My first experience of raising guinea fowl « Farming Friends Forum

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My first experience of raising guinea fowl

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Started 4 years ago by MeliaMary
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MeliaMary
Member

I picked up 25 day old keets on Friday 16th January. They were tiny and looked very vulnerable. I had already prepared a home for them - a flat pack 'hutch' that I assembled myself. That was a bit of a triumph as I am not at all handy. I lined it with wood shavings which I covered with old towels.

I also managed to arrange a 100W bulb which hangs ingeniously through the top - I am rather proud of myself.

When I put the keets into the hutch they were very nervous. I gave them warm water with sugar in it and some turkey starter food and they very soon calmed down. I left them largely alone for the first 12 hours or so but I had to clean out their accommodation from time to time which only involved changing the towels, the water and giving them fresh food.

I found that the recommended temperature of 35 degrees C was too hot for them. They were panting and looking stressed so I turned off the light for a while and they looked heaps better when the temperature dropped to 29C. Since then I have changed the bulb to a 60W and I can leave that on nearly all the time, though I still have to turn if off during the day sometimes (it is summer here - I live in Queensland, Australia - and the daytime temperature is in the high 20s.

I have now had the keets for 6 days. They have absolutely captivated me. This morning I gave them some chopped lettuce which they were very interested in. They are so competitive. One would pick up a piece of lettuce and they would all want that piece and chase around the coop trying to steal it, despite there being plenty for everyone!

I will add to this topic from time to time telling about their progress. Hopefully some people will be interested.

Posted 4 years ago #
admin
Sara @ farmingfriends

Hi MeliaMary,
What a great update on your guinea fowl keets. Well done on the brooder hut - it looks fantastic.

It is interesting that the guinea fowl don't need such high temperatures from the heat lamp as the air temperature is already high where you are in Australia.

It is funny watching the keets chase after the lettuce . It reminds me of a game of rugby.

I look forward to hearing more about their progress.

Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends

http://www.farmingfriends.com
http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

Posted 4 years ago #
steve
Member

Hi MeliaMary,

What a fabulous hutch you've got for your keets. It reminded me of last year when Sara hatched some keets which were similarly pampered in our kitchen. Sara found that using an old cloth (like you have) for them to stand on (to start with) worked the best for preventing splayed legs.

Good photos.

Steve (Sara's husband)

http://vintagetractorengineer.com/

Posted 4 years ago #
MeliaMary
Member

Thank you for you interest Steve.

I am devastated to have lost one keet this evening (my time). I tried everything - did my best, which is all one can do I guess. Still feel terribly sad though.

All the rest are thriving.

Will keep you posted.

Mary

Posted 4 years ago #
MeliaMary
Member

I have now had my keets for 18 days.

They have grown beyond my expectations and have outgrown the lovely little hutch I made for them. Today we spent four hours creating a new enclosure for them and they have just moved in.

There is room for them to fly and it is outdoors (but covered). I am keeping their original hutch in the enclosure with the light on so that they have somewhere to go to keep warm should they need to.

They were so amusing when I moved them out - I just left the door of the hutch open and left them to decide for themselves whether to come out or not. It took them about 20 minutes ... they peeped out and then retreated again and again. So sweet.

Now they are in and out quite confidently. They have a big feed hopper and water dispenser and I have given them chopped lettuce and apple on the ground (they LOVE that and I have been giving it to them three times a day).

The base of the new enclosure is concrete but there is a drainage channel running across it which I have covered with door mats because it has a grille which I think their little feet could get trapped in.

It will be easy to sweep and hose down the floor when required. I will continue with the towels as bedding in the hutch and intend to shut them up at night. I am also intending to chop grass for them now - I would rather they were in a grass based enclosure but that is not possible at the moment.

They are a joy.

Posted 4 years ago #
MeliaMary
Member

I think I am losing another one. I don't know why and I don't know how to help it ... so sad

Posted 4 years ago #
admin
Sara @ farmingfriends

Hi MeliaMary,
I am sorry that you have another sick keet. I would bring it indoors and keep it warm. I would try to make sure that when you bath the keet that the vent area dries quickly as droppings can sometimes stick to wet feathers more than the dry. I would also keep the keet hydrated with lots of water and plenty of water may also help to flush out the system.

I don't know how the vet system works in Australia but if they only charge for the medication if you go to the surgery as is the case in the UK, then you may want to take the keet to the vets or you could call them for advice. They may have a vet that is an expert in fowl and poultry.
It is always so hard when keets and chicks are ill as the symptoms they show could be a number of illnesses.
I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Sara @ farmingfriends

http://www.farmingfriends.com
http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

Posted 4 years ago #
MeliaMary
Member

I brought my sick keet indoors last night and was up several times in the night with it and by this morning it had produced a decent amount of droppings and looked a lot better. I have returned it to the coop outside where it ran around with the others and ate some chopped lettuce and some of the turkey starter feed - I am optimistic and will keep an eye on it. Thanks for your support.

Posted 4 years ago #
admin
Sara @ farmingfriends

Hi MeliaMary,
I am so pleased that your keet is feeling better. They always love to eat lettuce.

Get the Video Player

Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends

http://www.farmingfriends.com
http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

Posted 4 years ago #
MeliaMary
Member

Sadly I had to bring the sick keet indoors again as it was getting barged and buffeted by the others. I kept it in a box with a hot water bottle and food and water. It pecked at the food and seemed better away from the others. In the evening it had gone downhill and I kept it on my lap in a towel and encouraged it to drink water from an eye dropper. I couldn't do any more for it and eventually it just gave up. I was terribly sad.

The others are all doing really well and their new run is so easy to hose down and brush out with a broom.

They hate it when I do that because they are deprived of their freedom for half an hour or so but when I have finished I give them a big heap of chopped lettuce and they forgive me!

I will send some more photos soon.

I loved the video of your keets pecking at the lettuce Sara. Mine are a lot bigger than that now. They adore lettuce but when I mix in chopped apple they pick out all the lettuce and leave the apple. Don't really understand this as last week they seemed to love apple. Fussy little things, but I adore them.

Thanks for being there, I love this site so much.
MeliaMary

Posted 4 years ago #
admin
Sara @ farmingfriends

Hi MeliaMary,
I am so sorry to hear that your little keet didn't make it.

It is funny how their tastes for food change. As adults mine love apples more than they do lettuce but they loved lettuce when they were keets. They also like plums when they fall from the tree in the orchard.

I am glad that you like this site.
Kind regards
Sara

http://www.farmingfriends.com
http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

Posted 4 years ago #
MeliaMary
Member

Hello Sara and any other readers there may be

I have been away from the forum for a while due to severely burning my fingers which made typing rather difficult.

I am raising these keets to control paralysis ticks on our land.

We had five adult guinea fowl but have lost three of them - they are quite old now. Two is not enough as we have 6 acres of land.

Unfortunately last week two of this years lambs died due to ticks. They were called Lambchop and Rosie and both were hand reared as their mothers rejected them.

Lambchop was one of triplets. My ewes often bring up twins very successfully but I think three was probably just too much.

I also feel that Lambchop and Rosie were more vulnerable to these ticks as they didn't get the important colostrum from their mothers' milk.

My keets have been moved again since I last wrote about them.

This time we moved them to a new coop we constructed in the paddocks utilising an old shed that used to house alpacas (before we bought this place).

They have been doing very well out there, perching on the rafters and surviving without additional heat.

I go out three times a day with chopped lettuce for them. This causes great excitement.

The two adult guineas have realised that these babies are the same species. At first they totally ignored them but now they are never far from the keets.

Yesterday I found one of the little ones was sick so I caught it to bring it into the house and check it over. I had a frightening experience - one of the adult guineas attacked me. It was obviously protecting the baby. It flew at me screeching, pecking, flapping its wings and kicking out with its not inconsiderable claws. Luckily I had the board on which I had chopped the lettuce and I was able to use that to protect myself. Looking back on the incident I feel quite glad about it as it means that those little keets are going to be well guarded!

They have started escaping from the new coop so this morning I have left the gate open so they can free range should they choose to do so.

I am hoping that I can get them back in the coop at night. If not, I trust they will perch in the trees like the adults do. Our property is very well fenced but we have seen foxes.

When I left the gate open this morning a couple of them looked interested but they didn't come out. One of the adults went in though and as far as I know it is still there, gobbling the keets' food!

I am going out in a while to see what is happening.

I have really enjoyed rearing these chicks - they have been a delight. I am rather sad that they are growing up so quickly but at least they can get out there and clean up the ticks from our property.

Best regards
MeliaMary

Posted 4 years ago #
admin
Sara @ farmingfriends

Hi MeliaMary,
Well I have finally managed to edit and upload your photos to your post and the photos are brilliant it is great to see the different photos of the keets, adults and housing as this is helpful and interesting to see. I love the photo of the keets perching on the branch.
I am so sorry to hear about your beloved lambs Rosie and Lambchop. I am going to learn more about this paralysis tick so that I can write about it to warn others of it's danger to sheep.
Your new hut for the guineas looks great, plenty of room for them.
I hope that your fingers are much better now.
I like you think raising guinea fowl is a real delight, they have such quirky characters. Here at farmingfriends I have guinea fowl, hens, ducks and quail and it is interesting to see the big differences between each.
I look forward to more updates.
Kind regards
sara @ farmingfriends

http://www.farmingfriends.com
http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

Posted 4 years ago #
MeliaMary
Member

Hi Sara

I had to delay allowing the keets to free range because of foxes. We have a trapper here at the moment and he has managed to shoot one. He has seen two though so we are being very careful.

I have now started letting them out during the day and putting them back in the coop at night. They are very good and all come rushing towards me when I go out just before dusk with some chopped lettuce and call them. They recognise my voice without a doubt. The adults have learnt that they are not allowed to stay in the coop with the babies overnight and they perch in the nearest avocado tree, keeping watch. This is wonderful because if they see a fox they immediately raise the alarm. Anyone who hasn't kept guinea fowl would be amazed at the noise they can make! That is how our trapper shot one of the foxes - we knew it was there because of the racket the adult guineas were making.

The keets were very wary about going out into the big wide world at first but now they have got the hang of it and they love it. They are clamouring at the gate when I go out in the morning. The two adults stick with them all the time and one day when the keets split into two groups one adult went with each group. It is absolutely heart warming to see them taking such good care of the little ones.

I have some photos of the first day of free ranging which I will send you.
I am glad these reports are interesting to you. I love your daily farm updates. A friend in England recorded Ready Steady Cook for me so I will soon be able to see you on TV - your moment of fame!

At the moment we are on the edge of Cyclone Hamish and the weather is very wild and wet. The keets come out in the morning but they retreat back into the coop if the rain gets very heavy. I am having trouble keeping the food hopper full at the moment because the adults are sharing the chicks' starter feed! They are such wonderful guardians that I don't begrudge them their bonus!

I will keep you posted on progress.

Posted 4 years ago #
admin
Sara @ farmingfriends

Hi MeliaMary,
Well as you can see I have uploaded your fantastic photos. Your guinea fowl keets are definately enjoying the lovely Australian sunshine!

I hope that your trapper has managed to get all the foxes.

It is lovely to hear that the adult guineas are like guardian angels.

I hope that cyclone Hamish has not done any harm and that you are all safe.

You'll have to let me know what you think of my TV appearance!

Once again thanks for the fantastic photos and the update.

I am still waiting for my guinea fowl to start laying which hopefully will be any day now! The sun has begun to shine so Spring really feels like it is here.

Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends

http://www.farmingfriends.com
http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

Posted 4 years ago #
sarahj
Member

What lovely photos! Are those pearl and lavender?

Posted 3 years ago #
admin
Sara @ farmingfriends

Hi Sarahj,
Glad you like Meliamary's photos. Yes the keets are lavender and pearl.

Here is Diana my pearl guinea fowl.

Here is Camilla my lavender guinea fowl.

Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends

http://www.farmingfriends.com
http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

Posted 3 years ago #

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