I am worried my Silkie hen may have a disease..

Hi

It's been a few days now and I was just wondering how little Sky is doing and hoping she has picked up?

Awe, i find it so lovely that you care so much. I really appreciate i xxo Thankyou

Sky is doing much better. She is eating and drinking when i give her her food and she is talking to me (clucking back when i talk to her) and wandering around her enclosure. She is on antibiotics and seems almost well enough to go back with her friends.

The only thing is that she keeps shaking her head most of the time. Do you know why this would be? Would it be a problem if I put her back with the rest of the flock do you think? I am not going to put her with the others until she is 100% better but i dont want to keep her all alone for any longer than needed either. I have powdered her with lice/mites dust to keep them away so i dont think it would be that but i will do it again soon and i didnt find anything in her ears so i am once again unsure of the circumstances.

She is also not laying yet but i am not worried as her sister stopped for a while too and has only just started again.

All up its nothing too major and she seems well. Its a huge relief.



Thanks for all your time and help, you have been so lovely and advised me well x

How are your chickens going, may I ask?

That is so good to hear! I was really worried that it would be bad news.

I'm not sure about the head shaking. I've had them do that when they have a respiratory problem and like you I might have suspected lice around the head and ears but you've already covered that. It may be neurological or something completely different.
Do be careful when you reintroduce her and do it via a cage for a few days unless you can be there to closely supervise things as even after a short time they can forget a flock mate and attack, especially if she is lacking confidence, which she may be through being ill.

I hope Sky continues to do well and re-integration goes smoothly but keep a special eye on her for any signs of relapse.

Very best wishes

Barbara

PS. It's so lovely that she chatters back to you when you talk to her. One of the up sides of nursing a sick bird is that you build up a special bond with them. Of course, it makes it all the harder on you if they don't make it but it's an absolute joy when they do.

It certainly is. I love talking to the hens and i have bonded more with her recently, it may sound funny to some people but i tend to talk to all of my animals and i think it is adorable when they talk back x

I am around the hens most of the day so i will be supervising them well and watching for any signs of unfriendliness, though they were always great friends so hopefully all goes well and i think it will but best to be safe then sorry of course.

Hopefully if there is anything wrong, the antibiotics will help her shake it or at least lessen the symptoms.

I am hoping to reintroduce her to the other two girls very soon, though would it be wise to if she continues the head shaking with no other symptoms? I am hoping she does stop this though but if she doesn't would it be worth the risk or would it be fine if she displays nothing more?
Either way, I will continue keeping an eye on her in the enclosure for now and see what happens.


Thank you very much for all your help and reassurance xxo I will let you know when anything new happens.





Regards
~Wildspirit (Chantelle)