Raising Guide

How to Care for Guinea Keets

Baby guinea fowl (called keets) are more delicate than chicks but incredibly rewarding to raise. Here's everything you need to know from hatch day to 8 weeks.

24–26%

Protein needed in feed

95°F

Starting brooder temp

6–8 wks

Until fully feathered

⚠️ The #1 Mistake New Keet Owners Make

Using regular chick starter feed. Guinea keets need 24–26% protein — use a game bird starter or turkey starter. Standard chick starter (18–20% protein) leads to weak, slow-growing keets.

Brooder Setup

What You Need

  • Brooder box (cardboard, plastic tote, or wooden box)
  • Heat lamp with red or ceramic bulb
  • Thermometer to monitor floor temp
  • Pine shaving bedding — 2–3 inches deep
  • Game bird or turkey starter feed (24–26% protein)
  • Shallow waterer — marbles in base prevent drowning
  • Chick feeder tray

Key Tips

  • Draft-free: Keets chill easily. Keep the brooder out of drafts — a drafty brooder is one of the top causes of keet death.
  • Shallow water: Put marbles or clean pebbles in the waterer base. Keets can drown in as little as a half-inch of water.
  • First drink: When placing keets in the brooder, gently dip each beak in water. They need to learn where water is immediately.
  • Watch behavior: If keets pile under the lamp — too cold. If they crowd the edges and pant — too hot. Evenly spread means the temperature is right.

Temperature Schedule by Week

Week 195°F

Keep brooder draft-free. Dip each keet's beak in water when first placed in brooder.

Week 290°F

Keets become active and curious. Ensure waterers are shallow — keets can drown easily.

Week 385°F

Pin feathers start emerging. Keep feed fresh and plentiful.

Week 480°F

Feathering continues. Keets may start to vocalize their distinctive guinea call.

Week 575°F

Nearly feathered. Begin transitioning to grower feed if using separate starter/grower.

Week 6–870°F

Fully feathered. Ready to move outdoors in warm weather.

Feed & Water

🌾 Feed

  • 0–6 weeks: Game bird starter or turkey starter, 24–26% protein. This is non-negotiable for healthy keets.
  • 6–12 weeks: Transition to a grower feed, 18–20% protein.
  • 12+ weeks: Adult guinea fowl can forage for a large portion of their diet — they'll eat bugs, seeds, and ticks all day.
  • Grit: If feeding anything other than commercial crumbles, provide chick grit from week 1.

💧 Water

  • Always fresh: Change water twice daily. Keets foul water quickly with droppings and feed.
  • Prevent drowning: Use a shallow chick waterer with marbles in the base for the first 2 weeks.
  • No additives needed: Plain clean water is fine. Avoid adding vitamins unless a keet is failing to thrive.
  • Warm water: In the first days, slightly warm water helps keets stay warm internally.

Common Questions About Guinea Keets

What do guinea keets eat?

Game bird or turkey starter with 24–26% protein for the first 6–8 weeks. Standard chick starter doesn't have enough protein.

Can guinea keets be raised with chicks?

Yes, but watch for bullying — guinea keets are more active. Use a 24%+ protein starter to meet the keets' needs.

How long do guinea keets need a heat lamp?

6–8 weeks, until fully feathered. Reduce temperature by 5°F each week starting from 95°F.

How long before guinea keets can go outside?

At 6–8 weeks when fully feathered, provided outdoor temps are above 65°F at night.

How do you tell guinea keet genders?

It's nearly impossible until they're 8+ weeks old. Males and females look identical as keets. Voice is the most reliable indicator as they mature — females have a two-syllable call (buck-wheat), males a single-syllable call.

Ready to Hatch Your Own Keets?

Order fertile guinea fowl hatching eggs from our Cameron, TX farm. 80–90% fertility rate. Ships Priority Mail to all 50 states.

Order Hatching Eggs — $29.99/dozenRead the Incubation Guide