Haven't been on in months but I figured I'd better check in. Thought we were doing good this winter. I kept the guineas in their stall all winter after letting them out one day when there was snow on the ground and the poor things weren't interested in going outside. They have a large stall so they have plenty of room to run around and not get on each others nerves too bad.
We are in Upstate NY and the temps all winter have been weird, fluctuating from 40s to teens. They were doing very well all winter with no signs of frostbite.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a couple of them with swollen toes. It is not bumble foot as there is no open wounds. I checked one of the hens and when I picked her up realized that her foot appeared to be dead. Well after a few more days, the foot fell off! She is eating and drinking fine.
Today, we have finally had enough temps where the snow is gone and it was nice enough that they wanted to come out and explore. When I let them out of their stall, I realized that her other foot is doing the same thing.....then by the time I put them back in their stall tonight, the foot was gone. So I have Stubby guinea....she is running on her stubbs, flying and acting fine otherwise.
I realize that it is obviously going to affect her as far as perching. My flock tends to hang out on the ground and if some do perch it is on lower places, like logs waiting to be cut or the picnic tables, etc. They have never flown up into any of our trees...they will be 1 year old in 2 months. I found an article on line suggesting to put them down. I personally dont feel she should be put down since she is still getting around with the others, eating and otherwise healthy.
So its bad enough that I thought we had cleared the worst of the weather and wasn't going to have an issue, but am I being selfish letting her live like this?
Just curious to opinions, but please do not bash me....Thank you!
Vicki
We are in Upstate NY and the temps all winter have been weird, fluctuating from 40s to teens. They were doing very well all winter with no signs of frostbite.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a couple of them with swollen toes. It is not bumble foot as there is no open wounds. I checked one of the hens and when I picked her up realized that her foot appeared to be dead. Well after a few more days, the foot fell off! She is eating and drinking fine.
Today, we have finally had enough temps where the snow is gone and it was nice enough that they wanted to come out and explore. When I let them out of their stall, I realized that her other foot is doing the same thing.....then by the time I put them back in their stall tonight, the foot was gone. So I have Stubby guinea....she is running on her stubbs, flying and acting fine otherwise.
I realize that it is obviously going to affect her as far as perching. My flock tends to hang out on the ground and if some do perch it is on lower places, like logs waiting to be cut or the picnic tables, etc. They have never flown up into any of our trees...they will be 1 year old in 2 months. I found an article on line suggesting to put them down. I personally dont feel she should be put down since she is still getting around with the others, eating and otherwise healthy.
So its bad enough that I thought we had cleared the worst of the weather and wasn't going to have an issue, but am I being selfish letting her live like this?
Just curious to opinions, but please do not bash me....Thank you!
Vicki
