Something is wrong with my guinea keet .... can yall help me figure out what it is?

[JHarrison]

I don't know anything about guineas beyond what I have read on the internet. My husband bought 14 guineas, we live in the country and have bugs and ticks and guineas are cute. So logically, they were the best choice to join our home.

I have them inside, as they are only a few days old - but one of my babies, who I have lovingly named 'Twitch' isn't like the others. He/she runs in circles, can't stop twitching it's head to the back, and stumbles over his/her little legs. Now, it has no problem pecking the ground, drinking, walking, etc - so I see no reason to do anything but just take special care of this little one. I will not put him down, or anything like that - but, I just wanted to see if anyone has any idea what could be wrong with my little guy/gal.

Here's a link to the youtube video I shot last night; I can take a longer one - but I thought this summed up how Twitch gets along pretty well.

Thanks for your help!

 

[PeepsCA]

Could be a neurological problem due to incorrect incubation conditions, could be nutritional, or it could be something horrible like Listeriosis or Newcastle Disease (tho both are pretty rare in Guineas... but can occur). Both are contagious, so you will want to watch for signs of the same thing going on with any of your other keets. I'd add poultry or baby vitamins to their drinking water, and give the affected chick a few drops of a Vitamin E capsule a couple times a day and see if it improves. Make sure you have everybody on high protein turkey, pheasant or game bird starter feed... and finely chopped/minced raw liver can be given as a treat.

Best of luck, hopefully it's just an isolated issue for the one keet.

 

[JHarrison]

Thank you!! I will definitely keep an eye out and check for any signs in the others - so far were doing good so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed!

I will go to the co-op tonight and get some vitamins and I'll run and pick up some Vit E as well. Thank you so much for all that information - I do hope a/he recovers and is "normal" after a while because I'm sure twitching your head like that can't be comfortable.

 

[critters]

watched the you tube video of Twitch...seems like a cutie!
PeepsCA knows guineas so hopefully with some TLC, Twitch
will improve over time....

good luck and congrats on your keets!