Swollen Foot in Guinea Fowl

[Edub]

Hi everyone! I’ve read all the forums on gout in guinea fowl. I just wanted to post a few pictures and confirm that’s what it is? My poor girl has been limping around for about the last week or two and I finally caught her! She’s 1 of 4 Guineas and the only one showing signs and limping. The guineas are in a 2 acre pasture and tool around and free range all day every day. She’s also in the same pasture with goats, llamas, turkeys, and cows. I thought maybe she got stepped on by one of the larger animals but when I started researching, I thought maybe gout? Any insight? Doesn’t look like there’s much treatment other than tart cherry extract and maybe soaking her foot for comfort.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She has Frostbite.

The toes are already shrinking and the foot is walling them off, they will eventually dry up and auto amputate.

How much loss there will be, time will tell.

The article below tells you how to treat it:


https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/

 

[R2elk]

Hi everyone! I’ve read all the forums on gout in guinea fowl. I just wanted to post a few pictures and confirm that’s what it is? My poor girl has been limping around for about the last week or two and I finally caught her! She’s 1 of 4 Guineas and the only one showing signs and limping. The guineas are in a 2 acre pasture and tool around and free range all day every day. She’s also in the same pasture with goats, llamas, turkeys, and cows. I thought maybe she got stepped on by one of the larger animals but when I started researching, I thought maybe gout? Any insight? Doesn’t look like there’s much treatment other than tart cherry extract and maybe soaking her foot for comfort.

Gout in guinea?

 

[Edub]

She has Frostbite.

The toes are already shrinking and the foot is walling them off, they will eventually dry up and auto amputate.

How much loss there will be, time will tell.

The article below tells you how to treat it:


https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/


View attachment 4042595

Oh my gosh! That was my next question as I noticed one of the toes is about to completely fall off. That makes me so sad! They have a wonderful coop with bedding and roosting bars to stay out of the wind, but Lord knows they don’t use it and like to perch on the highest area taking a beating with all the wind. We had some really bad snow here in Kansas City, blizzard conditions and that’s what did it. I think once they auto amputate she will probably feel much better and around a little easier. I have her secluded in the house. Anything I could do to help keep her comfortable in the meantime? I did read your article and I’ve done all of that. Thank you so much for the info!

 

[Edub]

Oh my gosh! That was my next question as I noticed one of the toes is about to completely fall off. That makes me so sad! They have a wonderful coop with bedding and roosting bars to stay out of the wind, but Lord knows they don’t use it and like to perch on the highest area taking a beating with all the wind. We had some really bad snow here in Kansas City, blizzard conditions and that’s what did it. I think once they auto amputate she will probably feel much better and around a little easier. I have her secluded in the house. Anything I could do to help keep her comfortable in the meantime? I did read your article and I’ve done all of that. Thank you so much for the info!

And do you think I need to keep her separated from everyone until those fall off?

 

[R2elk]

I wouldn't.

 

[Edub]

I wouldn't.

Ok. Usually when they are injured they recommend separating them. The pasture they are in is so large and she tries to follow all the other ones. She’s walking on it nonstop to get to food and water and just to keep up. You still would go ahead and put her back in with the others?

 

[R2elk]

Ok. Usually when they are injured they recommend separating them. The pasture they are in is so large and she tries to follow all the other ones. She’s walking on it nonstop to get to food and water and just to keep up. You still would go ahead and put her back in with the others?

The only reason I ever separated a guinea from the flock was temporarily for treatment. They are a flock bird and can become stressed when separated from the flock. Separation can also make it difficult on them when being reintroduced.

 

[Edub]

The only reason I ever separated a guinea from the flock was temporarily for treatment. They are a flock bird and can become stressed when separated from the flock. Separation can also make it difficult on them when being reintroduced.

The only reason I ever separated a guinea from the flock was temporarily for treatment. They are a flock bird and can become stressed when separated from the flock. Separation can also make it difficult on them when being reintroduced.

The only reason is bc she is limping and hurting pretty bad. I’m not sure what to do! I’ve had her inside for about 24 hours.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh my gosh! That was my next question as I noticed one of the toes is about to completely fall off. That makes me so sad! They have a wonderful coop with bedding and roosting bars to stay out of the wind, but Lord knows they don’t use it and like to perch on the highest area taking a beating with all the wind. We had some really bad snow here in Kansas City, blizzard conditions and that’s what did it. I think once they auto amputate she will probably feel much better and around a little easier. I have her secluded in the house. Anything I could do to help keep her comfortable in the meantime? I did read your article and I’ve done all of that. Thank you so much for the info!

Ok. Usually when they are injured they recommend separating them. The pasture they are in is so large and she tries to follow all the other ones. She’s walking on it nonstop to get to food and water and just to keep up. You still would go ahead and put her back in with the others?

The only reason is bc she is limping and hurting pretty bad. I’m not sure what to do! I’ve had her inside for about 24 hours.

I don't have Guinea Fowl.
That said, if she were mine, I'd cage her within the coop/run since you have a coop. Provide her with her own food/water and keep her on clean dry bedding.

The toes are not completely at the stage of falling off yet it's going to be a while. Hard to know how much loss there will be, sometimes the footpad can be affected as well. While it's good for her to move about some, it's probably very painful to do a lot of walking about. If it's still cold, then being exposed to snow/ice/cold ground, tissue that is slightly damaged can become damaged more.

Even though the foot is very good at auto amputation and the body walling off the affected digits, there is still risk of infection, so keeping the feet relatively dry and clean is important, that will be harder to do if she's roaming about. Plus trying to catch her for daily care, caging her will make this easier.

You may find some type of compromise. Does the flock come back to the coop at certain times of the day or do they take off in the morning and just come back about an hour or less at dusk. You may want to let her out when they come back to roost so she's there and can physically interact with them, see if that helps them see/recognize her. I just don't know to be honest, I assume from R2Elks comment about integration, Guineas can be bullies/hateful (meanies) just like chickens, so you may have to play some of it by ear.

Keep us posted on her progress. Also if you have photos of her, I'd like to see her little face.
Like I say, I don't have Guineas but find them so very interesting to look at.