Slowly Dying

[Guineapet]

Advice? My 5 year old guinea hen is slowly dying and we don't know why. Started a week ago with green diarrhea, slowed down her usual activity, seemed confused, preferred just lying down, seemed unsteady on her feet at times, didn't want her usual food - so we got red wigglers, crickets, mealworms, caught her flies - nothing stays yummy for her. Took her to the vet who had no clue - antibiotic drops and anti-inflammatory...which is hell getting her to take. She had two seizures after the vet visit (she's been really healthy up till now). We just started 'force-feeding' her little bits of recovery food on the end of her beak. Should we go right to tube feeding since it's been going on so long? She's very thin...now just sleeping alot, won't get up. We love her so much...help!!

 

[Sydney65]

Advice? My 5 year old guinea hen is slowly dying and we don't know why. Started a week ago with green diarrhea, slowed down her usual activity, seemed confused, preferred just lying down, seemed unsteady on her feet at times, didn't want her usual food - so we got red wigglers, crickets, mealworms, caught her flies - nothing stays yummy for her. Took her to the vet who had no clue - antibiotic drops and anti-inflammatory...which is hell getting her to take. She had two seizures after the vet visit (she's been really healthy up till now). We just started 'force-feeding' her little bits of recovery food on the end of her beak. Should we go right to tube feeding since it's been going on so long? She's very thin...now just sleeping alot, won't get up. We love her so much...help!!

Any other symptoms? (I know, poor thing is contending w/enough) - nasal or eye drainage, skin blisters or other lesions, swelling anywhere? Hoarseness? Has she stopped laying eggs? Diff breathing?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Advice? My 5 year old guinea hen is slowly dying and we don't know why. Started a week ago with green diarrhea, slowed down her usual activity, seemed confused, preferred just lying down, seemed unsteady on her feet at times, didn't want her usual food - so we got red wigglers, crickets, mealworms, caught her flies - nothing stays yummy for her. Took her to the vet who had no clue - antibiotic drops and anti-inflammatory...which is hell getting her to take. She had two seizures after the vet visit (she's been really healthy up till now). We just started 'force-feeding' her little bits of recovery food on the end of her beak. Should we go right to tube feeding since it's been going on so long? She's very thin...now just sleeping alot, won't get up. We love her so much...help!!

I’m so sorry! I hope your hen rebounds. I had one guinea hen die and necropsy showed a kidney infection, probably related to egg laying. There are a lot of poultry problems that can’t really be treated… I hope your guinea improves!

 

[Guineapet]

Any other symptoms? (I know, poor thing is contending w/enough) - nasal or eye drainage, skin blisters or other lesions, swelling anywhere? Hoarseness? Has she stopped laying eggs? Diff breathing?

Actually I think ‘she’ is a ‘he’…has never laid an egg in 5 years. S/he’s not vocalizing at all…so unusual ); None of the other signs you mention…just gradually stopped all activity (now just laying in her bed), stopped hunting for food but will eat flies and crickets brought to her (not touching worms or millet…and never ate actual game bird feed), green, runny poops with tiny bit of solid. We tube fed her last night…amazing she’s hung on this long (2 weeks). Should we continue tube feeding (and with what food - so skinny)? Should we try the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds again? It just seems like she’s slowly dying…and we love her!

I’m so sorry! I hope your hen rebounds. I had one guinea hen die and necropsy showed a kidney infection, probably related to egg laying. There are a lot of poultry problems that can’t really be treated… I hope your guinea improves!

Thank you...s/he died this morning after we tube fed her. The tube was in the right place, but the stress of it was too much...wish we had just let her die of her accord ); She actually must have been a he since no eggs were laid during 5 years. Really hard to find a poultry vet!!! We're rather devastated to lose her...she was the only one...wandered into the yard from 'somewhere' 5 years ago, and thought she was one of 'us' (;

 

[Sydney65]

Actually I think ‘she’ is a ‘he’…has never laid an egg in 5 years. S/he’s not vocalizing at all…so unusual ); None of the other signs you mention…just gradually stopped all activity (now just laying in her bed), stopped hunting for food but will eat flies and crickets brought to her (not touching worms or millet…and never ate actual game bird feed), green, runny poops with tiny bit of solid. We tube fed her last night…amazing she’s hung on this long (2 weeks). Should we continue tube feeding (and with what food - so skinny)? Should we try the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds again? It just seems like she’s slowly dying…and we love her!

Thank you...s/he died this morning after we tube fed her. The tube was in the right place, but the stress of it was too much...wish we had just let her die of her accord ); She actually must have been a he since no eggs were laid during 5 years. Really hard to find a poultry vet!!! We're rather devastated to lose her...she was the only one...wandered into the yard from 'somewhere' 5 years ago, and thought she was one of 'us' (;

I'm so sorry.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Actually I think ‘she’ is a ‘he’…has never laid an egg in 5 years. S/he’s not vocalizing at all…so unusual ); None of the other signs you mention…just gradually stopped all activity (now just laying in her bed), stopped hunting for food but will eat flies and crickets brought to her (not touching worms or millet…and never ate actual game bird feed), green, runny poops with tiny bit of solid. We tube fed her last night…amazing she’s hung on this long (2 weeks). Should we continue tube feeding (and with what food - so skinny)? Should we try the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds again? It just seems like she’s slowly dying…and we love her!

Thank you...s/he died this morning after we tube fed her. The tube was in the right place, but the stress of it was too much...wish we had just let her die of her accord ); She actually must have been a he since no eggs were laid during 5 years. Really hard to find a poultry vet!!! We're rather devastated to lose her...she was the only one...wandered into the yard from 'somewhere' 5 years ago, and thought she was one of 'us' (;

I’m so sorry! Guineas are hard to treat because they stress so easily. I doubt there was anything you could have done for it.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

Actually I think ‘she’ is a ‘he’…has never laid an egg in 5 years. S/he’s not vocalizing at all…so unusual ); None of the other signs you mention…just gradually stopped all activity (now just laying in her bed), stopped hunting for food but will eat flies and crickets brought to her (not touching worms or millet…and never ate actual game bird feed), green, runny poops with tiny bit of solid. We tube fed her last night…amazing she’s hung on this long (2 weeks). Should we continue tube feeding (and with what food - so skinny)? Should we try the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds again? It just seems like she’s slowly dying…and we love her!

Thank you...s/he died this morning after we tube fed her. The tube was in the right place, but the stress of it was too much...wish we had just let her die of her accord ); She actually must have been a he since no eggs were laid during 5 years. Really hard to find a poultry vet!!! We're rather devastated to lose her...she was the only one...wandered into the yard from 'somewhere' 5 years ago, and thought she was one of 'us' (;

So sorry for your loss. You tried your very best and gave her/him a good life.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm so sorry. Is it possible he just reached the end of his days? You've had him five years but don't know how old he was when he joined you. He was fortunate to have found you and you were blessed to have had him.