Are you thinking about raising a Guinea Fowl or Guinea Fowls? And you need an answer to this common question of ” do Guinea fowl have a disease”?
Well, look no further, cause we’ve got you covered.
The answer to the question: do Guinea Fowl carry disease? Of course, they do. There is no poultry bird, even regular animals, that doesn’t carry one disease or the other.
These diseases just vary from one another. The best thing is to know the diseases that affect Guinea fowl, their symptoms, how to tell which disease they have, and of course how you can treat them.
Luckily for you, we have compiled all you need to know down to the letter in this article. Sit back relax and enjoy the shared knowledge
Let’s dive in!
What are the Symptoms of Guinea Illness?
A majority of Guinea fowls are raised for their eggs and their meat.
In areas prone to drought, they do well because of their robust nature. Insects and crop pests are the main sources of food for the birds.
Rattlesnakes, venomous insects, and snakes that approach their nesting areas have been known to be attacked by alert birds.
An impending illness can be detected early by a change in alertness or a decrease in egg production.
Examine their body for any additional symptoms that could indicate the presence of a serious disease or condition.
Related: Here is an article I wrote on can guinea fowls eat corn?
How to know if my Guinea fowl is not doing well
Answering the question of how do I know if my Guinea fowl is not doing well is if your Guinea fowl is not eating and drinking as it normally would that’s a sign something may be going on with her and that it is carrying a disease
- When it is not cold, it will be all fluffed up and hunched up in a ball.
- Stayed put and didn’t wander with the rest of the group.
Here is what to check to know if your Guinea fowl is carrying a disease.
1. Check the head and neck: It’s easy to spot common poultry diseases just by looking at the head of your Guinea hens.
Respiratory infections can cause discharge from the eyes or nostrils, while a swollen head syndrome can cause swelling of the face, helmet, or wattles.
A sick hen’s appetite is often diminished, and she may stop drinking water. When you examine the head of your guinea hen, you may also notice dull eyes, red tear ducts, and sneezing.
2. Check the breathing: The only sound you’ll hear at night is your guinea’s breathing.
If her breathing sounds labored or Rattley, she should be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation. With your fingers, feel her body closely.
3. Lost weight: She may become emaciated quickly if she becomes ill and does not drink enough water, especially if she becomes dehydrated.
One of the symptoms of some diseases, lymphoid leukosis, is an enlarged abdomen As she gets sicker, she will puff up her feathers and sit in an unnatural position, hunched over.
4. Let’s talk about bottoms: The vent area of your Guinea fowl’s tail should be visible. She may have parasites, redness, or swelling if you notice mites, redness, or swelling.
It is possible for her vent to be pasty or to have explosive diarrhea, as indicated by soiled feathers.
Another bird may pick at open wounds caused by a sick bird pecking at the feathers surrounding her vent.
Her eggs are a treat to see. The feathers should be smooth and shiny, with no runny whites, thin or missing shells, or any other signs that your bird is ill.
5. Gait and walking: It may also be difficult to stand or unwilling to do so as signs of illness.
As a result, her legs may become paler, swollen, or inflamed, and she may choose to lie with them straight out instead of tucked under her.
It is possible for guinea hens that are sick to emit an unpleasant odor as well.
Guinea hens are susceptible to illness and can die quickly without medical attention. Put her in a warm, draft-free area if you suspect she is ill.
Also check out this article I wrote on can guinea fowls handle cold weather?
What causes illness in Guinea fowl?
Viral, bacterial, and protozoan diseases can affect Guinea fowls, despite their resilience and resistance.
E. coli is found in young keets aged 8 to 12 weeks. It is believed that poor litter management is primarily to blame for the infection.
Chickens are susceptible to coccidiosis infection, a severe diarrhoeal condition that is most common in the winter months.
Like chickens, Guinea fowls require a lot of nutrients in their feed, which is why local chicken varieties aren’t suitable.
The average daily consumption for adults is about 200 grams of grass and weeds for each bird.
As long as they eat grit and stones, they will usually be fine, according to experts.
Guinea fowl can become egg-bound.
Guinea pigs have never had this problem, but first-time layers may. Her vent will be wet and messy if there is an egg stuck inside.
However, the treatment is the same as for chickens, despite the low likelihood of success.
Mortality should be avoided at all costs.
Keet mortality: Another limiting factor in the rearing of Guinea fowl is the keet mortality rate.
From the first week after hatching, keets require high levels of protein and minerals in their feed.
Lack of these nutrients can lead to poor growth and increased susceptibility to infections.
Avian influenza and folliculitis are transmitted by direct contact between infected and susceptible birds or by mosquito bites.
When birds are infected with a virus, the virus is shed in the form of scabs. As well as the eyes and skin wounds, viruses can also enter the bloodstream through the lungs and respiratory tract.
Folliculitis is spread by direct contact between infected and susceptible birds, or by mosquito bites in the case of avian influenza.
Birds that have been infected with a virus can shed scabs that contain the virus.
Viral particles can enter the bloodstream through the eye, skin wounds, or respiratory tract, among other entry points.
Although there is no treatment for fowl pox, it is possible to vaccinate against it.
Prevention of fowl pox: Fowlpox does not have a cure. Vaccination is the most effective way to combat the disease and keep it under control.
A variety of vaccines are available for use in backyard flocks and commercial flocks to prevent the spread of pox.
Avian Pox Vaccine is a live virus vaccine that has been propagated in chicken embryos and is freeze-dried for use in poultry birds.
Infectious Coryza: Disease that affects poultry, game birds, guinea fowl, turkeys, and pheasants, among others
It’s usually caused by improper bird management that exposes birds to undue stress.
Influenza-like coryza is caused by a specific microorganism, and the severity of the disease is increased in susceptible birds.
In addition to respiratory distress, watery and swollen eyes, and poor health are common symptoms.
Simple coryza can be treated by removing the source of the exposure. Antibiotics have several benefits.
If the exposure risk is high, vaccination is recommended.
Cholera: Cholera in poultry is a serious problem. All types of domestic poultry and game birds are susceptible to the disease.
A bird disease caused by Pasteurella multocida, fowl cholera is contagious. Acutely, it is associated with an increased mortality rate.
Lameness, swollen wattles, pneumonia, and torticollis are all chronic symptoms, but they can also be asymptomatic.
Cholera in poultry is most common in adults and older birds. When an outbreak is at its most severe, dead birds may be the first sign of the disease.
Symptoms include fever, reduced feed consumption, mucoid discharge from the mouth, ruffled feathers, diarrhea, and labored breathing.
Affected birds lose weight, become lame from joint infections, and develop rattling noises from exudate in the air passages as they progress through the disease process.
It has been shown that there are multiple ways to transmit information.
Predators and rodents, as well as flock additions and free-flying birds, are possible causes.
Both sulfa drugs and vaccination can be used to treat a flock. Sulfa drugs leave residues in meat and eggs.
When using antibiotics, higher doses and long-term medication are required to stop the outbreak.
It is possible to prevent disease through vaccination. Avoid immunizing against fowl cholera unless there is a problem on your farm.
The control of rodents is essential to prevent future outbreaks of the disease.
Marek’s disease: As a highly contagious virus, Marek’s Disease is a serious problem in poultry.
As far as we know, vaccination is the only way to prevent tumor development, but vaccination does not prevent virus transmission.
One-day-old chicks can be inoculated subcutaneously with the vaccine.
Paralysis of the wings and legs is common.
Newcastle disease: All birds of all ages are susceptible to Newcastle disease.
In addition to humans and other mammals, Newcastle can also affect humans. It causes mild conjunctivitis in these species.
Newcastle disease comes in mild, moderate, and highly pathogenic forms.
This means that you must notify the authorities if you have any suspicions.
Symptoms of Newcastle disease include hoarse chirps (in chicks), watery discharge from the nose, labored breathing or gasping, swelling of the face, paralysis, trembling, and twisting of the neck, among others.
A compulsory slaughter policy is in place, and mortality rates range from 10 to 80 percent.
Avian influenza: A virus is a pathogen. Many different strains of a highly contagious, severe virus.
Blue combs and wattles, diarrhea, and blood-tinged discharge from the nostrils are some of the symptoms.
There is no treatment for this condition. If you suspect it, you must notify the authorities.
All birds on infected premises and in the surrounding area must be slaughtered.
Now you know that Guinea fowls carry diseases, the signs, prevention, and treatment of the diseases that affect Guinea fowl.
If you can follow what has been written in this article, you will be able to tend and care for your Guinea pigeons.
