guinea has string on its foot, help pls!!

[Aj1911]

ok one of my guinea males has a cotton string on his toes on the inside of his foot, we got the rest off but its still on these 2 toes and he wont let us help get it off or pick him up

what should we do? i was thinking a sedative so we could pick him up and cut it lose? its really starting to bug him and make him limp so any ideas or help would be awesome.

 

[txcarl1258]

I would try a fishing net. You can restrain him without hurting him or him hurting you! Is it one of the strings from the feed sacks? Those things can be nasty. A few of my birds have gotten tangled in them, now I ensure they are thrown in the trash immediately. If you do not remove the string it could cut off circulation and eventually kill your bird.

 

[Akane]

Poultry have an attraction to those stupid strings. I've cut them off several chickens and a guinea. I never had any need for sedation. Grab them at night, flip them over, and carefully remove with scissors or a pocket knife by flashlight or take them just inside the house for light. Occasionally I did have to get my husband to hold one if the string was really tangled and tight.

Throw all feed sack strings in an empty bag or trash can immediately or you will see it around a bird's foot.

 

[Aj1911]

i do throw them away so i dont know where this came from

and i'll try turning him upside down tomorrow thanks for the help ^^

 

[MuranoFarms]

Put a towel over his head while you're holding him. They calm down a bit when it goes dark.

 

[cracking up]

I have one with a string right now too. They get into the string at the top of the feed bag. We try to collect all of them but once in a while we miss one. He's had it there a long time and it doesn't seem to bother him, I forget it's there until I put them away and see it hanging down. If my husband were there I would have him grab him by the feet while he is roosting, that's the only way I can think of to catch him. Have small sharp scissors ready and it should be pretty quick.

 

[ranit]

Fingernail/toenail clippers also work good to clip the sting if it is tight.

 

[robin416]

Quote:
A warning note: the weakest part of a Guinea is its legs. Grabbing one by the legs should be avoided at all costs.

Someone already posted to use a fishing net, that is very sound advice. It is one of the first things I purchased when I got in to Guineas, it has been very useful over the years. Once the bird is in the net, it can be restrained for doing just about anything you need to do.

A second suggestion is once you have the Guinea in hand, sit down, put the Guinea on its back on your lap. It will struggle for a moment or two but then settles and allows you to do what it is you need to do.

Another suggestion, wrap it in a towel with the head covered. Its almost instantly quiet. Bring the leg out that the string is on and remove it. String left on like that can and will grow in to the skin of the leg and then you have an even worse problem.

 

[cracking up]

Robin - I'm just saying what works for me. I can't catch a guinea in a net and after hours of trying we gave up one night and two were eaten. I've never had trouble with their legs (either lucky or ours have sturdy legs). If my guinea showed any distress I would somehow get the string off his leg. They are almost impossible to catch and I'm hoping it will resolve its self.

 

[robin416]

Are your birds coop trained? That makes all the difference in the world for capturing one. I've never been able to catch one out in the open but let it get in to a corner and yippee its mine.