Guinea Hen is injured and in Pain!

[Zephyr0]

Hi all
So I have 2 Guineas fowl that are Pets. They do not live in the coop with my other guineas. It used to be just 1 but we took in another young one that was abandoned. Both are 3 month old guineas and they live in a good sized dog crate at night or while both my girlfriend and I are at work. Otherwise they have free rein. Both were perfectly fine this morning but when i arrived home at 8 pm one could not walk. She flops around and cries and shows signs of being in pain. They get along perfectly and do not fight. They are freakishly quiet for Guineas and are Very very tame as well. However Nelly (the Injured hen) wont allow us to pick her up or even approach her. She cannot stand or walk and just lies there panting. I read to try give her Aspirin so i put a small amount in their water powdered.
This is all really sudden and i dont have the slightest idea what else we can do and are very concerned! Any insight would be very greatly appreciated!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I don't have guineas, but I know they are different from chickens. A bit flighty and still wild, don't like being touched.

R2elk, please help.

 

[Zephyr0]

As has been my experience with them, however these 2 are freakishly tame. They will sit one our shoulders and laps and enjoy being pet! Sort of little silly

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Zephyr0,

I am sorry no one experienced with guineas, has replied. You should also make an URGENT request on the Guinea forum.

How is your guinea today?

I have a lot of experience with chickens. Perhaps I can help, let me know.

God Bless

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your guinea hen. I am pretty certain that Mareks disease does not affect guineas, so that would point more to a leg bone deformity that has worsened with age, a vitamin deficiency, or an injury. It would be good to see a picture of her standing. Are you certain both of them are female? Just wondering if the other tried to mate, but maybe too young.

Leg bone deformities can affect all poultry from birth, and may cause one or both legs to look knock-kneed or bow-legged, or have a twisted leg. The hock tendons can become ruptured when the deformity worsens. Is there any redness or swelling in the affected hock?

Since vitamin deficiency could also be a problem, it would be good to feed them only a balanced commercial gamebird or chick grower feed, and I would add some B complex daily to their feed-1 crushed tablet sprinkled over food or a little egg would be good. Riboflavin is important in leg health, so if using another type of vitamin, make sure that it contains riboflavin (vitamin B2.)

 

[Zephyr0]

I very much wish I could get a photo of her standing but she will not stand up if I try to encourage her to do so she will Screech and flap her wings and makes this face that almost out loud says "It hurts".

 

[Zephyr0]

They've been very tame so it's been easy for me to check their legs I had not noticed or felt any things strange about their legs they have always felt perfectly developed.
What baffles me most about this is that they were in a much smaller space with definitely not enough room to be harmed by Falling down... both of the birds are female so them trying to mate early or not isn't an issue really. If she would just let me have a feel or look I might be able to help determine for myself what the problem is but I'm terrified of her hurting herself more because of the struggle she goes into when I reach in...
I wish there was a way to safely sedate her!
Also it's okay and thank you I might post something as you suggested as well. We've been calling different vet offices all morning to see if they take birds or poultry at all but no luck yet.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Zephyr0,

You say, your guineas are unusually tame, this is good. You simply must examine the bird.

This what I do to handle my large rooster. Use a large bath towel, and drop it over her, covering her head. Then, swaddle her like a baby. Talk softly like when you are petting her. Hold her till she is calm. Make sure she can breath, and is not over stressing (turning purple). If you can keep her eyes covered, she will stay quiet. Perhaps a sock that is cut to cover her eyes and head only, while leaving the mouth exposed. I have done this too with my more difficult roosters.

If you feel she is going to let you examine her, proceed. If you do nothing she may die. Sedating a bird is very risky. A vet will tell you this.

Quick physical exam:
Gently run your fingers up an done her legs to check for any breaks.
Look under her wings, vent, belly, and around the neck for blood or injury.
Open her mouth, and look inside for any obstructions, growths, or blood.

If there is no evident physical damage. The next thing would be disease or nutritional problems.

Quick check for disease:
Describe her poop.
Check for discharge from the nostrils and eyes.
Check for swelling of the face.
Look around the pen for any regurgitated food (vomit).
Does the other guinea show any similar symptoms today?

Nutritional check:
What are you feeding the guineas? Any recent changes?
Have you or anyone else given them anything new to eat?


Environment check:
Check the yard for evidence of predator attack, i.e., feathers.
Has the weather been unusually cool, or hot?
Any hazardous chemicals left out in the yard?

Lastly, you describe the two guineas as "freakishly" tame.
This could be a symptom in itself. Perhaps they have been ill. What you interpret as freakishly tame, is really weakness, or lethargy, from illness. Perhaps a nutritional imbalance, like vitamin E, and/or Selenium.

These birds have specific nutritional needs, especially when they are keets.

These are my thoughts on your guinea's issue. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless