WK #3

[Sydney65]

Wk-5 Not so little anymore, even the lavender has an impressive wing span, though still smaller. I've seen drop the temp by 5° every 3,5,7 days- I went w/7 given the size variance. The older birds have taken to roosting or just tucking in outside of the heat. When I got to 65°, I unplugged, as it stays 74° in the rm, no one seems bothered by it. I leave the window open until bedtime so they can acclimate to temps &noises from the great outdoors. I often catch them lined up staring toward window, assume d/t cicadas. Haven't had any issues this week. They are comical. The 2 mid size ones have white faces and remind me of ostriches, stretching their necks to see further. I still haven't figured out their coloring. I jumped the gun in thinking their feathers were in. They came,then they went (molting)& now others are developing.They still do well feeding in the pool,& I've taken to leaving them in there longer to roam.

 

[R2elk]

Wk-5 Not so little anymore, even the lavender has an impressive wing span, though still smaller. I've seen drop the temp by 5° every 3,5,7 days- I went w/7 given the size variance. The older birds have taken to roosting or just tucking in outside of the heat. When I got to 65°, I unplugged, as it stays 74° in the rm, no one seems bothered by it. I leave the window open until bedtime so they can acclimate to temps &noises from the great outdoors. I often catch them lined up staring toward window, assume d/t cicadas. Haven't had any issues this week. They are comical. The 2 mid size ones have white faces and remind me of ostriches, stretching their necks to see further. I still haven't figured out their coloring. I jumped the gun in thinking their feathers were in. They came,then they went (molting)& now others are developing.They still do well feeding in the pool,& I've taken to leaving them in there longer to roam.View attachment 1899653

There are two times that their colors can be figured out. The first is after they hatch and before they get any new feather growth. Then they go through molts until they have their adult feathers. Their adult feathers coincide with their bald heads. As near as I can tell, you have one Lavender, a number of Pearl Grays and I believe there are two Royal Purples. The Royal Purples are the ones with white on the side of their faces and squiggly lines on the top of their head. A solid center stripe on the top of the head (Pearl Grays, Lavenders, Buff Dundottes, etc.) means that they will be fully dotted as adults. Squiggly lines on the top of the head (Royal Purples, Coral Blues, Chocolates, etc.) means they will have partial dotting as adults. Just a solid color without any stripes or squiggly lines (Powder Blues, Sky Blues, Violets, etc.) means they will not have any dotting as adults.

 

[Sydney65]

There are two times that their colors can be figured out. The first is after they hatch and before they get any new feather growth. Then they go through molts until they have their adult feathers. Their adult feathers coincide with their bald heads. As near as I can tell, you have one Lavender, a number of Pearl Grays and I believe there are two Royal Purples. The Royal Purples are the ones with white on the side of their faces and squiggly lines on the top of their head. A solid center stripe on the top of the head (Pearl Grays, Lavenders, Buff Dundottes, etc.) means that they will be fully dotted as adults. Squiggly lines on the top of the head (Royal Purples, Coral Blues, Chocolates, etc.) means they will have partial dotting as adults. Just a solid color without any stripes or squiggly lines (Powder Blues, Sky Blues, Violets, etc.) means they will not have any dotting as adults.

Thank you! I thought mb Royal Purple from the charts, but the brown on the neck threw me off. This week the lighter outining on back feathers has become more pronounced. They're my most curious - ostriches.

 

[Sydney65]

Side note- I have a feeling that those who say they hand feed their guineas fail to mention that this stops at some point. The 3 grays pack a punch these days!!

 

[Sydney65]

Hi, Sadie! Out of all the stuff I've bought, the Blu Kote & Nutri-Drench seem most popular & common w/both guinea & chicken keepers. The Hen Healer may have it's applications, & it is blue, but it's gloppy/runny- doesn't seem to stay in place well. The coconut oil is handy for minor issues. - I keep seeing warnings abt not using the eggs/meat of hens treated w/just abt anything, including blue Kote. Not really an issue for me at this time, but seemed a warning to save the strong stuff for major issues. I haven't used the mite spray yet or the VetRx but fig.best to be prepared.
Yes, knew abt the cedar issue. This may sound silly, but when you say "pine chips" - cld you be specific-like a brand name or even a picture? Bc when I look it up,I either get referred to shavings, mulch, or bbq flavoring wood. This is my "major detail" for the moment, bc we used a design specifying the raised floor, which has been pointed out as a design flaw, but if I tell him "heh, you know all that hard cloth flooring you put down? Take it out-" it may turn out badly for he guineas AND me. Plus the base is in boxed sections, so taking it out would be hard for the birds to get over. that's 1" hardcloth.I have a rubber no slip/drain floor mat I may put down before bedding. -and the gap - yes, easy fix. As for being prepared - I tried. I've been accused of over thinking things before.... Good Luck!

 

[Sydney65]

Guinea Revenge -if you've ever had a dog dig through the trash can & then stare at you mockingly as if saying "that's what you get for leaving me home alone" - Everyone was fed and tended to early bc we were going out for our anniversary. When we got back, they had shredded their pad bedding, pooped beyond belief, created a lovely cement mixer which they then stomped in until their feet were good and covered. We returned to that mocking stare from the 6 of them, high-stepping it as if wearing galoshes.
Noticed the wattles on the bigger ones today. These must have been there all along- every once in awhile I'd notice something along the upper beak line but hadn't tried to pin one down to investigate.

 

[Sydney65]

Wk #5: After a cold, wet August, it finally warmed up, so I've been taking them outside for a few hrs a day. His schedule is dragging out finishing coop, out,so he put up a canopied dog kennel. The spacing of the wires is larger than desired- the lavender can walk in and out w/o problem. She doesn't stay out for very long,bc no one else can get through quite so easily. I know it's still a hazard, so I put press n seal Cling wrap along the bottom. (It actually works) & put fabric up to block most of the sun. They still find the spots of sunshine,huddle up,& pant, so I don't leave them out all day. I know they pant & they're going to be hot, but not sure at what point hot is too hot at this age. But they do have the outdoor grazing down.
I trimmed nails 4 days ago & they're still offended by that, so being stand-offish. That's ok- One finger gouging when being picked up was enough.
I switched to pine shaving bedding,put shelf in to raise their food & water. Have had no luck finding "chips", which makes me think mb Sadie has access to her own chipper or lumber yard.
Questions:
1. Shavings- I've read they'll eat the shavings but not a concern after a certain age? Is that bc of potential internal damage or just that they'll fill up on wood shavings instead of food?
2. I'm wondering if the lavender variation is just genetically smaller-"she" just doesn't seem to be growing like the others. She's become the biggest punk of them all, & her nails didn't even get trimmed. She eats;if anything, they seem to shelter her, so she's not bullied.
3. @R2elk - a few wks back, we had the discussion abt loose stools & causes. One of the larger grays still consistantly has unformed plops rather than the pellets the others do. Obviously eating & growing, doesn't appear otherwise distressed,doesn't drink anymore than the rest of them. Btwn the 6, they probably drink 3 oz a day. (Jug has lines on it). Shld I be concerned?
Have read stories of ppl starting off w/a few guineas & then ending up w/a bunch,& thought ppl are crazy. Now I catch myself thinking "next time.." before mentally smacking myself. "NO next time!!". Lol. But I saw the cutest chicks the other day....... (TBC...)

 

[R2elk]

1. Shavings- I've read they'll eat the shavings but not a concern after a certain age? Is that bc of potential internal damage or just that they'll fill up on wood shavings instead of food?

Eating the shavings is a problem if they don't have grit available. Without the grit they become plugged and normally die.

2. I'm wondering if the lavender variation is just genetically smaller-"she" just doesn't seem to be growing like the others. She's become the biggest punk of them all, & her nails didn't even get trimmed. She eats;if anything, they seem to shelter her, so she's not bullied.

Lavenders may well be on the smaller side especially if your Pearls are Jumbos. I don't have any pearls and my Lavender is pretty much the same size as my Coral Blues, Chocolates, Royal Purple and Sky Blues. Especially when younger it is not uncommon for a flock to be protective of smaller/weaker members. Unfortunately once their hormones kick in, it may no longer be the case. Adult flocks have been known to shun or attack weaker members.

3. @R2elk - a few wks back, we had the discussion abt loose stools & causes. One of the larger grays still consistently has unformed plops rather than the pellets the others do. Obviously eating & growing, doesn't appear otherwise distressed,doesn't drink anymore than the rest of them. Btwn the 6, they probably drink 3 oz a day. (Jug has lines on it). Shld I be concerned?

In most cases, loose stools are caused by water intake and/or diet. It can be caused by a change in diet. Since it is only the one, I would suspect that it is drinking more water than the others. Unless you are watching them 24/7 or have each of them on their feeders and waterers, I doubt that it is possible to know for a fact how much each individual is eating or drinking.

Have read stories of ppl starting off w/a few guineas & then ending up w/a bunch,& thought ppl are crazy. Now I catch myself thinking "next time.." before mentally smacking myself. "NO next time!!". Lol. But I saw the cutest chicks the other day....... (TBC...)

People tend to have a love, hate relationship with their guineas. They either love or hate them. They are unique birds and can be fascinating to observe.

I added a Sky Blue male to my flock this year. It took several weeks before the flock stopped trying to attack him through the wire on his cage. It took at least a half dozen releases before they stopped trying to kill him. He still has not been accepted into the flock but at least he can now walk around without being immediately attacked. He has learned to return to the coop earlier than the flock to avoid having to run a gauntlet in order to get into the coop. Hopefully he will get a mate next spring as there are now 7 hens and 6 cocks.

 

[Sydney65]

Wk #6-as you can see, everyone is growing, & Miss Nugget is still a shrimp. This is where they are during the day. When it's time to come inside, I open the door and they go to the brooder on their own. Last night I enticed them to come away from the brooder to "play" for a bit and stretch their wings. I know, it's time for the coop. but "someone" got distracted. I decided I don't like the hardcloth in the coop so I've put a board over it. Now I can do deep bedding method, or atleast try it, w/o worrying about it falling through. If himself agrees to my proposed perches & we get the locks on, they'll be able to move in this weekend. We're still going to side the outside but that won't affect them moving in.
I've seen debate on insulation, so that's this week's question. He found rolls of unused insulation- "reflective insulation"? It looks like foil w/bubble wrap in between. The coop isn't going to be air tight, so that part of debate shouldn't be an issue. There will still be venting from the roof and below. If we use it, shld we use it Inside or outside? Concern re pecking and eating?
Yes, I fit in the category of "love them". I found some sticknon mirrors for the coop, & have even looked at bird toys to put in there for them. There's a perch for caged birds that massages their feet and files their nails, made of concrete, but when I asked abt weight limits, thevresponse I got was to be asked "what kind of fat bird do you have in captivity?!"
Do they really only weigh 2-4 lbs fully grown?

 

[Sydney65]

Wk #6-as you can see, everyone is growing, & Miss Nugget is still a shrimp. This is where they are during the day. When it's time to come inside, I open the door and they go to the brooder on their own. Last night I enticed them to come away from the brooder to "play" for a bit and stretch their wings. I know, it's time for the coop. but "someone" got distracted. I decided I don't like the hardcloth in the coop so I've put a board over it. Now I can do deep bedding method, or atleast try it, w/o worrying about it falling through. If himself agrees to my proposed perches & we get the locks on, they'll be able to move in this weekend. We're still going to side the outside but that won't affect them moving in.
I've seen debate on insulation, so that's this week's question. He found rolls of unused insulation- "reflective insulation"? It looks like foil w/bubble wrap in between. The coop isn't going to be air tight, so that part of debate shouldn't be an issue. There will still be venting from the roof and below. If we use it, shld we use it Inside or outside? Concern re pecking and eating?
Yes, I fit in the category of "love them". I found some sticknon mirrors for the coop, & have even looked at bird toys to put in there for them. There's a perch for caged birds that massages their feet and files their nails, made of concrete, but when I asked abt weight limits, thevresponse I got was to be asked "what kind of fat bird do you have in captivity?!"
Do they really only weigh 2-4 lbs fully grown?View attachment 1913405