Leg injury-Reintroducing to flock

[gourdlady]

I posted 3 weeks back about a guinea with leg (?) injuries. I'm happy to say that after 6 weeks he is back on his feet. After I posted I decided to tape both his hocks and claws. At that point he was still down and could only scoot very awkwardly and pitifully around. The claws only stayed taped for a few days before becoming undone but before that his claws were in the clenched position and he could not open them at all to stand. His hocks are still loosely taped. I did not add any addition support other then some padding on the back of the hocks as he had further injured the area when scooting on his hock joints. Hes been 2 weeks on his feet and keeps making the trip from the house to the barn 500' and wants to be with the others. He can stand and walk but does get wobbly and his legs start shaking. I don't know if he will ever be 100%. Of course the bullies looks like 2 specifically are picking on him. I'm going to have to make a decision regarding reintroduction soon. I am leaving for vacation and he cannot be in his quarantine (it was a dog run I will now need for dog) choices leave with flock and monitor for 3 days (flock is ducks chickens and 9 total guineas) or new quarantine 4' x 2' pen (rabbit hutch). I could also move the pen into the guinea house or yard so they could see and talk to each other but currently the pen is not located near the other housing. I know any move will be stressful for him. I talked to a bird rehabber and she said pen him but I hate to have to ....I think the others are just establishing pecking order again and not trying to kill him as she has suggested they might. Sorry to keep a long story long. Any suggestions ?

 

[JLeigh]

Sounds like you're really trying hard to help this guinea! It's great that you've improved its leg/foot issues!

There are two primary reasons (there are others, but for now...) for flock members to harass another:

1) New to the flock and establishing pecking order/dominance, and
2) The bird is injured and they're rejecting it which can easily end in death in this case, because he's injured.

Your guinea has both issues. Keeping him separated out of sight from the others will only make matters much worse. Don't worry about "change"; the change he wants is to be a member of the flock - this will help him get that.

Your friend is right. While you're on vacation, move the rabbit hutch to the guinea area where the others can see him but not get to him. That will help reintroduce him to the flock so that the others can get used to him being in close proximity. It will also keep them from hurting him. Might also give his leg an opportunity to heal even more.

 

[PeepsCA]

I agree with JLeigh... and I'd keep him caged WITH the flock while you are away (and until he is better recovered). Keeping him confined while you are gone will still let him move around some but build up his strength at a slower pace... while keeping him safe from being picked on. If you pen him somewhere thee flock can't spend time around him and he is out of their sight for too long you'll have to start all over with the reintegration process tho.

Congrats on his recovery. Glad he's back up on his feet, after seeming so hopeless

 

[gourdlady]

Since I need help moving the hutch (tonight) he is still with the flock. I've checked a couple of times and so far so good. When he needs to rest he goes in and everyone seems to be getting along fine. It's going to be a hard decision to pen him up again when he so wants to be with the others.... still in the long run it would probably be best. I'm going to have to really think on this one.

 

[gourdlady]

After observing the flock for several days we decided as a family to leave the guinea free with the rest while we went on vacation. At this point no birds were paying him any particular attention and all were exhibiting normal behavior. He was much better on his feet by this time as well. We are now back and all is good. He seems 100% healed though perhaps still a bit underweight. I appreciate the advice and feel a little bad for going against it but I guess I know my flock and have no regrets. I do want to add that if anyone is dealing with a similar situation wanting to save an injured bird just have patience. It took weeks before this guinea showed any signs of improvement and even then he was just pitiful to look at. Had I not looked to this forum and contacted a rehabilitator for advice I probably would have given up and just put him down. Thanks to all !! Peace.

 

[PeepsCA]

Most of us that give Guinea advice here have already been thru the worst of it with our birds, so we tend to error on the side of caution with our advice because we know what can happen, worst case scenario. Been there done that, so we try to help keep others from going thru the same trauma and stress, etc.

Glad everything worked out while you were away and your bird is doing well within the flock again. Congrats on your success. Not everyone gets that lucky!

 

[gourdlady]

No error at all, excellent advice and I probably should have taken it but I left it up to the "family" vote. Not to say I was completely comfortable leaving him out with the others, but no one really wanted to help me move that hutch and to be honest they were all sick of me and my guinea chatter. Luck was on his side for sure, good thing he had me in his corner at the beginning of his ordeal or he probably would have been a goner. Thank god I didn't put his earlier recovery up for the vote ! What can I say I love my birds.