[click]

We will be using the back end of our small garage to raise guinea chicks that will eat the wood ticks, deer ticks and grasshoppers that are all over our farm yard. The chicks (keets) arrive after memorial day.



Ive been getting the garage ready by hand digging in a temporary power feed from my pole barn to the garage. Its over 75' long, phew. (yes GFI) Then I used existing wires in the garage, relocated some, installed a kill switch, light switches and outlets for the keet heat lamp. I also screened the little window openings and fixed the windows partially open for fresh air. Then I installed a roof top turbine vent so the garage wont get overly hot in the summer, no shade at all. It was 60 degrees and cloudy while I was doing the turbine vent, so it was pretty comfy up on the roof yesterday but then I found out it was 97 in Mpls, only 2 hours away from me. That was a defined cold front for sure. Northern MN at Boundary Waters had 36 degrees and Granite Falls had 100, thats 64 degree difference from top to bottom of the state, beat that Calif.

[greg1ontheedge]

Sounds like they'll be fine in the summer but aren't they gonna freeze in the winter? Doesn't it get like -50 where you are???

[keypilot]

that will be quite the chicken coupe. i wish my camaro had a home that nice

[X33D80]

Those Guinea chickens can make a whole lot of noise and with them around you won't need any watch dogs.

[sleepsinshed]

Originally Posted by greg1ontheedge

Sounds like they'll be fine in the summer but aren't they gonna freeze in the winter? Doesn't it get like -50 where you are???

Aren't you supposed to eat them in the Winter? Mmm... chicken...

[greg1ontheedge]

I thought these were pets!!!! Not dinner......

[69 merlinpro565]

Does your wife know that you will have some chicks in the garage?

She may get mad!

On a serious note, they are great for pest control !

Good luck !!

[click]

Wife cant wait to help raise the 'chicks' either. I tell my buddies how lucky I am that my wife will allow me to have 12 young soft fuzzy chicks staying with us
In winter they will be full grown and I will have insulated that back area of the garage with 4" fiberglass and then plywood paneling over the studs, the Guinea's then roost on ladder type planks. Sort of like laying a ladder at a 45 degree angle. They can stay warm with 12 of them together in that small area but when it dips below zero I will have elec. heater in there for them too.
If they eat enough ticks, they will pay for what it costs to house them. One person with lyme disease will spend over $200 worth of antibiotics and doctoring. I hope to spend less than that for all 12 Guineas, starter feed, and winter heat. Next year they will be mature and will start laying eggs. Their eggs are half the size of chicken eggs but better for you.
They make great watchdogs as mentioned earlier and can be good pets if raised that way, daily handling etc.

[click]

Ive been put on hold for another month. The hatchery had a bad crop of chicks, some fertility issue thats affecting Guineas all over the midwest. Alot of them are not hatching for some reason. They dont have enuf to go around with standing orders so now I have to wait for the end of June hatch oh well. Gives me time to do more fine tuning of the brooder.

[prostreet69camaro]

Watch out for the poop all over the place. LOL

[click]

Guinea's have good poop. Its not white milky like regular chickens and geese. Its actually somewhat dry and easy to clean up as well. More for having them

[Microgiant]

poop=free fertilizer. I pay good money for that stuff!