Sickly acting

[prairie]

Hi,
First off I am new on BYC and have read so many of the posts in the last couple of weeks and really enjoy all the information! It has been about 18 years since I had guineas or chickens but got a few last fall because I got a tick disease and landed in the hospital for 4 days last summer. We live on a farm so it is impossible to clear the ticks out of all the pastures, orchard etc but I am hoping they will help up around the house, garden and maybe even the orchard. This is the first spring for the guineas although the hens are older.

I have a question about one of our guineas -- haven't figured out if it is a male or female yet-- but it has been acting sickly for about a month or two. Stays by itself and walks with head down much of the time. Then about a week ago I found an egg in one of the chicken nests that didn't have a hard shell and next to it was a tiny egg -- also with no shell and about 1 1/4" long at the most. Now the sickly guinea is acting just fine-- staying mostly with the other 4 guineas and it is hard to tell which one was the sick one.

Do you think the eggs w/out shells were from the guineas (they are about 7 months old) and would that have caused the guinea to act sickly (getting ready to start laying)

We have 5 guineas -- 2 male and 2 female and one that I can't figure out yet.

Any ideas,
Thanks!

 

[PeepsCA]

It's common for my Guinea Hens to lay the weird eggs at the start of the laying season; no shell, tiny, no yolk, weird shape etc... so odds are those could both be Guinea eggs that you found. And yes, sometimes my Hens that are about to lay do act "different" as well. I can't say that it went on for 2 months tho... glad that bird is acting ok now tho. I'd make sure they all have free choice access to a layer feed and oyster shell and see how it goes. They may start laying out in the pastures and bushes (if some haven't already), so you may need to do some egg hunting.



If it happens again, you may want to catch that bird and check it's weight (feel the breast area). If it feels thin, there may be a parasite problem, and you may need to worm your flock if you haven't already done so this season (might be a good idea if you catch and compare a few different Guineas to see if any of the others feel thin also).

Good luck with your tick control!

 

[prairie]

Yes, they have always had free access to the chicken layer and then I give them scratch for their treats in the morning and at night to get them back into the coop.

I started to keep them locked up in the run along with the chickens (chickens started laying their eggs everywhere on the farm but in their nests) and it is usually late afternoon when the guineas finally fly over the fence and free range. I prefer to have them all free range but at the moment the chickens and maybe the guineas are laying all over the place.

Thanks -- will see what happens in the next week with the guinea.