Help! Guinea down!* edited for more info*

[nursesammy]

Ok the other day i was in the barn and heard my 3 guineas behind it. I peecked out and saw my female sitting in the tall grass while the 2 males were talking and walking around her. didnt think much of it. But the more i watched the more i was concerned. She wouldnt walk. She was fine that morning. I saw her. Now where they were behind the barn is a large holding pen for livestock. probly 40x40. Grass is all grown up as we havent had to separate anything thing for a while now. So i tossed out some feed. The boys came up but the girl just sat. They are currently 19wks old. So i went up to her. She would flap really hard and yell but wouldnt really use her legs. Now she some how had to have used her legs to get over the 4 ft tall fence. The holes in the fence are all to small to get threw and no way to get under. i double checked this. I used a blanket and covered her face and wrapped her body. this kept her very calm while i moved her to a small holding pen next to the coop so that she wouldnt get attacked by anything. I could keep an eye on her this way. Now this happened tuesday i think. Every since then she has been in the same spot. I have checked her and moved her and cleaned her and make sure she has feed and water. I have also gave her asprin 325mg (this did not seem to help) as well as did a full exam. I am not finding anything wrong with her. Not finding anything broken, no abnormal heat, no odd popping sounds anywhere. She does not seem over weight at all. when my husband is holding her and i touch her leg she'll slowly bring it up but does not move them fast. Both legs she does this with. Also when i put my finger on the bottom pad of her feet and push she slowly brings her toes together and grabs my fingers. But thats all she does with her feet and legs. Shes also still perky, eating , drinking well. she has calmed down a bit to me though. so thats kinda nice. when i go to feed and water her i talk to her really calmly and sweet and she stays really calm. Its starting to bother me though because shes been in the same spot. i mean i move her around and clean her up but today i had to work and tomorrow i have to work. Im afraid shes going to get an infection of some kind. She also layed one of her fist eggs ( i believe it to be) wednesday. There was a very small egg (not a "fart egg" as this one had a yoke and everything). About Half the size of a small chicken egg. I have not seen one since that day. I dont let the boys in the pen with her. only because they seem to walk over her and on her more than keep her company to get to her food. I am giving the boys plenty of food though since they have been sticking very close to the pen and not spending much to any time out foraging. She has good shelter from elements and on a bed of clean hay. Anyway... so whats wrong with my Guinea? i dont want anything to happen to her. Maybe a spinal issue? she has no wounds, cuts, blood, anything to be seen. Ive looked her over very well 3x. Id take her to a vet but there are no avian vets around here. and the only one i found online apparently moved years ago. and its not very incouraging when you call a vet and ask if they look at guinea fowl and then you have to explain what kind of bird that is and then they still tell you" im not sure what that is hold on a second and let me ask to make sure". can any one help me or at least let me know what they would do? thank you so much.

 

[robin416]

How old?

Check her legs, that is the weakest point on a Guinea. Look for swelling or heat. If your sig is your occupation you know what to do. Do a triage exam on her/him.

If you find heat or swelling in the leg and don't find any breaks then dissolve a 325 mg aspirin in a gallon of water.

 

[nursesammy]

Yes that is my occupation. Shes 19 wks. Should i check her tonight when she calmer? She quite wild. Also what do i do with a guinea if she does have a brake?

 

[robin416]

Depends on whether or not it is dislocated. Pretty much the same applies to them as it does for humans on the tx.

Do it in good light. Stand back and observe for a bit. Get a feel for what she can and can not do, how she moves. What her stance is. Is she able to use her legs and feet. After you think you have a handle on those things you can attempt a hands on physical. Its not easy but it can be done with some patience. I treated one a couple of years ago with an awful eye infection, after the third day she became more complacent and accepted the eye treatment and injections with much less argument.

Do an assessment of her entire body just as you would with a human, make note of anything that seems off to you. Take notice on whether she is eating or drinking. Is she depressed?

 

[maine chicks]

I had a guinea hen with a broken leg. Kept her in a dog crate with food and water and calm. She did it on a Thursday, by the time I got her to the vet on Monday it was already starting to heal. You can splint it. My bird just had a crooked leg and was fine in about 8 weeks. She was always pigeon toed but it didn't stop her from ranging with the rest of the birds. Good luck.

 

[nursesammy]

Not depressed i dont think. She seems great. Eating and drinking. She just seems to not be abe to really use her legs at all. Ill have to wait till my husband gets home so he can help me. It will be easier that way. should i add vitamins to her water?

 

[robin416]

Don't add any drugs at this point. Just like with humans its better to get a good assessment before medicating. Normally I would recommend electrolytes but if you're not detecting depression and she's drinking I think she can do without. You need to establish why she is not using her legs or if the legs are usable at all.

 

[nursesammy]

bump

 

[sred98]

Are you positive she's not broody? And the size of the egg sounds about right. Their eggs are quite a bit smaller than a chicken egg. Sounds like she is nesting. I'd leave her alone and see if she starts laying. It really sounds like she is trying to figure out the whole "egg" thing, and is either confused or wants to hatch out some babies.

Good luck!

Shelly

 

[nursesammy]

could it be Mareks? ive never seen it before. But everything ive read on it says the only symptoms she has is the legs not working. Her heads perky, her wings work great. I bought her from a feed store as a day old. They got them from a hatchery. Shouldnt the hatchery vaccinated for this? guess it depends on the hatchery huh? if it is mareks should i be concerned about the rest of my flock? She has no abnormal lesions of any kind. Ive looked at her skin as well as the feather follicles. I really dont believe its broodiness. Even a really broody hen ive been able to get off the nest for even just a bit. And they never showed signs of not being able to use their legs. Plus shes till very flight responsive. If i go to check on her and i do it to fast not thinking (just used to her forgetting shes not so used to me) shes yelling and flapping like crazy. plus her egg was litterally the size of a "fart egg". I know guinea eggs are on the small side but this was very small. when i put it in the egg carton it didnt even halfway fill the egg slot. we're talking small. My uncles guinea eggs are the size of small chicken eggs. This was slightly smaller than a robin egg. Theres no way to cure mareks either i bet. Im so sad. I know im just going to let her stay where shes at till she gets better or goes to the happy bug fields on the other side. should i be worried about her getting a bladder infection or something though?