HELP! Sick babies! :[

[neenerbutt92]

My guinea keets have runny noses, ears and eyes! I have them in with about 40 chicks...none of the chicks have these symptoms. Just a few keets. Is there anything I can do for them? I cleaned out their ears, eyes, an noses....other than that they seem fine.
My dad said to put some Terramycin Soluble Powder in their water. Does this sound right to you all?

 

[cracking up]

I've never had sick keets so not much help here - How old are they and what have they been eating?

 

[robin416]

I've never had sick keets either. Do not do the tetracycline its about useless and probably wouldn't help if there is something going on.

Tell all, setup, feed, living quarters, age.

 

[zazouse]

Never heard of such a thing but it don't sound good, heck i can't even see my keets ears i can't imagine liquid coming out of them.

I hope they get better and someone here can help you.

How many do you have?

 

[neenerbutt92]

They hatched July 21. I use corn meal with crushed pellets....I've used this many years and have never had sick babies. I have been treating them for lice because they did have a bad lice problem, the lice are slowly going away. I haven't had much luck with this batch of keets, some have randomly died, I did have 17 now I am down to 9. But all of the chicks are just fine, I've had a few chick deaths but I expected that. Their cage is about 5 feet by 3, I clean it out two times a week, put fresh hay in it and clean feeder and waterer with soap. I tried some of the Terramycin, I just don't know what to do!

Just took some pics of there home so you can see...and I took a few of the babies as well, it's only two with ear problems (both having nose as well) one with eye (it has nose too) and two with just nose. They look dirty because they just ate some watermelon earlier. This makes me sick to my stomach, I feel soo bad for them!

I am a HUGE animal lover, I cried when my boyfriend killed a fish! It makes me sooo sad to see them suffer!

Here is a pic of the one with eye and nose.

Here is the one with ear (the swelling has gone down but you can still see its yellow).

Here is a pic of them.

Here is their cage in the building (they are in the white wire cage. A few larger chicks in the pet porter. Ducklings off to right. Where I am standing is where the older birds come in to eat and drink during the day.

 

[zazouse]

I would switch to shavings, my guess is that the hay you are using is getting moldy and causing respiratory problems in the little ones due to mold from the moisture.

 

[robin416]

I question the feeding regimen. What kind of pellets? And corn meal? Corn meal has zero nutritional benefits. Keets need a high protein diet and all of the vitamins and minerals in a complete feed.

 

[MuranoFarms]

Switch to gamebird starter. I would get the medicated. It has a much higher protein content and vitamins they need. Are these your first guineas? If you're giving chicks or guineas crushed layer pellets they could have problems from the high calcium content.

I've never used hay because of the mold issues. I agree with zazouse.....switch to shavings. TSC has a huge bag for around $5. (don't ever buy it at a per store....such a rip off!)

 

[zazouse]

I just noticed you posted the keets hatched July 21St did you mean to say august 21st cause they areway, way behind in growth if that's the case.

Also agree with the last two post nutrition can have a great influence health

 

[neenerbutt92]

The hay was just cut the other day. I've used hay for them since day 1 and with all my other baby birds in the past, I've never had this problem. I'm not sure what kind of pellets, it was given to me, it is high in protein I do know that. Definitely not layer. I've had guineas before fed them the same thing used hay and everything! No problems at all. My closest TSC is about 2 hours away. If this is a respiratory problem will this go away, or spread to other babies?