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Female guinea acting funny

post #1 of 11
Thread Starter 
My female guinea has always been a outsider. She is usually 15 feet behind the 3 males, but the past few days she seems to not care about following them at all. I'm wondering if she is going to start laying eggs or if she is ill. She is about 8 months old.
post #2 of 11

Could be either, is she eating and drinking as usual? Is she interested in treats? Have you noticed if she has diarrhea or a wet vent area? My Hens sometimes act a little weird when they are starting to lay, so that could be it... or she may have a nest started already and she doesn't want to wander too far from it now, so maybe watch her and look around where she tends to linger.

 

Good luck, hope she's fine

 

highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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post #3 of 11
Thread Starter 
I think she is sick. Found her today stuck next to the basement window. When she flew out she was stumbling and walking backwards. I don't think she is eating at.
Do you think it could be Mearks? If so what would I do about my other guineas and my young chickens. They are only 2-3 months old and are not vaccinated.
post #4 of 11

I've never had, or even heard of Guineas coming down with Merek's so I can't say that's what's wrong with your Hen. With a mixed flock I guess it's possible tho. A vet would have to diagnose it to confirm it for sure, but that can be costly.

 

I'd definitely separate her, give her water with electrolytes and vitamins in it and try offering her some meal worms to get some protein in her, along with her regular diet, and see if she's eating. Keep her warm, (but not too warm) especially at night. If she's not eating she doesn't have the energy to keep herself warm...

 

Wish I could offer you more advice... good luck with her

 

highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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post #5 of 11
Thread Starter 
That's good to hear. My chick are young and not outside yet, so I don't think they gave to her.
She has always been off compared to the others. I'm not really even sure if she is female. She never buckwheating, but she is small and has a different look from the males, so I figured she was a girl.
post #6 of 11

Some Guineas just fail to thrive, for whatever reason. Usually genetics or systemic issues due to incubation problems, too much inbreeding within the flock, un-hearty/poor breeding stock etc etc. There's a lot of things that can/will cause failure to thrive, sometime's it's impossible to narrow it down. If she's always been "off", then I'd guess that her "defects" have possibly reached their peak, and are finally taking her down. Sorry in advance if you lose her :( I think it's a good idea to isolate her from the rest of your birds, just in case she does have something contagious tho.

 

highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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post #7 of 11

Nature space.

 

She could also be egg bound if she is laying. All that PeepCA is correct. I usually wrap them in a towel to calm them when handling them. If they are from outside. Water and electrolytes are very inmortant! I usually mix their Wild Game crumble with warm water to a smooth consistency leaning on the side of watery. They seem to like this esp. when ill.  Check her every few hours to see her behavior. I also make sure they have plenty of Oyster shell around for the missing calcium. Had one act as you are saying and she laid an egg 2 hours later with no shell., just membrane. It still took her a couple of days on her own to act strong enough to go back out with the others.  

 

Good luck with her. Let us know what happens.

 

Daylily

Three guineas- one male ,two hens. One great supportive husband. 3 Japanese Chins. 4 grown children but no grands yet.

I am a huge gardener of flowers and some veggies. 

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Three guineas- one male ,two hens. One great supportive husband. 3 Japanese Chins. 4 grown children but no grands yet.

I am a huge gardener of flowers and some veggies. 

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post #8 of 11
Thread Starter 
Thanks to both of you.
She has never laid an egg, as far as i know. They free range so I'm not sure. I haven't been giving oyster shell, just forgot to put it out. Doh! My chickens are still young so they haven't needed it yet.
So I put some oyster shell out today. She has a bowl of food and meal warms on top, but she hasn't touched it. I looked around, but no signs of an egg without a shell either.

If she Is egg bound, is there anything I can do about it? Will it eventually pass or can she die from that?

Until you brought up being egg bound, I figured she is just not healthy since birth, now I'm not sure.
Edited by naturespace - 5/7/12 at 7:06pm
post #9 of 11

Feel/palpate her lower abdomen area, you may be able to feel the egg if she is egg bound. There will be an obvious lump, don't squeeze too hard you don't wan to break the egg if you feel one. If she was egg bound and it burst, she'd be leaking and have a wet vent area. And yes they can die from it, if infection sets in,which is common from a burst egg. You can do a search in the Chicken forum here on BYC for egg bound symptoms ans possible treatments.

 

highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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highfive.gif~160+Guineas/6Flocks(18 Different Colors, plus assorted Pieds),3IB Peahens,1IB Peacock,2Pied Peachicks(HONK!),63Turkeys(2WildX,2Mottled BlackX,2NarriX&57Poults),26Coturnix&1Button Quail,14Silkies&2Showgirls(POOFBALLS!),5.5Horses(The .5's a Mini),1BLM Burro(Livestock Guardian),9MuttGoats(Brushers),2Rotts,3Red Heelers,7Lazy Cats,4FishTanks~

 

 

 

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post #10 of 11
Thread Starter 
Update: she is stilling around. Back with the flock and almost back to her old self. Keep in mind her old self is that that spectacular. Less stumbling and walking backwards today. I hope she is on the mend.

Thanks for all the great advice. It sure helps to have you guys a few clicks away.smile.png
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