Are Guineas SUPPOSED to smell bad?

[sparkles2307]

The guinea keets we just got smell BAD. Like, rank dog-poop bad. I thought they would be just like chickens, if not cleaner and less smelly... granted, they were stressed and in a box, but they were only in the box for maybe 10 minutes and it was so bad that we had to open the window in the pickup. DH said I cant keep them if they are going to smell like this. Is it because they werent eating the right food or stress or what?

 

[damselfish]

Yup, ours smelled just awful when they were young. You definitely did not want to be downwind of them. I have no idea why since their coop was clean, and these days they don't smell at all. It actually made me wonder if it was some kind of defense mechanism...i.e. don't eat me, I'm actually made of poo...

 

[R2elk]

Well I never. Are they the only game birds to do this?

I never noticed the claimed bad smell with any of my guineas.

Their coop with insufficient ventilation did smell bad due to the higher protein in their feed.

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

My keets don't smell. The keets themselves smell like chicks - a little feathery. The poop smells like poop - but it's certainly not worse than chicks!

If yours smell really bad, I would worry that they are diseased. Maybe someone else will have more hopeful advice?

 

[sparkles2307]

well now I'm all in a sweat to get home and sniff my guineas.....Does that make me a huffer?

 

[lorad]

Mine don't smell until you try to handle them- I don't know if they let loose with stools or what but they are bad smelling when scared. The birds are healthy, 1-2 years old, and quite happy until you try to catch them. Between the smell and the claws, gloves are a good idea when handling them. Ick..
Lora

 

[Lanne]

It's a stress response. I get that reaction when I catch one that didn't go back in for dark and have to catch her and carry her in. It doesn't stay around.

 

[sparkles2307]

Oops forgot to add there are 4-5 2week olds and 7-8 2day olds...

 

[whitecra]

Mine didn't smell bad at all. I don't know what to tell you.
Chris

 

[sparkles2307]

Crap! Well, I will check tonight, after they have had a full 24 hours in the brooder to see if they still smell.... if they do, I guess I wont be adding the new chicks to THAT brooder...