8 month old guinea hens can’t walk

[Harveyhomestead]

I have 11 guineas... 6 females and 5 males. A few of my females have been limping for quite awhile. 2 days ago one of them stopped walking altogether and thrashes around to get anywhere. If I come near her to try to see what the problem is she almost looks like she has a seizure and flaps her wings. I though she would have died last night as she just lays there not eating or drinking. She is still alive and I have put food and water near her but she still looks like she is on the verge of death. Then tonight when I went to put the flock into their coop I found that another hen couldn’t walk. She kept calling for the rest of the flock and they were distressed. So I put a towel over her so I could pick her up and put her inside the coop myself. I don’t know how my birds break injuring their legs. I am feeding them all purpose poultry feed but could it possibly be something with their feed? If so why wouldn’t any of the males be limping? It’s only the females?? Please help!!

 

[R2elk]

I have 11 guineas... 6 females and 5 males. A few of my females have been limping for quite awhile. 2 days ago one of them stopped walking altogether and thrashes around to get anywhere. If I come near her to try to see what the problem is she almost looks like she has a seizure and flaps her wings. I though she would have died last night as she just lays there not eating or drinking. She is still alive and I have put food and water near her but she still looks like she is on the verge of death. Then tonight when I went to put the flock into their coop I found that another hen couldn’t walk. She kept calling for the rest of the flock and they were distressed. So I put a towel over her so I could pick her up and put her inside the coop myself. I don’t know how my birds break injuring their legs. I am feeding them all purpose poultry feed but could it possibly be something with their feed? If so why wouldn’t any of the males be limping? It’s only the females?? Please help!!

It is possible that your guinea hens are suffering from a calcium deficiency. If guinea hens are laying eggs and do not have sufficient calcium supplement, they become calcium deficient which among other things can be exhibited as an inability to stand or walk as they lose motor control.

If you are feeding them an all flock feed and are not supplying them with free choice oyster shell, they can very easily become calcium deficient. All flock feed does not have sufficient calcium for laying guinea hens.

If it is a calcium deficiency, you can get a liquid calcium supplement that can be mixed in their water to raise their calcium levels quickly. You will only want the hens to have access to this water as too much calcium can be harmful to the males.

You also want to make sure that you are not adding ACV to their water as ACV can interfere with the proper absorption of calcium.

 

[Harveyhomestead]

It is possible that your guinea hens are suffering from a calcium deficiency. If guinea hens are laying eggs and do not have sufficient calcium supplement, they become calcium deficient which among other things can be exhibited as an inability to stand or walk as they lose motor control.

If you are feeding them an all flock feed and are not supplying them with free choice oyster shell, they can very easily become calcium deficient. All flock feed does not have sufficient calcium for laying guinea hens.

If it is a calcium deficiency, you can get a liquid calcium supplement that can be mixed in their water to raise their calcium levels quickly. You will only want the hens to have access to this water as too much calcium can be harmful to the males.

You also want to make sure that you are not adding ACV to their water as ACV can interfere with the proper absorption of calcium.

 

[Harveyhomestead]

Ok thank you! I ordered some multivitamins from after doing some more research online. I was afraid it was Mericks disease... but I’m not sure if guineas can get it?? It does sound like a vitamin deficiency... so I’ll start there...

 

[R2elk]

Ok thank you! I ordered some multivitamins from after doing some more research online. I was afraid it was Mericks disease... but I’m not sure if guineas can get it?? It does sound like a vitamin deficiency... so I’ll start there...

It does not sound like a vitamin deficiency. It sounds like a calcium deficiency. At the very least make sure they have free choice oyster shell. Offering a liquid calcium supplement will get into their system a lot quicker. Calcium is not a vitamin so offering a vitamin supplement will not help with a calcium deficiency although a vitamin D deficiency can also affect proper absorption and use of calcium in the body.

Marek's would not discriminate between males and females. A calcium deficiency will only affect the hens.