Guinea fowls are very common creatures. Like many birds, they need certain things and depending on their stage of development, weather conditions, or environment, Guinea fowls need a heat lamp.
Guinea fowls need heat lamps especially when they are younger and in the development stage. This allows them to stay warm and not freeze to death in their coop.
The use of heat lamps to Guinea fowls depends on a number of factors; your Guinea fowls might not need heat lamps, well, and how would you know considering the many factors that come to play when we talk about the need for heat lamps for Guinea fowls.
At the end of this article, you should be well informed to know if your Guinea fowls need heat lamps or not.
Using Heat Lamps to Raise Guinea Fowls
If you are a person that has not raised Guinea fowls before, you might not know that Guinea keets need heat lamps at the first stage of their development.
At this stage, when you are using heat lamps, we advise that you use a thermometer so you can accurately gauge the temperature in the coop/brooder.
Depending on the type of heater you use, the best indicator of how your keets are doing would be their behavior.
Do they seem comfortable to you or not? If you see them gathered around your heater, then they are cold, and the temperature in the Coop is not high enough.
If your keets are scattered all around and running away from your heat source, then the Coop is too hot, and you need to reduce the temperature. You could as well move the heater away from the fowls.
When the Coop is at the right temperature, the keets would be running all around the Coop without caring much about the heat source.
Heat lamps are the best source of heat for coops. They radiate heat better. The major downside is that they increase the risk of fire hazards.
Related: Here is an article I wrote on do guinea fowls mate for life?
Can Guinea Fowl Handle Cold Weather?
Guinea fowls are very resilient; they can endure cold temperatures more than other poultry birds.
This, however, does not mean they can survive in extremely cold weather and sub-zero temperatures.
If you want your Guinea fowls to survive longer than they ordinarily would, you need to shield them from extreme weather conditions and predators.
To do this, we advise that you provide shelter for them, well equipped with heat lamps and protected from predators.
You do not want your guinea fowls getting frostbite and being eaten by predators.
How cold is too cold for Guinea Fowls?
When it comes to the ideal temperature for the Coop and Guineas, minus 1 degree Fahrenheit is the least temperature that the Coop should be. From this temperature below, it becomes too cold for the Guineas.
Although guinea fowls are resilient birds, it is advised that you do not push their resilience too far. When it comes to temperatures you, should strive to give them the ideal temperature.
How long do Guineas need a heat lamp?
Guineas would need a heat lamp as long as temperatures are freezing and the birds are in jeopardy of being harmed by the cold.
Even though guinea fowls are resilient, they are not invisible. They have a threshold and should not be pushed to endure extreme temperatures.
So, when they need heat lamps, you should provide for them, as long as the temperature falls below the ideal temperature for Guineas.
How Do I Keep Guinea fowls in Winter?
Considering that guinea fowls are perennial birds, you most likely will experience a number of winters with them.
There are several ways you can keep guinea fowls in winter, but the best way involves shelter and a source of heat, preferably heat lamps.
Guineas are strong birds, but their feet are not as adaptive to cold as the feet of birds like ducks and chickens.
So if your area gets below freezing temperatures in winter, we advise that you properly care for your guinea fowls to prevent them from getting frostbite, losing their toes, or getting alarmed by snow.
You can let them out during winter but do not assume that they would eat snow instead of drinking water.
Be sure to always provide food for them because eating and the digestion process can be a great way for them to generate heat and regulate their body temperature.
Give them water and check to ensure the water doesn’t freeze over.
Are Guineas cold hardy?
This question gets asked a lot, perhaps because, from the sight of them, guinea fowls do not seem cold hardy; the truth is guinea fowls are cold hardy.
Part of them being resilient is that they can resist cold. The problem comes where they are exposed for long periods of time to extreme cold.
Compared to chickens and ducks, guinea fowls are very cold hardy.
Do Guineas need an insulated or heated house?
If you can afford to provide an insulated shelter for your guineas and also heat the house, then it is good.
If we had to choose, a heated house works better because we can control the temperature.
Whichever you pick, just be sure to provide your guineas with ample food, unfrozen water, and a dry floor.
Does guinea need a heat source for winter?
Though guinea fowls can endure temperatures as low as -1 degree Fahrenheit, you should not seek to expose them to such temperatures for too long because this can shorten their lifespan. You should provide a heat source for them during winter.
If the temperature remains sub-zero cold during winter, your guineas will need a heat source for winter. Please make sure they always have light in their shelter.
Light, heat, unfrozen water, feed, and dry floors are very important for guineas in winter.
Do Guineas feet get cold?
Guinea fowls are extremely resilient and resistant to cold; they can survive in conditions that could kill other less resilient birds.
However, their feet are their weak point, and it gets cold easily.
Other parts of guinea fowls are highly adaptive to extreme conditions but their feet.
Unlike the feet of chickens that have blood vessels running in them that help warm their feet, the feet of guineas are not so evolved.
Ducks too have this adaptive foot that chickens have; this is part of the reasons ducks can swim in extremely cold water, walk in the ice and not get frostbite.
Guineas, too, can walk in the snow, but they would be affected more than ducks. The feet of Guineas are prone to getting frostbite more than any other part of their body.
Can you let guinea fowl out in the snow?
Of course, you can let your guinea fowls out in the snow. It is a good way to get them to exercise. Just be sure that the weather conditions are not too hazardous.
A calm and snowy day is perfect for your guineas.
When you let your guineas out on a calm, snowy day, they will get to play about in the snow. Do not let them stay out for too long, though.
Do not be surprised when your guinea fowls freak out when the snow they step on collapses. It is quite funny to watch.
Conclusion
At this point, it should be well known to you that guinea fowls need heat lamps in certain conditions and at certain stages in their growth.
Training guinea fowls is no small task, which is why we seek to inform you as much as possible about it so that this task would be easier for you.
