Newbie brooder & supplement questions

[R2elk]

I'm not sure why everyone is against the acv and garlic. All of my birds have gotten it from day one and just raised my first batch of guineas on it. Got 30 guineas in early March, lost one a couple days later and one a few weeks later (I believe they trampled that one to death). Every time I changed water I put about 1 tbls of acv per quart and 1 med to lrg clove of garlic smashed into the water. I fed them organic turkey starter the first few weeks and gradually switched them over to organic chicken starter/grower which they all remain on today. I never added anything else to their water or food. I used a 16x16 heat plate but certainly could have used bigger. They are now hanging with a dozen full grown hens and enjoy going into the one with them. Just wish I knew all the tricks to get them in at night

There is no proof that ACV helps. There is proof that ACV can be harmful. I have read other places that state garlic can be harmful.

I personally tested ACV and found it to be far worse than without it. I use no supplements and my keets do fine.

ACV can work for people because of the placebo effect. There is no placebo effect for birds or animals.

 

[Sydney65]

I'm not sure why everyone is against the acv and garlic. All of my birds have gotten it from day one and just raised my first batch of guineas on it. Got 30 guineas in early March, lost one a couple days later and one a few weeks later (I believe they trampled that one to death). Every time I changed water I put about 1 tbls of acv per quart and 1 med to lrg clove of garlic smashed into the water. I fed them organic turkey starter the first few weeks and gradually switched them over to organic chicken starter/grower which they all remain on today. I never added anything else to their water or food. I used a 16x16 heat plate but certainly could have used bigger. They are now hanging with a dozen full grown hens and enjoy going into the one with them. Just wish I knew all the tricks to get them in at night

Tricks to getting them in is whatever you train them with. Some ring a bell or call to them. I started off shaking a lg coffee can filled w/their treats when they were keets & from there we graduated up to just clapping my hands. I clap, they come running, I step to the side while they file into the run 1 by 1.
Our routine is such that they know when they come marching in, I'll have cleaned the coop, refilled their food & water, & left a snack for them from the garden.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Tricks to getting them in is whatever you train them with. Some ring a bell or call to them. I started off shaking a lg coffee can filled w/their treats when they were keets & from there we graduated up to just clapping my hands. I clap, they come running, I step to the side while they file into the run 1 by 1.
Our routine is such that they know when they come marching in, I'll have cleaned the coop, refilled their food & water, & left a snack for them from the garden.

That sounds like such a sweet scene, Sydney! I started with a triangle but switched to whistling when I lost part of the triangle… Mine are way too naughty to just march into their coop and eat treats, so you sprinkle treats around outside the coop to minimize conflict. Lately I have been mostly doing this so that I can get hens off of the coop nest and collect eggs!

 

[Sydney65]

That sounds like such a sweet scene, Sydney! I started with a triangle but switched to whistling when I lost part of the triangle… Mine are way too naughty to just march into their coop and eat treats, so you sprinkle treats around outside the coop to minimize conflict. Lately I have been mostly doing this so that I can get hens off of the coop nest and collect eggs!

I'm still learning about their likes. Nugget went bananas over radish greens today. Rosie lopped off the tops of my still planted onions. They all like the cauliflower,brocolli, cabbage leaves, and borage. Instead of chucking weeds I pull now I hand over the chickweed. Dandilion, lambsquarters, etc. -renewing my herbal weed memory.
The sight of them racing when I clap reminds me of clumsy puppies(-waddle waddle).
I wasn't sure how it was going to go after the recent losses, bc Blue was always the "leader" - first to get to me and led the rest inside. But they've sorted it out & Mama Rose takes lead now. She always has to stop before going in like she's checking to see if I've changed anything.
The easiest way to throw her off her game is to leave a small block of wood chips on the floor in there. She freezes and stares at it, bc THAT wasn't there when she left. You'd think by now she'd be used to it. I do the cleaning a leave a fresh bundle of bedding, SHE gets to spread it!

 

[Swamprat2020]

Hi apple acres, congratulations of your upcoming new “confusion” of guineas!!! It sounds like you’ve done your homework and are really prepared! For our home hatched Keets, I don’t do anything special with supplements. If the keets are being shipped, I think they tend to arrive in rough shape, so I would give Nutridrench (change water daily) to try to get them back to health as quickly as possible. Present finely crumbled feed in a shallow wide dish until they are eating well. I’d also dip beaks in the water for each as you unpack into your brooder.

I have a plastic tote brooder like that with wire for the top. I’d never use a high wattage bulb there; I use a 100-150 watt red reptile light for a small brooder like that, with a towel over the other half of the brooder to keep in heat. Even those bulbs are dangerous - wire it on so it doesn’t slip and melt the plastic! To measure temps, roll up a towel so the top is about 1-2 inches off the floor. Put your temperature probe on top of the rolled up towel, touching the surface. Add your towel cover etc and check the temp after an hour or two. I also have a brooder plate I use in the tote and prefer it for safety. I make one side higher than the other so chicks and keets can find their preferred temp and keep from getting burned. Depending on the size of your plate, they can likely all fit for a week or two. Measuring temps with the brooder plate doesn’t really work - feel whether the plate is warm to almost hot and look at the height and keet behavior.

I’d leave them all in that brooder together but really do move out quickly as keets grow fast. Best way to monitor their temps is with continued thermometers at warm amd cool sections of brooder (if using a light), plus looking at the behavior of the keets. Keets should be sleeping or active. They should huddle together where it’s warm but only part of the time. If they are huddled all of the time, they are too cold. If panting or staying away from the heat, they are too hot. Watch for pasty butt and clean promptly. When clean, applying Vaseline to back end helps keep poop from sticking. I don’t use wood shavings as I’ve had several die with presumed impactions; keets will eat everything! Best of luck - I hope you’ll post pictures and updates!!!

I feed my chicks and keets a mash from crumbles using water and organic apple cider vinegar. I've only had one chick get pasty butt. I wonder if this would work on human babies?