Sick guinea hen?

[Ryestraw]

Hello, we have 3 surviving pearl guineas from the 11 we got this spring. The others were wiped out at sunset before I could get home to put them away. The guinea in question has always acted oddly and I assumed it was a runt of some sort. It's head is darker than the others and it's waddles are grey have never turned red. It also is much smaller than the other females. Anyway I noticed there was a bulge on her neck right below her beak. It appeared that way unchanged for 3 days so I caught her and checked her throat to see if it was crop impaction. It didn't feel hard or mushy or anything however, it just felt like a bunch of thickened skin or something. However the today around 2pm she was calling out loudly and was far away from her flock. When I went up to her to get her to move she would no longer stand. She can flap wings and is alert albeit not as frantic as a normal guinea is. I took her to the coop and gave her food and water. She was not interested until I let the others in, then she ate for a few minutes however she has not drank anything. Her legs are floppy and her right one seems slightly more so, it feels looser than the left anyhow. Yesterday I though it could be gapeworm but now I don't know. Anyone have any ideas? I'm a first time poultry owner.

 

[R2elk]

Hello, we have 3 surviving pearl guineas from the 11 we got this spring. The others were wiped out at sunset before I could get home to put them away. The guinea in question has always acted oddly and I assumed it was a runt of some sort. It's head is darker than the others and it's waddles are grey have never turned red. It also is much smaller than the other females. Anyway I noticed there was a bulge on her neck right below her beak. It appeared that way unchanged for 3 days so I caught her and checked her throat to see if it was crop impaction. It didn't feel hard or mushy or anything however, it just felt like a bunch of thickened skin or something. However the today around 2pm she was calling out loudly and was far away from her flock. When I went up to her to get her to move she would no longer stand. She can flap wings and is alert albeit not as frantic as a normal guinea is. I took her to the coop and gave her food and water. She was not interested until I let the others in, then she ate for a few minutes however she has not drank anything. Her legs are floppy and her right one seems slightly more so, it feels looser than the left anyhow. Yesterday I though it could be gapeworm but now I don't know. Anyone have any ideas? I'm a first time poultry owner. View attachment 1120964 View attachment 1120974

I have no idea what it is but guineas can get gapeworm. If it is gapeworm, some of the links in this thread may help you.

 

[Ryestraw]

I have no idea what it is but guineas can get gapeworm. If it is gapeworm, some of the links in this thread may help you.

Thanks so much I'll read up. Can gapeworm cause a guinea to not walk if it's bad enough?

 

[R2elk]

Thanks so much I'll read up. Can gapeworm cause a guinea to not walk if it's bad enough?

If it is bad enough it can kill the guinea. The failure to walk may be due to a calcium deficiency caused by egg laying and the hen's inability to eat and drink properly. The quickest way to overcome a calcium deficiency is by adding a liquid calcium supplement to its water.

Good luck.

 

[Ryestraw]

If it is bad enough it can kill the guinea. The failure to walk may be due to a calcium deficiency caused by egg laying and the hen's inability to eat and drink properly. The quickest way to overcome a calcium deficiency is by adding a liquid calcium supplement to its water.

Good luck.

They haven't begun laying yet as they are only 7 ish months old but I'll try it. Should I quarantine this guinea?

 

[R2elk]

They haven't begun laying yet as they are only 7 ish months old but I'll try it. Should I quarantine this guinea?

You should always quarantine any sick poultry in order to help prevent the spread of any possible communicable diseases.