New Guineas

[collegegardener]

I just bout new guineas keets today. The person who sold them to me told me they are around 2 weeks old, but they are already feathering out and flying a bit. Could they be older? I have them in a smaller coop for now, and I plan on free ranging them once they grow up a bit. I have read that they will eat the same that I feed my chickens. Right now I have them on chick starter just like my chickens, is that okay? The lady I bought them from had them in a small pen with many ducks and no heat lamp. The weather is warmer here so I figure they will be okay. Any ideas or suggestions? This is my first time with both guineas and chickens and I have done plenty of research on chickens, but not so much on chickens.

 

[red horse ranch]

I just bout new guineas keets today. The person who sold them to me told me they are around 2 weeks old, but they are already feathering out and flying a bit. Could they be older? I have them in a smaller coop for now, and I plan on free ranging them once they grow up a bit. I have read that they will eat the same that I feed my chickens. Right now I have them on chick starter just like my chickens, is that okay? The lady I bought them from had them in a small pen with many ducks and no heat lamp. The weather is warmer here so I figure they will be okay. Any ideas or suggestions? This is my first time with both guineas and chickens and I have done plenty of research on chickens, but not so much on chickens.

At two weeks old they are getting a lot of feathers. But at that age they should still have at least 80 degree temperature. My little ones play outside in an open pen thru the day but are always under the heat light at night.
I start mine out in the house for two weeks with game bird food since keets need higher protein than the chicks do. But once they go to the brooder in the barn they are usually with chicks and they all eat chick starter. They just don't grow as fast with the lower protein chick starter.
Otherwise they need the same care that you would give to chicks at that age.

 

[collegegardener]

Thank you for the advice! I'll pick up some game bird food from the co-op tomorrow. I checked the protein percentage on the chick starter and was surprised that it was a bit low. It's 18%, I expected around 21%. It's been around 75-80 degrees here at night and around 90-95 during the day, but I can get them a light out there. Would it be okay to feed them live crickets and dried mealworms as well?

 

[red horse ranch]

Thank you for the advice! I'll pick up some game bird food from the co-op tomorrow. I checked the protein percentage on the chick starter and was surprised that it was a bit low. It's 18%, I expected around 21%. It's been around 75-80 degrees here at night and around 90-95 during the day, but I can get them a light out there. Would it be okay to feed them live crickets and dried mealworms as well?

I think so as long as they have a source of grit to help digest it. I give my one week old keets miller moths and they fight over them. Parakeet grit works well if you don't have sand available for grit.
At least 28 percent protein is recommended. The game bird starter I use is 30 percent.
If your nights are that warm they aren't likely to get too chilled. Our nights out here get down in the 50's. Yours wouldn't need much of a light. A 25 watt red party bulb would probably give them all the comfort they need.

 

[collegegardener]

Okay, sounds good. Would chick grit work? I offer my chicks that since I feed them mealworms and they free range.

 

[chickenmadness7]

I've been giving mine chick grit, sand, and a little bit of dirt too since they were 2 weeks old. They eat mealworms, greens, and other things too.