Small Guinea flock in AL

[Texasaggie]

Hi, I'm Noah and am in Bremen, AL (about 1 hour N/NW of Birmingham). I have adult pearly guineas, 4 juveniles (their progeny) and now 9 keets (about 10d old). Am dealing with pasty bottom for the first time. There was no way I could hold it still enough to soak its tush so I am trying wet wipes which seem to be helping somewhat. Read about Preparation H so will be trying that tomorrow. Think stressor was I was holding it too much & letting it get cold. Hopefully with stressor gone, it will improve. Have read that keets are prone to this in the first 2 weeks. But I noticed something worrisome today - one of the ones w/past bottom has a huuuuge, pretty firm crop. I added grit to their food (had stopped providing this as they seemed to ignore it) and a plate of sand, but it's not clear if they're interested in either. Has anyone experienced this and is there anything I can do to help it???

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, Noah, and welcome to BYC!

They should only be on their chick feed so no need for grit.

Usually, pasty butt is caused by them being too warm, but there can be other reasons. I hatch a lot of chicks, and if I start seeing a few with it in a batch, I put Hydro-Hen in their water, which is powdered probiotics and electrolytes. The probiotics are more important as they will stabilize their digestive systems. I give that to them one day, then fresh water the next, then another day of the probiotics.

To clean them of it, I either use a warm wet washrag and hold it to their butt for a minute, then can pick it off. In more extreme cases, I soak their bottom in a little bowl of warm water for a few minutes to get it off. I blow dry them on LOW afterward so they don't get chilled.

If adults ever get it, I use a kitchen scissors and cut off what I can, then soak their butt in a bucket of warm water for a few minutes to get the rest off. Again, probiotics.

We're glad you're here!

 

[GodLovesU]

You can post any Guinea questions here. Have a blessed day!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Good luck with your keets.

 

[Pigeony]

Welcome to BYC!