Unusual Guinea Fowl Behaviour
On Monday Lightening The II didn’t look very well. She was reluctant to come out of the poultry hut and spent the day sitting in the same place unless I got abit too close for her and she reluctantly moved to a safe distance. I noticed that her droppings were a little loose so I checked out my guinea fowl books and decided that she had every guinea fowl ailment in the books.
I made sure that she had access to water and I actually saw her drink which was a good sign, although the books did say that drinking too much was a syptom of various illnesses, so this was also a potential worry.
On Tuesday Lightening The II looked a little better and although she wasn’t rushing out the door with some of the other guinea fowl she did make her way outside and ventured further than the previous day, although she did stay relatively close to the poultry hut.
On Wednesday she appeared more spritely and she wandered about alot. I saw her eating grass and she started to call out to the others which she hadn’t done for a few days.
She is still keeping to herself but she no longer looks poorly.
I am not sure if Lightening The II is poorly. Initially I thought that she might have coccidiosis, but now I am not sure if she is broody or being bullied by the other guinea fowl. I don’t know if it is true but sometimes poultry can pick on a bird if they are a different colour so this may be what is happening as she is my only white guinea fowl. I only question this as I have one pearl guinea fowl and she is certainly not bullied.
I will let you know how Lightening The II gets on over the next few days.
Guinea Fowl Illness My Guinea Fowl
It can be so difficult to know just what’s wrong. So many wouldn’t spend time finding out, but just cull the sufferer. I always felt I needed to know what was causing the trouble, as it might turn out to be something that could affect the whole flock. Good luck with Lightning The II.
Comment by Dragonstar — May 15, 2008 @ 6:26 am
I think you are credit to your trade as a farmer.
You take such good care of your animals, Many would not care about an egg bound chicken or a sick guinea fowl.
Good for you!
Comment by Diane — May 15, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
Perhaps she is feeling like the Ugly Duckling?
Comment by TopVeg — May 16, 2008 @ 5:29 am
Could be, animals can be bullied or be a bully as well. My Grandma used to have Guinea’s, they are characters for sure.
Comment by Curtis — May 18, 2008 @ 3:26 am
Hi Sarah, Birds and animals do take some looking after don’t they?
It’s hard to know what’s wrong with chickens, guinea fowl etc isn’t it?
We used to have a lot of hens. Now we only have two. All day they walk round the farm together like two old women. They go everywhere together. We wonder what will happen when one becomes ill. Like you we’ll be trying to find out the cause of the illness. We couldn’t just have one hen on the farm, it would be too sad! Yet we couldn’t buy one hen just to keep another hen company. I suppose we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Hope you get your problem sorted. Trisha from Bird Table News
Comment by Trisha — May 18, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
Interesting you mention color. We have six, two of each color, but last December we lost one of our purples to a hawk.
The other one is definitely exiled much of the time and I feel just terrible for her. Sometimes one of the other females strolls around with her, but often the one male we have chases her away from the group. Sometimes he tries to keep her out of their shed at night, so in general she is skittish about going in and it can be a chore.
Comment by velvet goldmine — May 22, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
I raised two guineafowls. They bred twice but after the second time, (their hatchlings are a few weeks old already), they have both disappeared. Is it possible that they flew away or did something catch them? (Since they were tame and like pets). I don’t know a lot about their behaviour but I thought they would stay or at least come home every night because they were hand raised and very tame. Elize
Comment by elize groenewald — June 14, 2008 @ 8:36 am
Hi Elize,
Thanks for visiting my website and leaving this comment.
I am so sorry to hear that your guinea fowl have disappeared. If you have had your guinea fowl for a while and they are used to their surroundings and environment then it is not likely that they have flown off as guinea fowl do not like to fly unless they are underthreat from a predator or get spooked.
If the guinea fowl where new to the environment they they may have got lost and can’t find their way back. Over the past 4 years of observing guinea fowl I have found them to be creatures of habit that follow a routine. Although they can range far and wide if they are able to they do seem to have a pattern to their ranging and will return at the end of the day.
The only time that my guinea fowl haven’t returned is if the hen is sitting on a nest, if they have been frightened and have either flown up high or are hiding in the undergrowth or if they have been taken by a fox.
If i cannot find my missing guinea fowl on any nests and in the trees above then I start to check the hedgerows. On two occasions I have lost guinea hens to foxes and on both occasions I have found a pile of feathers that indicate that they have been taken.
As you say, your guinea fowl were hand raised and were tame so they are likely to come back if they haven’t been frightened by anything.
I hope that a predator hasn’t got you guinea fowl. if they do come back, do you lock your guinea fowl up at night? if you do not I would train them to go into a hut. Mine have all been trained to go in a hut at night and in the Spring and summer when the threat of foxes is greater I get the guinea fowl in a little earlier than nightfall so that they are safe. if they roost in trees, they are more at risk to predators especially in the summer.
I do hope that your guinea fowl return safely. let us know if there is any good news and let me know how the hatchlings get on.
Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 15, 2008 @ 10:00 pm