Can we have our Guineas nutered?

[johnpitt]

We have 3 male Guineas who are going crazy trying to find female Guineas. Since we want to keep our Guineas without getting any females. Can we get our guineaas nutered,so they will hopefully calm down and keep from roaming to places they are not welcomed.
We love our Guineas and are concerned how nutering may change their personality. Please help

 

[MissPrissy]

That is the nature of a guinea. Trying to caponize them won't change the roaming behavior. That is nature's instinct. In fact the caponizing - if they survived it - would just cause them to grow bigger faster.

 

[greathorse]

I have never heard of anyone caponizing a guinea but I would imagine it would be the same. It will be very hard to find a vet to do the procedure, you will likely need to do it yourself. It was at one time a common on farm practice. It involves cutting into the bird and taking the testes from near the back bone. I bit dicey. There is a thread that will give you the needed information. A lot of folks practice on butchered birds before attempting it on live birds.

 

[MissPrissy]

Most people unskilled usually end up killing the bird. If not by infection by removing the wrong organs. Kidneys can look very much like the testes.

Also, how sure are you they are all males?

Even females run around like chickens with their heads cut off, screaming like a machine gun and wandering where they have no business.

 

[johnpitt]

Thanks for reply. Is there a danger to having Guineas nutered? That is the operation it self dangerous? As I said we love our guineas and would not even consider anything that has a chance of losing them . We have local vet who said she could do this. Please give us you feedback. Thanks

 

[MissPrissy]

I wouldn't do it. They are not dogs or cats. It will not change their roaming behavior or make them quiet.

 

[johnpitt]

We have had female guineas before so we are sure ours are males. And you are sure right it seems male or female guineas all seem to want to roam. Seems like the best answer is to get female guineas.

 

[rufus]

My reading on the internet indicates that caponizing is illegal in Great Briton. Where are you?

Rufus

 

[Akane]

Surgery on a bird is risky. All surgery on any animal is technically risky. Bad reactions to anesthesia, infections, too much loss of blood.... Many things can go wrong and mistakes can be made. That's if you paid a vet to do it under anesthestics which is going to cost you probably in the $100s per bird. Without anesthesia it's questionable if it's even humane (not surprising if it's illegal somewhere) and you'll have a much greater chance of losing the birds. In the end all the money or risk will get you nothing. When your guineas recover they will continue wandering just as far as before. You might have slightly less mating behavior towards other birds but if that's not an issue now you will have solved nothing. My guinea cock does have mating issues and seems set on breaking the roosters necks ever since breeding season started. I just locked him up for a couple days, clipped his toenails, and clipped one wing to hopefully chill him out and make him less capable of going after the roosters.

 

[MissPrissy]

Guineas reach an age where they become like warring gangs. They will attack and fight most birds in their territory. They will fight gang style and once they pick a target they are relentless. I have had guineas attack my turkeys and not give up until the tom nearly killed them. Not pretty.