To Heat or Not to Heat.. that is the question.

[BoogieBug]

I just read,

"After 6 to 7 weeks, the keets should be fully feathered and you will be able to turn off the heat lamp. For the last week of heat, turn it off during the daytime only so they still have some gentle heat at night if it gets cold."

My keets turned three weeks of age yesterday. It's is 71° outside right now and they are asleep at the open end of the coop in the rain. I've been turning the heat lamp off during the day and I went out earlier to turn the lamp on and discovered them sleeping at the opposite end of the coop from where they normally sleep. The heat lamp is on in the covered end yet they remain, asleep, NOT under the heat lamp. Should I just leave the light off since they are apparently fine with sleeping in the rain without a heat lamp?!

Goofy guineas!! hee hee.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I just read,

"After 6 to 7 weeks, the keets should be fully feathered and you will be able to turn off the heat lamp. For the last week of heat, turn it off during the daytime only so they still have some gentle heat at night if it gets cold."

My keets turned three weeks of age yesterday. It's is 71° outside right now and they are asleep at the open end of the coop in the rain. I've been turning the heat lamp off during the day and I went out earlier to turn the lamp on and discovered them sleeping at the opposite end of the coop from where they normally sleep. The heat lamp is on in the covered end yet they remain, asleep, NOT under the heat lamp. Should I just leave the light off since they are apparently fine with sleeping in the rain without a heat lamp?!

Goofy guineas!! hee hee.

OK, first question is what kind of set-up you got that allows them to get in the rain----I would not think they were goofy, I would feel they just do not know that getting wet/soaked can lower their body temp and cause them to get sick and die? I feel like this----they are yours and you can raise them any way you want, but if you are asking for suggestions--- I would not have my set-up where they can get rained on, I would have the 'heat" where they can go to it and warm when they need to---just like they would do with their mother. 71 degree's is not warm enough for 3 week old---sure they can stay in that temp until they want to run warm up--or they would have to snuggle a lot to keep warm, so I would provide some heat but a big heat lamp is not needed---just a 25, 40 or 60 watt incandescent bulb burning low enough that its about 85 to 90 degrees in its warmest place below the light is all that's needed.. Good Luck!

 

[BoogieBug]

OK, first question is what kind of set-up you got that allows them to get in the rain----I would not think they were goofy, I would feel they just do not know that getting wet/soaked can lower their body temp and cause them to get sick and die? I feel like this----they are yours and you can raise them any way you want, but if you are asking for suggestions--- I would not have my set-up where they can get rained on, I would have the 'heat" where they can go to it and warm when they need to---just like they would do with their mother. 71 degree's is not warm enough for 3 week old---sure they can stay in that temp until they want to run warm up--or they would have to snuggle a lot to keep warm, so I would provide some heat but a big heat lamp is not needed---just a 25, 40 or 60 watt incandescent bulb burning low enough that its about 85 to 90 degrees in its warmest place below the light is all that's needed.. Good Luck!

This is the set up but I also have a tarp over 3/4 of the tractor with about 2' of the screened end exposed. The heat lamp has a 100 watt bulb and the temp in the covered area was 81° but not directly under the light which I'm sure was at least 85°F. last night was the first night they've ever slept at the far end of the tractor/coop. I thought it was odd but hey, this is my first go-round with guineas. I have no clue what I'm doing. Just taking it day by day.

 

[BoogieBug]

My keets survived their night in the rain. They were happily eating bugs this morning, and this afternoon when it was raining, the four of them were lined up, sitting on a log UNDER THE TARP looking out through the space at the bottom. I'm so proud of my lil goofy guineas!!