When can Keets be moved?

[Unicornlife3316]

They probably sense that! Also, make sure a predator - opossum, etc isn't making it's rounds. They will sound the alarm if something scares them. I had a opossum scaring mine, looking in the window and trying to see if she could open it.

They are fully fenced not only in their pen but they’re also inside our fenced yard. We’ve never had anything more than a rabbit in our yard, so I don’t think they’re in any danger at all. Our dogs roam the yard and are pretty used to seeing them out.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Ok well after some searching today I think I figured out what happened - there was a section of chicken wire they could get their heads under and I think they were trying to escape last night, and scratched their necks up. I fixed the chicken wire so they can’t get their heads through it and also put a door on the coop, now they’re all roosting happily and warm! They’ve been out all day today, I bought them some crickets, they got to chase a spider and a grasshopper earlier today so that was entertaining! They had a little meal worms snack before bed too!

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Ok so... one more question..

It’s supposed to rain tonight. I’m going to cover their coop with a tarp, make sure they stay dry. Think that’s enough or should I move them in?

 

[red horse ranch]

I think covering the coop would be enough if you still have the light on inside for them. And the coop door shut. They will likely be up on a perch anyway. Just make sure the tarp allows some air flow in to them. They need fresh air as much as warmth.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

I think covering the coop would be enough if you still have the light on inside for them. And the coop door shut. They will likely be up on a perch anyway. Just make sure the tarp allows some air flow in to them. They need fresh air as much as warmth.

Ok. I’ve been closing the coop door at night, the bottom of the coop allows for air flow and they still have a heat lamp. So hopefully they’ll be ok!

 

[sillyfab]

I purchased my first 4 Keets on March 24, they were born on March 18.

They have been kept in a cage under heat lamp at correct temps since purchasing. They’re very tame, they eat treats (meal worms) from my hand and sit in my lap to do this. They’ve been allowed to run around on the screened back porch searching for any and all bugs they can find. I’ve built a coop, with perches and space for a heat lamp if necessary, in a large dog pen that we didn’t use. I’ve used chicken wire to cover the top so nothing flies in and they can’t fly out. They’ve been fed 26% protein starter since day one and have done exceptionally well.

My question is, when can they move to this outside coop? I live in central Texas (College Station), so we are kind of in our rainy season, but it’s warming up. They can stay inside longer but they are getting SO big and I’m afraid they’ll injure themselves now that they’re trying to fly around their cage.

Any advice is appreciated!

Picture of them playing in the garden two weeks ago!

I will follow this thread if you dont mind new to baby keets

 

[red horse ranch]

I will follow this thread if you dont mind new to baby keets

We'd love to hear about your babies!

 

[sillyfab]

We'd love to hear about your babies!

Thank you we just picked our up our babies from the local feed store to help with our tick population and seemed I got bit by a bigger bug. I just love these babies. I dont know if I am an empty nester or what ... I want to make sure i make their life comfortable and stress free. We have a total of 12 so new they have their cords still attached. The feed store sold us gamebird feed and i found the bits too large and blending the feed in a blender and this is helping. I see they are eating much more and seem happier. This will be a journey. Thank you for letting me tell you about them.

 

[red horse ranch]

Thank you we just picked our up our babies from the local feed store to help with our tick population and seemed I got bit by a bigger bug. I just love these babies. I dont know if I am an empty nester or what ... I want to make sure i make their life comfortable and stress free. We have a total of 12 so new they have their cords still attached. The feed store sold us gamebird feed and i found the bits too large and blending the feed in a blender and this is helping. I see they are eating much more and seem happier. This will be a journey. Thank you for letting me tell you about them.

I often have to grind the feed a little smaller for keets. They are tiny! They must have been really new to still have the cords. I've found that keets that have been moved or shipped will get often pasty butt for the first week so watch for this. Any poop that sticks to their rear needs to be removed. Hopefully you won't have to deal with it. Otherwise they are very easy to care for at this stage.
Any time you have questions about them feel free to ask. There are a lot of guinea lovers on here.

 

[Unicornlife3316]

Congrats on your new babies!
I kept mine inside until 5-6 weeks old when it was warm enough outside for them to be OK. I put a heat lamp in their coop for the first few days to make sure the night temps didn’t get too cold for them.
Now they are returning themselves to their coop each night and I don’t have to go chasing them.