Help!!! I have a QUICKLY progressing disease attacking my guineas!

[mrg0098]

I had four 3 month old guineas, as of today, 2. They free range with our chickens during the day and sleep in the coup with the chickens at night. They are given access to fresh water and un-medicated 24% protein game feed 24 hours a day. They are also given swisschard, basil, lettuce, and other greens from our garden. We do not use any pesticides. We bleached all the feeders and waterers 5 days ago. We move the coup they sleep in every 3-4 days. Yesterday my husband and I were laughing at them while they were trying out their wings roosting on some branches and playing. They followed me around the yard while working on the garden and ate and drank as usual. This morning when I let them out everyone seemed happy. I didn't spend as much time outside today as I normally do, but when I went to button everyone up tonight I noticed that one of the guineas was already in the coup on its side. Thinking that it was just being silly I called it, but it didn't move. The poor little thing was dead and another one cuddled up next to it seemed like it was sick too. I removed the sick one to our "hospital" cage and tried to get it to drink to no avail. It just seemed so lethargic, could hardly hold its little head up. It normally has a fit when I try to hold it, but as I stroked its feathers the little thing didn't even flinch. I continued to try to nurse it, but within 4 hours it also passed. I inspected both of thier bodies and found no legions or signs of trauma. The only thing I noticed that was unusual was an excess amount of saliva dripping from their beaks, and some weeping from their eyes. The fluid appeared to be clear. I am not sure if that's a normal consequence of their untimely death : ((( I have done research on poultry ailments and I can't find anything that progresses as quickly as this disease has. I am concerned that it may have been something that they ate, but I am mostly fear the possibility of a disease. We have 19 chickens, 2 guineas, and 100 quail.... and I don't want the rest of our critters getting sick. If you have any ideas... please share! Thank you so much!!!!

 

[JLeigh]

Sorry to hear about your guineas, mrg0098. I don't know what the disease is, but it might be comforting for you to know that there are many viruses/illnesses that don't transfer between chickens and guineas. Some do (which is no help to you, I know) but many don't - so it could be that your entire flock isn't at risk. Call your county extension agent and see if they have heard of anything it could be. Call vets who are avian specialists, they may have experience with the symptoms you're describing.

Have you planted anything new in your yard recently? Have your neighbors (if the guineas can get to it...)? Think of anything new or different in or around your pens, waterers, feeders... It could be anything though.

 

[mrg0098]

Thank you for the well wishes. I will have to wait till Monday to speak with local vets. It does make me feel a little bit better that diseases are generally not communicable between species. As far as the yard goes... two weeks ago I planted rhododendruns and hydrangeas, and the nearest neighbor is about 1/2 a mile away and they never venture off that far. We keep the garage closed so they couldn't have gotten into any chemicals. Today we took our two remaining guineas and put them in a separate cage and added antibiotics to their water. They are both acting more lethargic then usual, they are responsive, but their response to stimuli is definitely decreased. I can't see any signs of loose stool. The feathers around their neck look ruffled. Their respirations appear to be even and unlabored. They are drinking and eating. I am just crossing my fingers that they will pull through. I just can't figure out what could have gotten to them so quickly! One day they are running around playing and the next they are dead. Makes me so sad : (((

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Hello:
Very sorry to read about your Guinea friends. The Guinea Fowl, especially the ones we all raise and laugh at have been pretty well adapted to the north America climate and disease structure.

Wild birds can and do transmit disease to Chickens and other Fowl, but Guinea birds are one of the most resistant species I have run across .

Racoon varmint can transmit a pest in their droppings. One needs to be careful to clean up after a Coon has visited around your live stock.

A disease that takes on a Guinea as quickly as this needs to be addressed and I would think the state may have answers if you give them the passed Guinea.

I would think that a substance other than a virus or bacteria or protozoa would cause this in such a very short time.

Losing Guinea Fowl after all the time and effort it takes to raise and train them to coop up is just a dirty shame.

 

[mrg0098]

Thank you, I had no idea about coons transmitting disease. We had what I am assuming was a coon, visit our quail cage last week, he didn't leave anything but a few feathers where he reached through the chicken wire, but I will make certain to be more diligent in searching for waste if there is a next time. We then upgraded our chicken wire to 1/4" wire.... but that's another story on its own. Back to the guineas, over the course of 30 hours we lost 3 out of our 4 guineas. The tetracycline I added to their water seems to have spared our last one, but I get tears every time I walk over to love on him and see him pacing the cage calling for his lost friends. I am looking to buy him new companions ASAP, but I am concerned that they could get sick as well. I froze the guineas that passed, and will definitely be sending them to the state. I will let you guys know if I figure out what it was. In the mean time our little guy will remain in the hospital cage for the remainder of his antibiotic treatments. I have been doing frequent "checkups" on all of our other critters and so far... no issues.