New to Guinea Keets...

[danielle2003]

Hello everyone!
So, today we got 9 guinea keets, 5 that look older than the other 4. I have never raised them before, so I have a lot of questions! How old do they look? I have a picture of the biggest and the smallest ones.
Also, I read that they can be tamed, and I would like them to be friendly. So, what ways can I tame them. Right now, they all move to one corner when I go in their coop. But I guess, it's because they've only been there for a day.
Do you have any tips on taming them?
Are there certain treats I can give them at the age they are?
Also, I currently feed them game bird starter, that's what the employee from the feed store said I should give them. When can I switch them over to lay feed (I read they could eat that when they're older.)?
Do they need a heat lamp? When we got them, their brooder didn't have one. I live in Oklahoma, and it can get a little chilly in the morning only.
Thank you for reading this long post. I would love to hear y'all's opinions!

Here's all of them:

This is the bigger one:

The smaller one (the guy at the feed store said they could be a week apart?):

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Hello everyone!
So, today we got 9 guinea keets, 5 that look older than the other 4. I have never raised them before, so I have a lot of questions! How old do they look? I have a picture of the biggest and the smallest ones.
Also, I read that they can be tamed, and I would like them to be friendly. So, what ways can I take them. Right now, they all move to one corner when I go in their coop. But I guess, it's because they've only been there for a day.
Do you have any tips on taking them?
Are there certain treats I can give them at the age they are?
Also, I currently feed them game bird starter, that's what the employee from the feed store said I should give them. When can I switch them over to lay feed (I read they could eat that when they're older.)?
Do they need a heat lamp? When we got them, their brooder didn't have one. I live in Oklahoma, and it can get a little chilly in the morning only.
Thank you for reading this long post. I would love to hear y'all's opinions!

Here's all of them:
View attachment 3252968

This is the bigger one:
View attachment 3252971

The smaller one (the guy at the feed store said they could be a week apart?):
View attachment 3252972

Congratulations on your new keets! They still look small to me - about 2-3 weeks? The usual advice is something like keeping a hotspot with 95 F the first week then dropping 5 F per week, so by that guide they would be kept at 85 F this week, including nights. With that said, some people start lower, like 90 F and some drop 10 F per week. There is a recent discussion on this topic where many BYCs posters use much lower temps.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/26120782/

As for feed, I use gamebird crumble for at least tue first month, then use chick starter. I only use layer feed at the beginning of egg laying season and then only for a few months to avoid injuring the kidneys of non layers, including the cocks.

 

[danielle2003]

Congratulations on your new keets! They still look small to me - about 2-3 weeks? The usual advice is something like keeping a hotspot with 95 F the first week then dropping 5 F per week, so by that guide they would be kept at 85 F this week, including nights. With that said, some people start lower, like 90 F and some drop 10 F per week. There is a recent discussion on this topic where many BYCs posters use much lower temps.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/26120782/

As for feed, I use gamebird crumble for at least tue first month, then use chick starter. I only use layer feed at the beginning of egg laying season and then only for a few months to avoid injuring the kidneys of non layers, including the cocks.

Okay, when is the laying season for them? How old are they before they get to that stage?

 

[danielle2003]

I don't have a thermometer, but I use an 120 watt red bulb that is held about one to one and a half feet above. They are eating, drinking and scurrying about, and not huddled together. Is this okay? Or should I heighten/lower it more?