Are Guineas SUPPOSED to smell bad?

[sparkles2307]

The guinea keets we just got smell BAD. Like, rank dog-poop bad. I thought they would be just like chickens, if not cleaner and less smelly... granted, they were stressed and in a box, but they were only in the box for maybe 10 minutes and it was so bad that we had to open the window in the pickup. DH said I cant keep them if they are going to smell like this. Is it because they werent eating the right food or stress or what?

 

[sparkles2307]

Oops forgot to add there are 4-5 2week olds and 7-8 2day olds...

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

My keets don't smell. The keets themselves smell like chicks - a little feathery. The poop smells like poop - but it's certainly not worse than chicks!

If yours smell really bad, I would worry that they are diseased. Maybe someone else will have more hopeful advice?

 

[whitecra]

Mine didn't smell bad at all. I don't know what to tell you.
Chris

 

[sparkles2307]

Crap! Well, I will check tonight, after they have had a full 24 hours in the brooder to see if they still smell.... if they do, I guess I wont be adding the new chicks to THAT brooder...

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

Let us know how they do!

 

[sparkles2307]

well now I'm all in a sweat to get home and sniff my guineas.....Does that make me a huffer?

 

[lorad]

Mine don't smell until you try to handle them- I don't know if they let loose with stools or what but they are bad smelling when scared. The birds are healthy, 1-2 years old, and quite happy until you try to catch them. Between the smell and the claws, gloves are a good idea when handling them. Ick..
Lora

 

[MuranoFarms]

Mine don't smell any worse then chicks. In fact, the adult guinea poop is quite a bit smaller then the golf ball size poo's my roo's drop every where!

 

[Finn's Mom]

Mine also smelled bad when we brought them home. Stress, maybe or the conditions they were in? This morning there is no smell at all. How are yours doing?