Raising Guinea Fowl 101

[BlindLemonChicken]

I did a thing…

It was not a well-thought out thing but I knew I would need more sooner than later and there were no chicks at TSC just keets so I figured it was a sign

Anyway…they seem like they’re doing well and I am going to get them game bird starter tomorrow. I have 8 eggs due to hatch tomorrow that I was planning on throwing in the same brooder until I started poking around on this thread and realized that might be a bad idea. So I am going to set up a second brooder for the chicks. When the keets are off heat I have a dog kennel they will go into in the guinea stall until they’re big enough to mingle. The adults should be ready to let out to free range mid-April but I don’t think that will be enough time to let the keets out with them.

Am I missing anything as far as brooding goes? When I do let the keets out of the kennel can they roost as high as the adults or should I provide roosts lower to the ground? The guinea roosts are about three feet off the ground. A couple of them sleep on the edge of a feed trough that is equally high. There are 8 keets so I will need more roosts anyway.

 

[R2elk]

I did a thing…

It was not a well-thought out thing but I knew I would need more sooner than later and there were no chicks at TSC just keets so I figured it was a sign

Anyway…they seem like they’re doing well and I am going to get them game bird starter tomorrow. I have 8 eggs due to hatch tomorrow that I was planning on throwing in the same brooder until I started poking around on this thread and realized that might be a bad idea. So I am going to set up a second brooder for the chicks. When the keets are off heat I have a dog kennel they will go into in the guinea stall until they’re big enough to mingle. The adults should be ready to let out to free range mid-April but I don’t think that will be enough time to let the keets out with them.

Am I missing anything as far as brooding goes? When I do let the keets out of the kennel can they roost as high as the adults or should I provide roosts lower to the ground? The guinea roosts are about three feet off the ground. A couple of them sleep on the edge of a feed trough that is equally high. There are 8 keets so I will need more roosts anyway.

Unlike adult guineas, keets are good at accepting new additions.

I would add the new hatch to the same brooder. Of course watch carefully for any adverse reactions.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I would add the new hatch to the same brooder.

What about imprinting on chickens?

 

[R2elk]

What about imprinting on chickens?

I mistakenly thought you meant 8 keets hatching, not chicks. I would not brood keets and chicks together to prevent imprinting.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I mistakenly thought you meant 8 keets hatching, not chicks. I would not brood keets and chicks together to prevent imprinting.

Oh ok. I will stick with my original plan to put the chicks separate. I don’t really want the chicken chicks eating game bird starter either.

 

[R2elk]

Oh ok. I will stick with my original plan to put the chicks separate. I don’t really want the chicken chicks eating game bird starter either.

Other than the expense for the game bird starter, it is great for chicks too.