GUINEA FOWL THREAD

[guineapeeps]

I have a question about one of my Guineas. About a week ago something attacked one of them. It ripped out some of his neck feathers and scratched him underneath one of his eyes. I cleaned the wound and the next day both his eyelids were extremely swollen with a blue green tint like bruising. I've continued to rinse both eyes with saline and apply ointment. The swelling is pretty much gone and the eye on the side that was not scratched is completely open and clear. The other eye is not fully open and gets a little bit gunky. He is healing but my big concern is his behavior. He is running into things, sometimes just walks in circles and doesn't seem to be eating or drinking much, if at all. He is also lazier than usual (sleeping more) but is moving around more and more each day. He still follows his flock as best he can. Is this all normal or should I be worried? Any suggestions on how to help him? Thanks.

This does not sound like normal guinea behavior, but yours may need more time to heal from his injury and adjust to a possible new disability. From your description of his behavior, I am wondering if he is blind in that one eye. If so, he may need time to learn how to compensate and learn to live with it. Do you have a place, like a pen or secluded area of the coop, that you could keep him confined in until he is feeling and acting more normal? I would try to keep him in a small area, with another guinea that that he gets along with so he won't be distressed, and keep food and water near so he can find it easily. Hopefully, with a little time and rest, he will bounce back. Good luck and let us know how he is doing.

 

[BPM83]

Thanks so much for the advice! He was actually a lot better today. His eye is at least halfway open with very little gunk in it. It is not cloudy at all and looks healthy. I even saw him eat! I am very happy and relieved.

 

[guineapeeps]

Thanks so much for the advice! He was actually a lot better today. His eye is at least halfway open with very little gunk in it. It is not cloudy at all and looks healthy. I even saw him eat! I am very happy and relieved.

I'm glad to hear that he's doing better! I hope he continues to improve!

 

[Chickens126]

I would make sure that the others are not picking on her. If they are make sure to isolate he from the rest of them. I don't really know how to get he to eat though. I dont think you can bottle feed chickens but I am not sure. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Chkinkeeper7474]

Hey Guinea people! I need some advice. I saw someone on craigslist selling a breeding pair of Lavender Guineas. He said they have been raised with chickens , and free ranged. I have ten chickens and was wondering how hard it would be to integrate the Guinea fowl. Like would I have to keep them in the coop for a month or two so they dont wander too far? Is it just silly to even consider getting adult guineas? I've always thought having them would be cool but never owned Guineas.