Can anyone explain this behavior?

[Arztwolf]

Peepers has been doing this since I got him back at the end of May. Even though his beak hits the wire/bars, he is NOT aiming for the fence. He'll do this standing in the middle of the cage, on top of the feeder, and in my lap. He also appears somewhat "delayed".

The only living thing, besides me, he interacts with is Sunshine the BO pullet. He does appear to play "Mother Hen" to younger chicks. He didn't even try and fly till he was about 4 weeks and appears to be in his own world half the time.

 

[GlennLee]

Is he in a crate? If so, how much time does he spend in it? I'm wondering if it's some time of self-stimulation because he's bored. Is he a Pearl or a French Guinea? Mine are French Guineas and were late fliers and are still more hoppers and gliders than fliers. What does he do if you put a mirror up for him? Does he ever stop this behavior? If not, I'd say there may be neurological issues. Are there other Guineas for him to interact with or his he the only one? Sorry, so many questions, but I'm trying to figure out what may be happening here.

 

[Arztwolf]

Is he in a crate?  If so, how much time does he spend in it?  I'm wondering if it's some time of self-stimulation because he's bored.  Is he a Pearl or a French Guinea?  Mine are French Guineas and were late fliers and are still more hoppers and gliders than fliers.  What does he do if you put a mirror up for him?  Does he ever stop this behavior?  If not, I'd say there may be neurological issues.  Are there other Guineas for him to interact with or his he the only one?  Sorry, so many questions, but I'm trying to figure out what may be happening here. 

He lives in a 5X10 dog run with a BO pullet and another guinea. He's a peral. He can see and interact with three other guineas. He does flap and run, but has never shown interest in roosting. He is caged for his own safety due to the fact he is oblivious to things around him. A week after i got him i noticed his feet where curled, but they have since straightenend out.

He ignores mirrors and as a chick ignored all living things except for me. The behavior stops and starts. It reminds me of Autistic stimming.

 

[GlennLee]

I wonder if being able to see through the chicken wire is an issue? Will he do the same thing if there's something that blocks his sight like cardboard? From the sound of what you are saying about all of his behaviors, I think there is something that's not right with him - cognitive or neurological. Maybe his feet have something to do with his unwillingness to perch or fly. Even though they have straightened out now, he may have a learned helplessness or a physical issue that doesn't allow him to grip so he's afraid to do it. Have you tried a little perch for him to hop on? When my Guineas were keets we gave them little perches to hop on ranging from 3 - 8 inches off the ground. As they grew, so did their perches! Even putting a small box or a piece of firewood in the area might encourage him to hop on it. He may have perceptual and motor problems too that contribute to the behavior. I guess it just depends on what lengths you want to go to and what you can tolerate with his behavior. He's a handsome fellow and it could be worse - he could be aggressive....

 

[Arztwolf]

I wonder if being able to see through the chicken wire is an issue? Will he do the same thing if there's something that blocks his sight like cardboard? From the sound of what you are saying about all of his behaviors, I think there is something that's not right with him - cognitive or neurological. Maybe his feet have something to do with his unwillingness to perch or fly. Even though they have straightened out now, he may have a learned helplessness or a physical issue that doesn't allow him to grip so he's afraid to do it. Have you tried a little perch for him to hop on? When my Guineas were keets we gave them little perches to hop on ranging from 3 - 8 inches off the ground. As they grew, so did their perches! Even putting a small box or a piece of firewood in the area might encourage him to hop on it. He may have perceptual and motor problems too that contribute to the behavior. I guess it just depends on what lengths you want to go to and what you can tolerate with his behavior. He's a handsome fellow and it could be worse - he could be aggressive....

He did it while siting on my lap back when I had him in a brooder in my room. When he was about 2-3 weeks old is when I noticed something was a little "off" with him, he would ignore the other keets and would walk around the brooder doing the opposite of what the others were doing; if they were asleep, he'd be off investigating something, etc. He also appears to be oblivious to body language. He barrels through other birds and when he was a baby he'd sort of bulldoze into the pile.

I've tried perches of various sizes, types, and materials and nothing interests him. He's never really tried to get on a perch. He does sit on top of the covered cat box I have in there. He also seems oblivious to the fact that he gets rained on.

I am really glad he's not aggressive, I don't know what I'd do if he was. For now he gets to live in the nursery and take care of the 3-6 week old chicks. He seems to enjoy doing that.

 

[GlennLee]

Well, I don't have a diagnosis for your concerns, but I'm wondering if he's been a victim of inbreeding. I just read on another thread that foot and beak problems can be caused by inbreeding. I'm not sure what his bloodline is, but that might explain a lot..... At least he's happy in the nursery, isn't aggressive, has bonded with you and sits on the cat box. I guess if you're fine with that, he will be too. I wouldn't make any plans to breed him though.... just sayin'...

 

[Arztwolf]

Well, I don't have a diagnosis for your concerns, but I'm wondering if he's been a victim of inbreeding. I just read on another thread that foot and beak problems can be caused by inbreeding. I'm not sure what his bloodline is, but that might explain a lot..... At least he's happy in the nursery, isn't aggressive, has bonded with you and sits on the cat box. I guess if you're fine with that, he will be too. I wouldn't make any plans to breed him though.... just sayin'...

Most likely.
The guy I got him from had another with a similar "issue", except his, a female named Luna, was almost catatonic. Loved to be picked up and held, but acted nothing like a Guinea Fowl. We think she may have been the mother.

Oh, I don't plan on breeding him! He's never even shown any sign that he notices the other Guinea Fowl even exist!When I first put him in the pen the others ran up, hackles (well, the Guinea Fowl equivalent), and attacked the fence. They squawked and trilled and pecked while he just stood watching them like they were an exhibit at the zoo.

 

[GlennLee]

Bingo! I think you figured out the root of his problems... good luck!

 

[Arztwolf]

Bingo!  I think you figured out the root of his problems... good luck! 

I just ordered 6 keets from Ideal, hopefully they'll be normal. Can a Guinea be normal? I swear these things are from Mars.

 

[GlennLee]

I'm not familiar with that company. Mine came from JM Hatchery in PA and I had to order 15 minimum for optimal travel. I hope you have good luck with yours. They are a lot of work when they're little with the heat lamps, food and water requirements and handling, but it's well worth it when they're adults, since it's the only home they've known, there isn't a transition period. Yes, there is a normal for Guineas, but it's normal on their terms - ALWAYS! That's what makes them so entertaining and addicting.