Bad smelling feces on Guinea keets

[SapphireVL]

Three days ago, we purchased a dozen guinea fowl keets ranging in age from a few days to two weeks from a farm some distance from our home. The family was listed as Guinea Fowl breeders, but they didn't take my husband into the barn where they kept the keets along with other fowl. The first thing I noticed when my husband brought the keets home was a foul smell coming from the box they were in. I read online that said stress will cause them to emit a bad, almost sour-like odor that is gross, so I attributed the odor to the stress from the long car ride home. We house them in a spacious, clean brooder box lined with paper towels that are changed at least three times a day. They have a heat lamp and a brooder heater and I check to make sure it remains at the required temperature. They are eating and drinking well, and I supplement their 28% protein starter diet with grit, some greens and ground up mealworms. The problem is that the bad odor has not gone away. Some of their poop is dry-ish, but most of them have a dark, runny stool that smells terrible. I almost gag when I change the paper towels. Is this normal or are the birds sick? They run around terror-stricken when I change their paper towels or feed them, but other than that, they sleep much of the time. I'm not sure if this is stress or sickness. Has anyone else shared this experience?

 

[My2butterflies]

I can’t say I’ve ever heard that before. Can you post a picture of their poop?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Three days ago, we purchased a dozen guinea fowl keets ranging in age from a few days to two weeks from a farm some distance from our home. The family was listed as Guinea Fowl breeders, but they didn't take my husband into the barn where they kept the keets along with other fowl. The first thing I noticed when my husband brought the keets home was a foul smell coming from the box they were in. I read online that said stress will cause them to emit a bad, almost sour-like odor that is gross, so I attributed the odor to the stress from the long car ride home. We house them in a spacious, clean brooder box lined with paper towels that are changed at least three times a day. They have a heat lamp and a brooder heater and I check to make sure it remains at the required temperature. They are eating and drinking well, and I supplement their 28% protein starter diet with grit, some greens and ground up mealworms. The problem is that the bad odor has not gone away. Some of their poop is dry-ish, but most of them have a dark, runny stool that smells terrible. I almost gag when I change the paper towels. Is this normal or are the birds sick? They run around terror-stricken when I change their paper towels or feed them, but other than that, they sleep much of the time. I'm not sure if this is stress or sickness. Has anyone else shared this experience?

Have you brooded chicks before? Do the keets smell remarkably worse or just a little stinkier? The high protein feed can make the poop smell worse than with chick feed, but not a night and day difference. Normal keets spend a lot of time sleeping, but also a lot of time running around and foraging. I’d be worried that your keets may have a gut flora imbalance or coccidiosis. If you have a trusted vet, they can probably take a mixed poop sample and look for coccidia. You could also try treating with Corid in the water, like the high dose for five days. For probiotics, I’ve used the save a chick probiotics with electrolytes in water, and weed or grass clumps with root ball and attached clean dirt in the brooder. I always provide chick grist as well. Don’t forget to monitor for pasty butt and clean them up as needed. I hope they start feeling more active soon!!

 

[SapphireVL]

Have you brooded chicks before? Do the keets smell remarkably worse or just a little stinkier? The high protein feed can make the poop smell worse than with chick feed, but not a night and day difference. Normal keets spend a lot of time sleeping, but also a lot of time running around and foraging. I’d be worried that your keets may have a gut flora imbalance or coccidiosis. If you have a trusted vet, they can probably take a mixed poop sample and look for coccidia. You could also try treating with Corid in the water, like the high dose for five days. For probiotics, I’ve used the save a chick probiotics with electrolytes in water, and weed or grass clumps with root ball and attached clean dirt in the brooder. I always provide chick grist as well. Don’t forget to monitor for pasty butt and clean them up as needed. I hope they start feeling more active soon!!

Thank you so much for your helpful response. I have not brooded chicks or keets before. I have a large brooding box with a divider -- chicks on one side and keets on the other. I was going to combine them, but wasn't sure if the guineas were healthy and didn't want them making my 10-day old chicks sick. The keets are a little stinkier, and a few of them have a dark, runny stool. I have been checking for and cleaning pasty butt daily. Only a few of the chicks and keets have had it. I will follow your suggestions and appreciate your taking the time to share your knowledge and experience!

 

[Sydney65]

I may be totally off base (I usually am) - and this'll sound weird, but could you take a pic of it?
When I had my 1st batch, I worried over loose stool, & swore they weren't drinking too much water. It took awhile before I realized that like rabbits, birds have cecal droppings that are dark,moist,stinky and sticky.
Don't assume I'm right, but if you post a pic I bet the pros can tell. - Rabbits were far more polite and got rid if theirs on their own.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Thank you so much for your helpful response. I have not brooded chicks or keets before. I have a large brooding box with a divider -- chicks on one side and keets on the other. I was going to combine them, but wasn't sure if the guineas were healthy and didn't want them making my 10-day old chicks sick. The keets are a little stinkier, and a few of them have a dark, runny stool. I have been checking for and cleaning pasty butt daily. Only a few of the chicks and keets have had it. I will follow your suggestions and appreciate your taking the time to share your knowledge and experience!

How are your keets and chicks doing?

 

[SapphireVL]

They are doing much better. I removed the divider and combined them. Everyone seems happy and healthy. Thank you for checking in!