Guineas dying, help!!

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Hello everyone! I know there has been other threads about this subject, but none really fit my situation, so I figured I would post again and hope someone might give me a little insight as to what the heck is going on!

Ok, so I have been keeping guineas for about 2 years. Started with 12, one died suddenly, but other than that they were great! I hatched around 30 from them this last spring and kept 25 to add to my flock. All has been going pretty good. Raised on mostly turkey/gamebird starter (a few times had to feed them chick when the feed store was out, but they got more gamebird than chick).

For the most part, the flocks (the originals and the new younger ones) mingled during the day, but since they were raised in different spots, one group goes to the barn, and one to their coop at night. All are trained to come back. At night they have a mixture of whatever feed I have on hand. Mostly high protein chicken pellets, sometimes scratch or dent corn. It depends on the day. They free range all day and mingle in the barnyard with turkeys, geese, ducks, and chickens.

Two things have changed a bit, and I'm not sure if there is any correlation. One, for a couple days, 4 of my ducks insisted on sleep in one of the guinea coops. No idea why, but I didn't bother removing them since it seemed fine. Now those four are back to sleeping in their coop

Also, the past few nights, all the old guineas have suddenly decided to come into the barn coop with the younger ones. For the past few months one or two would go in, but now all or almost all are sleeping in there.

Friday morning I found 2 dead guineas. It was surprising and sudden. It's been a busy week, but I don't remember any signs, and 2 in the same night made me very concerned. Not sure if they were younger or older ones.

Then last night as I was putting everyone away, I noticed one moving a tad slower than the others it was slight, but he was a tiny bit hunched and just moved different.

This morning, I found another one dead, and 2 didn't come out of the coop, they were just standing on the ground looking hunched. Not good.

The coop definitely needs a clean, so I am doing that today. (Could dry dusty poop cause something like this?) We recently had a ton of rain, so things are pretty mucky outside....maybe coccidiosis?? Would that be a problem for adult guineas like this? I've had that issue in my quail and baby poultry, but never in adult birds. Would it cause them harm to go ahead and treat them for that?

Also wondered if worms could cause this many deaths? Is there a way to tell, or should I just go ahead and worm the flock? I have a lot of guineas, is there a way to worm them without squirting something down their throat?

I also have some males that tend to bully others a lot. Could the older males now sleeping in the younger guinea coops be killing them? How would I know if that is the case? Not seeing any external signs of injury on the bodies.

Also, one last note, I found mouse poop in one of my feed bags. Not sure how long they've been pooping that bad, but could that cause deaths? I've gotten more tubs and am locking the feed up better now, but that worries me for sure. It's been maybe 4 days now since they have eating any contaminated feed. But if that might've caused it I'd love to know!

Well, sorry for the long post! I hope someone has some insight for me. I'm leaving for a week after Christmas, and this has me very worried, I don't want to loose anymore!

Any ideas or help appreciated! Thanks!

 

[R2elk]

All flock didn't work for me, the female guineas weren't smart enough to eat the oyster shell and egg shell I tried giving them. I do half all flock half layer. I lost a female because I didn't figure it out in time.

I have one guinea hen that will not eat the oyster shell from the feeder. When I find a soft shell egg from her, I scrape out some oyster shell from the feeder onto the ground. She does eat it from the ground and goes back to laying normal eggs.

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

We aren’t perfect so don’t be hard on yourself
Hopefully it is something simple that can be fixed
The feed is a possibility
Mice are an issue for all of us to deal with
I don’t know a lot about pens and deep litter method as I only have ducks and because they were in my house for almost a year I was in a routine to clean it daily now that mine are outside I still do it everyday and twice on cold days that they stay inside more
Most ducks don’t care about a mess but my ducks were spoiled with a mom maid that now they won’t settle unless I clean it
They sleep on one side getting it dirty then move to the other side till I get it clean
With proper venting I’m not sure that even going that long would be the reason but getting it clean and disinfected in case the birds died of other reasons is a good idea
I agree with treating them for the other things as well will possibly save the rest if that’s the case

Thanks! I sure am hard on myself, especially if I might've caused one of my precious babies to die! I will work on that though, lol
I hope it is too! Coop is now cleaned and disinfected, and I'm treating them for all the things lol. One lethargic baby died early afternoon sadly, but the other one was looking a little more perky, so I hope she makes it through the night!

Awe, sounds like you've got some very spoiled duck babies!! Sounds like they are living the good life! The first poultry I ever got were 4 Cayuga ducks when I was 10. Me and my dad built them a beautiful coop and run, and I was meticulous about keeping everything clean, and cleaning their pools clean (as possible lol). There is something special and fun about only having a few birds to dote on!

As far as deep litter goes, it depends on the pen, but I have had pretty good success with deep litter in the winter. It really does keep things warmer! It's tricky with chickens though, as everytime I add new bedding, they scratch it into the old and mix everything together! Deep litter works especially well with the ducks and geese, since they don't disturb it and the later just break down underneath and the top stays clean. Boy is it a nightmare to clean out in the spring though. Waterfowl poop a LOT!

Thank you for all your kind words and ideas!! I sure appreciate it!

 

[R2elk]

Ah okay. Do you cull the roos? Or sell them? I have actually culled broilers before I was so surprised with myself...

I eat them. I switch breeders every couple of years.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Oh, I hadn't thought of that! But it makes sense. Thank you for the suggestion, I will pick up a bag tomorrow.

All flock didn't work for me, the female guineas weren't smart enough to eat the oyster shell and egg shell I tried giving them. I do half all flock half layer. I lost a female because I didn't figure it out in time.

 

[R2elk]

I just put egg shells or oyster shells in my feeder, along with their food to get them to eat it. At the end of my hens laying season, I found a few soft eggs, but I think that is just from their body's slowing down. I tried putting oyster shells and egg shells in a bowl for them to peck at... and the guineas were terrified at the strange object in their coop They ended up dumping... so now it goes back in the feeder... Why does All Flock not work for you? And how?

All flock only contains about 1.4% calcium where layer feed may contain 4% to 6% calcium.

Layer feed is fine for adult guinea hens. When I fed layer feed, I used the 20% protein layer feed for the guineas. The higher calcium levels in layer feed may be harmful to the males and is harmful to the keets.

 

[SmiYa0126]

I just put egg shells or oyster shells in my feeder, along with their food to get them to eat it. At the end of my hens laying season, I found a few soft eggs, but I think that is just from their body's slowing down. I tried putting oyster shells and egg shells in a bowl for them to peck at... and the guineas were terrified at the strange object in their coop They ended up dumping... so now it goes back in the feeder... Why does All Flock not work for you? And how?

I think they're just dumb , I love them, but they're dumb as a box of bricks.

 

[R2elk]

I have heard that using layer feed can give roosters (at least chicken roos) kidney problems, leading to early death. I just prefer feeding my birds the same food. I love my rooster, and so I just wanted to be on the safe side and go with my research. Plus it costs less

Around here, layer feed is much less expensive than all flock.

I don't keep roosters long enough for the extra calcium to be a problem. Guinea cocks and tom turkeys do get to stick around much longer than roosters do for me.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I eat them. I switch breeders every couple of years.

I have one 5 yr old roo and three 3 yr olds, along with a 5 year old Guinea cock and some 1-4 year old Guinea cocks. All birds get layer crumble for a few months of the year, during spring when I don’t yet have babies. I usually necropsy dead birds if I don’t know the cause of death. As far as I know, eating layer feed for a few months of the year has not impacted the males.

 

[R2elk]

maybe coccidiosis?? Would that be a problem for adult guineas like this? I've had that issue in my quail and baby poultry, but never in adult birds. Would it cause them harm to go ahead and treat them for that?

Coccidiosis is a potential problem with similar symptoms. Treating them for coccidiosis should not harm them if it isn't the problem.

In wet conditions, aspergillosis and botulism are other possibilities.

Could the older males now sleeping in the younger guinea coops be killing them?

This is unlikely. Older males or even the whole flock killing off an individual is a possibility but not likely the problem with as many deaths as you are having.

Worming your flock