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.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

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

Good to know! We’ll see how this hatch goes—I’ve never incubated anything before so it’s an adventure haha. I set 8 eggs and they were all active before lockdown. They’re pipping now so