Guinea Hen crooked toe

[Angiechicky]

Hi all, my name is Angela.. i have just started raising chickens and guinea hens, up to this point i would like to say i am doing a great job however, im noticing my guinea just laying there and twisting her body when i put feed and water in order to retrieve it. My husband had picked her up so we were able to asses the situation and her toes are completely twisted and curled inward. i have given vitamins by mouth and doesn't seem to be working. i do not want to put her down but seems like its my only option at this point, anyone have a better treatment option to offer?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Can you please post some photos? Of her, her feet, how she is sitting/laying, housing, etc.
How old?
What do you feed including treats?
What vitamins are you giving?

I don't know much about Guinea Fowl, but I'll take a look and tag in a few others.

 

[Angiechicky]

so I have the supplies that I use to straighten her toes out and have done that for the past 5 days, not showing any results. she cannot stand at all with or without the pads on her feet. she is taking vitamin B-12 plus vitamin k for 5 days as well. when I got her it was only the left foot that was crooked but she was happy and healthy as well as walking perfectly fine. I give sunflower seeds, corn (whole and cracked), fresh leafy greens every day including but not limited to cilantro, romaine lettuce, cabbage usually Napa, and that is just naming a few that I always have on hand. at the present time I took her from the cage she was in with the other two I got because they were just stepping all over her, i put her in an open tote and now house her inside with me, I take her out 4-5 times a day to give her a little sense of normalcy, that is when I take the opportunity to clean her space as well as her bottom since she is not able to get up herself. i got her in November from my grandfather in KY at 1 month old. any help or recommendations would truly be appreciated. thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hopefully some others that keep Guinea Fowl can chime in with some suggestions and tips. If I suggest anything and it's not right, please speak up! @Sydney65 @Isadora @Mixed flock enthusiast

It's hard to know if she's suffering from injury, a leg bone deformity, nutritional deficiency or something else.

I would get some B-Complex and give her 1/2 tablet once a day. B-12 is Cobalamin, which is not necessarily harmful, it's just B12. What you want is B-Complex which contains several B vitamins including B2 (Riboflavin) which can be helpful for leg support.

I would also feed her a nutritionally balanced feed. I think something like an all flock feed would be good to use. Purina Flock Raiser comes to mind. Provide grit (crushed granite) in a separate dish so she can process her foods. Limit the sunflower, corn and greens at least for the time being and focus on balanced nutrition which is in the complete feed.

Her not being able to stand at all, I fear the outcome may not be too bright.
You can try placing her in a sling to see if she can learn to use her legs. A sling will support her weight and she could push herself up. Some birds will tolerate a sling while others become stressed.

The links I provide below are of chicks, but the concept of wrapping and taping feet and toes is the same regardless of the size of the bird.
Links of slings as well - these are just to help you visualize the concepts and get creative with your treatments and wrappings.

Chairs or slings
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

Treating/taping curled toes
https://the-chicken-chick.com/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it/

 

[Sydney65]

B complex is good, 1/2 pill a day. I think you have to straighten the toe as much as possible prior to taping.
I'm adding @R2elk To this, as he's our guru & probably the one to listen to 1st.
I had a bird w/a wounded toe and bought him pairs of birdy booties, size chicken, large. I did this to protect the wound from being pecked, so have not used them for crooked toes-but I saved them for exactly that reason. I can't swear it'll work, since I haven't used them for that, but it seems only logical that it would.
Looking at site now, it doesn't show size lg and recommends XL for guineas, and currently out of stock. Not sure if they changed sizing or what, but you could contact them and ask.- i think the standard chicken might be better? -at 4 months, she's not going to have as big of feet. They aren't cheap, but they are hand made and worth their weight in gold when you have any kind of foot issue.
The toes will be longer than your guinea's toe. Not an issue, you just trim them back so that her nails are free to grasp with.
I always wrapped him in a towel then leaned him against me to put them on. It's awkward at first but then you both get used to it. He had no problem walking,running, or keeping up w/the others -or chasing others- with them on.
Good luck!
*I bought multiple pr d/t open wounds so I could wash in between. You probably don't need but 1 pr and remove at night.
https://crazy-k-farm.myshopify.com/products/birdy-bootie-hand-made-in-the-usa?variant=28600137613390

 

[Angiechicky]

I truly appreciate all the feedback and nothing has gone without use, i have changed to b-complex, making a bird sling, and started just the all flock feed. still giving her some cilantro as i noticed that was her favorite. just didn't want her to think i was not thinking of her . but she seems to be slowly healing (i mean slowly) but its looking better everyday!

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[Wyorp Rock]

I truly appreciate all the feedback and nothing has gone without use, i have changed to b-complex, making a bird sling, and started just the all flock feed. still giving her some cilantro as i noticed that was her favorite. just didn't want her to think i was not thinking of her . but she seems to be slowly healing (i mean slowly) but its looking better everyday!

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I'm glad that she's improving a little.
Of course she can have a little greens or treats, what's life without them?! Just focus on her eating the nutritionally balanced feed for most of her diet.
Please do keep us posted on how she's doing.