I went to the feed store today and when I opened the guinea brooder I saw several of them dead. Two were in the process of dying. I notified the manager, and he was already aware of the problem. He said that they've been putting electrolytes in their water, but they've still been dropping like flies. *VENT* None of the people working there wanted to remove the dead birds, who were starting to get pecked at by their live buddies. They said something about a girl coming in later that evening who would take care of them. Just a little frustrating - okay, a lot frustrating - that no one cared and wanted to pass the job off to someone else. *END VENT* (LOL) Anyways, I offered to remove the dead birds for them, and there were a total of 11 dead in the guinea brooder. There are two other brooders full of chicks right next to the guinea brooder, and those chicks are fine, no problems, although one was dead from what looked like normal chick casualties. I don't know what would affect the guineas but not bother the chickens, who are RIGHT next to them. While I removed the birds, I tried feeling their bodies to see if there was anything off.
SYMPTOMS:
Crops in the dead birds felt like there were air bubbles in them, when I applied pressure they felt spongy and full of air.
Birds seemed to be gasping for air every few minutes, and they staggered at times.
Some of the live ones would run very fast across the brooder, almost as if compensating for their inability to walk straight by running as fast as they could in the direction they wanted to go.
The two birds that were in the process of dying could not stand up or hold their heads up, and one of them that was a little further gone had a curled neck, almost like it was still in its egg. Neither could really move other than flopping around.
The feed store told me they were feeding the guineas medicated chick starter, which I thought was odd cause I had heard that guineas needed gamebird starter just like waterfowl. While I was there I went ahead and culled the two dying birds with some scissors (much to the shock of the girl working there) and I noticed a yellow looking liquid come from the esophagus of one of the birds.
Guys, the feed store is open to any and all suggestions, so please help me! I have never seen so many dead birds in one spot! Here are my opinions:
Disease (duh)
Brooder too hot (my hand isn't exactly a thermometer, but it felt a tad bit warm)
Wrong feed (I know medicated can kill waterfowl, not sure if it's the same for guineas)
Thanks, everyone, and please hurry! The store is open till 6, which gives me another 3.5 hours!!!! BTW, they're about a week old. What temps would week old guineas need?
Edit: The brooders are all clean and the chicks/guineas have access to water and food. The feed store isn't leaving them in terrible conditions (although it sucked that they were too chicken to remove the dead birds) but other than that they are providing the feed, water, and heat requirements. I think this is a case of some employees not knowing how to care for guineas.
SYMPTOMS:
Crops in the dead birds felt like there were air bubbles in them, when I applied pressure they felt spongy and full of air.
Birds seemed to be gasping for air every few minutes, and they staggered at times.
Some of the live ones would run very fast across the brooder, almost as if compensating for their inability to walk straight by running as fast as they could in the direction they wanted to go.
The two birds that were in the process of dying could not stand up or hold their heads up, and one of them that was a little further gone had a curled neck, almost like it was still in its egg. Neither could really move other than flopping around.
The feed store told me they were feeding the guineas medicated chick starter, which I thought was odd cause I had heard that guineas needed gamebird starter just like waterfowl. While I was there I went ahead and culled the two dying birds with some scissors (much to the shock of the girl working there) and I noticed a yellow looking liquid come from the esophagus of one of the birds.
Guys, the feed store is open to any and all suggestions, so please help me! I have never seen so many dead birds in one spot! Here are my opinions:
Disease (duh)
Brooder too hot (my hand isn't exactly a thermometer, but it felt a tad bit warm)
Wrong feed (I know medicated can kill waterfowl, not sure if it's the same for guineas)
Thanks, everyone, and please hurry! The store is open till 6, which gives me another 3.5 hours!!!! BTW, they're about a week old. What temps would week old guineas need?
Edit: The brooders are all clean and the chicks/guineas have access to water and food. The feed store isn't leaving them in terrible conditions (although it sucked that they were too chicken to remove the dead birds) but other than that they are providing the feed, water, and heat requirements. I think this is a case of some employees not knowing how to care for guineas.
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