NIghttime Temps For Guineas

[MO-Chickie]

Hi folks - I finally took the plunge this year and got some guinea keets. They're completely spastic, stinky and LOUD...so all this hoodoo I keep hearing about what fantastic bug eaters they are better be true!

I think I had every garden pest known to man last summer, so I'm hoping these guys earn their keep by helping out with my plants.

Anyway, I've only ever raised chickens and they're awesome about heading back to the coop at sundown. The guineas will be housed in one stall of our old barn, rather than with the chickens. My husband has been working feverishly to get the the wire done and making it as predator-proof as he can. The keets are about 7 weeks old now, they've lost most all of their brown stripey feathers and are almost entirely polka dotted. They're eating me out of house and home so I want them in their permanent coop ASAP, but I can't find any info on suitable nighttime temps for them. Everyone just says they can go outside as early as 4 or as late as 12 weeks. Our lows right now are between 45-50°, which sounds pretty chilly. Any thoughts?

Also, I've been reading about how to get them back into the coop at night. Some recommend using long sticks to gently herd them in and some do a treat/call combo. Any opinions or what works for you? I'd prefer to have them in the coop rather than the trees just because we have a healthy owl and coyote population here in Missouri.

Thanks for any advice!

--Amy

 

[PeepsCA]

At 7 weeks they are pretty much fully feathered and don't need a heat source, but if you want to be a softy and baby them still... lol I'd just give them a 60 watt bulb in a brooder lamp to get under and use if they want/need it.

The herding sticks work great, but if they learn to come running for treats/yummies to a certain call, bell, whistle... or whatever, that will also greatly work to your benefit as far as getting them back in the coop goes. Be sure to always get them in before dark, consistently, making a routine of it each night so that they learn to go in/come running for yummies when you call them, and they will typically stick with it once it's established.

An attached covered run helps with the cooping up training... if you can build one, it will pay for itself with the frustration it saves you. I have trained 4 flocks with the treat call, some with a covered run, some without... and all my birds come running to the coop/pen for their nightly yummies.

 

[mkcolls]

We got our first guineas last June. First, middle, and last, yes, they are LOUD!!

When they are in our barn, their sound is deafening.


Either we are getting used to them, or they are getting less loud. They now spend almost all daylight hours outside, which helps. And in answer to your second comment about bug eating - our's are great! Since we had such a mild winter we are hoping that they take up the slack.

I checked our "Gardening with Guineas" book and she talks about uses the same guidelines as chickens for brooder temps, up to 6 weeks, when they are fully feathered. There was no mention about nighttime temps when released from the brooder with or without an added heat source.

My gut says yes, they should be fine. They are hardy birds that adjust to the outdoors quickly and naturally. But, I still would not move 7 week old keets from a brooder to outside temps that low. I'm a softy, I know, but I would wait for lows in the 60s.

Getting them in at night. They like to stay out as late as possible as they get older, and used to their surroundings. If possible have a light just inside the door that they will use to come in, or use a flashlight. They do not like to enter dark areas at dusk. We have used this time of day for treats, white millet. We also trained them while they were still in the brooder, saying, "treat - treat - treat," when we gave them their millet. Depending on the size of your property you may want to use a whistle or bell at the same time that you call for them.

Good luck, and buy ear plugs.

 

[MO-Chickie]

Thanks for the info - I'm going to start using treats and a call while they're still in the house. I think that would be WAY easier than herding! And I did read about them not liking to go into a dark building. My outbuilding doesn't have electricity but one article I read mentioned a cheapie tap closet light that's battery powered, so that might solve my problem if I remember to go turn it on at dusk. Anyway, I appreciate the replies. Thanks!

--A