Chick survival is not on the mother Guinea's mind. Like has been said they are from a dry area and they're rearing technique reflects this.
I always kept them penned, gathered eggs and incubated them when I was hatching Guineas to sell. The chicks are very hardy once started and feathered out...
I have never seen a possum yet that didn't have ticks on them in tick weather. I think someone got that myth turned around and it's really ticks eat possums.
Look into racoon roundworm all racoon cohabitators.
The op lives in California if I read her post correctly, I have no idea what she is allowed to do about wildlife there.
Explain this part please.
From my experience cracked corn is whole corn processed through a roller mill without an separation of the resulting product.
As long as you can tell any potential mixed offspring I wouldn't worry after the first week of switching roosters.
After a week start saving eggs to set, to many things can go wrong to wait a month for a declining possibility to reach near zero.
A cement mixer will do a good job. I've seen a bucket sized mixer they you roll on the ground, I think it was for making decorative patio or walkway papers. It would be good for real small batches.
Interesting, my lazy self had never actually looked into feather fixers formula,never crossed my mind. I started my first bag of Nutrena chick starter few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised at the ingredients that were listed on the tag.
It's a chance you take ordering chicks this time of year, I've ordered and had an entire order die because they got caught in bad weather. I usually watch the weather and order when it looks good usually a week or so ahead of time, you have to be flexible and roll with the circumstances.
Wow I...
We have things coming up that what not sure what they are, time will tell. It's my inlaw's house even though we have been here numerous times you don't always pay attention or note what is where.
Go for it if that is what you want to do. Trying new things is how we learn and get experience. I would recommend that if this is your first time raising chickens to raise them on premade feed to give you a baseline to work from when you start experimenting with making your own feed.