but that may just be because they're sleeping.

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

What if you have two Guinea's that hatched out the same time as 15 other chicks and you have kept the bunch to gether ?...should I seperate them from the pack ...there about three weeks old now ... I have been feeding that group scrambled eggs once in awhile ? along with growena for chickens ....help

 

[Dutchgirl]

Quote:
I read it too, it's really good! But it doesn't say much on the topic of keets.

 

[Dutchgirl]

Our feed store -- as far as we know -- does not carry 25-30% protein gamebird starter. It does have chick starter that can be fed to turkeys, pheasants, quail and chukar. Is it okay to feed this to guinea keets too? It is DuMOR

Chick Starter 24% Feed.

Right now we are still feeding chick starter/grower b/c that's all we have.

 

[Okie Amazon]

You can throw in a few handfuls of calf manna to up the protein a bit.

 

[PeepsCA]

Dumor 24% is a little better than chick starter as far as the protein level goes, but keets really should be fed a higher than 24% protein starter feed to develop and grow at the proper rate, PLUS they also need the Amprolium in a medicated Turkey, Pheasant or Game Bird starter feed (especially because you already have other poultry on your land). Dumor 24% is not medicated... and if you mix the 2 feeds the keets will still not get a high enough protein level nor will they be getting enough Amprolium to prevent and build their immunity to Coccidiosis.

Also, whatever feed you switch them over too needs to be a gradual change... mix some of the new food in with the old, gradually increasing the amount of new food every few days to avoid digestive system upsets (loose stools and keets that have tummy aches).

They are your keets and of course you can feed them what you want and I do understand the issues with not being able to find the correct feed, but IMO (strictly as a Guinea Fowl Breeder) they really should be raised on higher protein % starter feed that is correctly medicated.

 

[georgia531]

I would get rid of the hay ASAP...i have (had) 12 guinea keets, now I have 8.... they are 4 weeks old and were doing just fine until I put hay in the brooder.... there could be fungi in the hay... im not certain that's what made mine sick, but pretty sure... i lost 3 in a week and a half, and have a very sick one now... am treating with corid.