Sick keets? Look like pine cones

[ChickFlick123]

Hi, I went out to feed and water my keets yesterday and saw a few of them have their feathers on their backs sticking straight up, they look like pine cones. I thought maybe dehydrated since it's been really hot so put some electrolyte water in and then their regular water as well, there hasn't really been any change although both waterers were well drank. I put the best pics of them as I could on here. Does anyone have any ideas? Poop seems normal, not seeing any blood or anything and they seem to be eating their crumble fine and are all as flighty and active as usual. Thanks!

 

[BYCforlife]

View attachment 1070568 View attachment 1070569 Hi, I went out to feed and water my keets yesterday and saw a few of them have their feathers on their backs sticking straight up, they look like pine cones. I thought maybe dehydrated since it's been really hot so put some electrolyte water in and then their regular water as well, there hasn't really been any change although both waterers were well drank. I put the best pics of them as I could on here. Does anyone have any ideas? Poop seems normal, not seeing any blood or anything and they seem to be eating their crumble fine and are all as flighty and active as usual. Thanks!

@KikisGirls

 

[BlueShadow]

If they are acting normal, they probably are okay.

How old are they? What type of food do you have them on? What is the level of protein?

They look like they probably are still young enough that they should still be on a gamebird starter of 28%.

Sometimes my birds feather in looking kind of rough and ragged, although I think that's more likely to happen if you aren't feeding them enough protein. THey also may be fluffing up their feathers a bit to cool.

 

[guineapeeps]

I agree with blueshadow. If they are eating and drinking normally and are acting fine, they are probably ok. A few questions, though....Do they have good ventilation where they are at? And how hot is hot where you live? A few summers ago, it got over 100 degrees where I live. My guineas stopped free rangeing and just hung out in the coop panting. I installed a fan, which seemed to help. After a few days, it cooled of and they returned to normal. If you have a fan and electricity where they are at, you could try setting a fan to blow on part of their area. Other than that, I would just continue what your doing and keep an eye on them for any changes.

 

[ChickFlick123]

Hi! Thanks for the responses. They are acting normal. They are about 3 weeks old and they are in an air-conditioned garage in a brooder box. There is a heat lamp on one end of it with just a 75 W bulb in it and the garage is kept around 70°. I did shut off the heat lamp thinking maybe they were hot but they went to one corner of the brooder and basically piled on top of each other and wouldn't move around. I turned the lamp back on and they are roaming around pecking the ground in the area under and around the lamp. They are on a starter/grower that is 18% protein which is what I raised my other ones on without issue. Any thoughts or advice is welcome, I've never seen any of my birds look like pine cones like this before. It's particularly the white chested ones the worst but they all are to some extent.

 

[guineapeeps]

Hi! Thanks for the responses. They are acting normal. They are about 3 weeks old and they are in an air-conditioned garage in a brooder box. There is a heat lamp on one end of it with just a 75 W bulb in it and the garage is kept around 70°. I did shut off the heat lamp thinking maybe they were hot but they went to one corner of the brooder and basically piled on top of each other and wouldn't move around. I turned the lamp back on and they are roaming around pecking the ground in the area under and around the lamp. They are on a starter/grower that is 18% protein which is what I raised my other ones on without issue. Any thoughts or advice is welcome, I've never seen any of my birds look like pine cones like this before. It's particularly the white chested ones the worst but they all are to some extent.

They really should have a higher protein diet like game bird feed or they may not grow to their full potential. Even as adults I fed my guineas a minimum or 23% protein, especially in the winter months when they couldn't free range for bugs.
There have been a few times when I've noticed a few of my hens with feathers bristled on their backs like you mentioned but it's usually been during breeding season so thought that it was probably from the males. I'm not sure what else could cause this but it sounds like their environment is good their behavior appropriate, so I would not worry too much unless you notice any other changes.

 

[R2elk]

Hi! Thanks for the responses. They are acting normal. They are about 3 weeks old and they are in an air-conditioned garage in a brooder box. There is a heat lamp on one end of it with just a 75 W bulb in it and the garage is kept around 70°. I did shut off the heat lamp thinking maybe they were hot but they went to one corner of the brooder and basically piled on top of each other and wouldn't move around. I turned the lamp back on and they are roaming around pecking the ground in the area under and around the lamp. They are on a starter/grower that is 18% protein which is what I raised my other ones on without issue. Any thoughts or advice is welcome, I've never seen any of my birds look like pine cones like this before. It's particularly the white chested ones the worst but they all are to some extent.

Guinea keets need turkey or gamebird starter. You can keep them alive on chick starter but they will never reach their full potential. It isn't just the high protein they need but also the other additives such as methionine and niacin that are not present in the proper proportions in chick starter. In addition, 18% protein is not even a quality chick starter.

I feed my keets a quality turkey/gamebird starter that is 28% protein. They need the higher protein for their high metabolism and the proper growth of their internal organs.

 

[BlueShadow]

I agree with the other responses you have gotten. An 18% starter is far too low in protein, and my guess is the feathers are a symptom of protein deficiency, although it could also be deficiency of any of the other vitamins that R2elk mentions. Are the feathers also fairly brittle?

 

[BlueShadow]

Just in case you needed more proof, I looked up signs of protein deficiency in poultry. In chicks and poults (no reason to think keets are any different), feather abnormalities due to protein and/or amino acid deficiency include: "Uneven feather growth, abnormally long primary feathers, feathers not lying smoothly." Vitamin and mineral deficiencies (niacin) can cause "frizzled and rough feathers."

(Reference: Nutrient Requirements of Poultry, 9th ed, 1994. https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/9#49)

They should be on a turkey starter feed.

 

[ChickFlick123]

I never knew that, thanks! I'll switch their feed and see if it helps. Thanks everyone