DEPRESSED SILKIE?!?!

chooksarecool

Hatching
Jan 18, 2017
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Please help!! My favourite silkie has been acting very strange recently. She is the smallest in a flock of 5 chickens consisting of 2 ISA browns, an Australorp and another Silkie who is a little bigger than she is. She is constantly getting picked on by the 2 ISA browns and finds it hard to get food by herself as she is scared of them, so is the other silkie. We have had our chickens for about 5 months now and everything seemed fine until the past week or so, when the pecking got much more frequent. When we first got her, she was lively and ran around the garden with the other silkie, who is still the same. Neither of them are laying yet as they are still quite young. This morning we found Petal (the smallest silkie) lying on the ground in front of the ramp, where the other chickens were standing on her as they came out of their night coop. She didn't move so we then had to pick her up and put her under the deck with her own food and water. She then moved a little, but hasn't moved from that spot for a few hours now. She also doesn't care if you pick her up at all, whereas my other Silkie sometimes tries to flap away. It has been extremely hot here recently, getting to about 38 degrees so I have been hosing down the bricks and soil with water to cool them down but the chickens are panting and still seem very warm. She is the sweetest little chicken, and I love her so much which is why I am so worried. Could she be depressed or is she sick?? What can I do to help her??
 
Welcome to BYC
I am sorry your little bird is not doing well - but this is not entirely surprising given the mix of your flock. Generally speaking, silkies are prone to doing poorly in a mixed flock situation, especially if the other birds are of an aggressive nature. Silkies are prime targets for bullying. It sounds like your little one is in need of some serious intensive care to help her to hopefully bounce back. I would take her inside and set up a "hospital" unit for her -- a box or crate in a dark, quiet, warm area -- provide her with plenty of fresh water and offer tempting treats to get the appetite going. Monitor intake/output closely. If she doesn't improve or gets worse in the next 24 hours it may be necessary to take further action.

Moving forward - It may be best to provide a separate housing situation for your two silkies so that they can live peacefully together-protected from the other chickens.
 
Welcome to BYC
I am sorry your little bird is not doing well - but this is not entirely surprising given the mix of your flock.  Generally speaking, silkies are prone to doing poorly in a mixed flock situation, especially if the other birds are of an aggressive nature.  Silkies are prime targets for bullying.  It sounds like your little one is in need of some serious intensive care to help her to hopefully bounce back.  I would take her inside and set up a "hospital" unit for her -- a box or crate in a dark, quiet, warm area -- provide her with plenty of fresh water and offer tempting treats to get the appetite going.  Monitor intake/output closely.  If she doesn't improve or gets worse in the next 24 hours it may be necessary to take further action.

Moving forward - It may be best to provide a separate housing situation for your two silkies so that they can live peacefully together-protected from the other chickens.


Hello, thank you for your advice! We have made the two silkies a small but cosy house seperate from the other three girls for during the night. We have brought them both inside today, (they get stressed when they are not together) away from the other hens (they are all free range during the day) and we have given them plenty of fresh food and water, along with a few treats that they have eaten. The sick silkie has been sleeping most of the day and hasn't walked around much. She seems very weak and easily falls over, unable to get back up. We now think she has some kind of illness but still not sure what. We all love her so so much, and are considering taking her to the vet, but only if necessary due to the high expense of it. She is still eating a drinking, but is very weak and sleepy - definitely not her usual personality. Are there any illnesses that fit these symptoms? Should we take her to the vet?
 
I agree with Ol Grey Mare. But also, she could possibly be dehydrated or overheated?

We have considered the fact that she may be over heated and have taken inside with the aircon, where it is much cooler for them. We have given them a cosy corner with food and water and she seems to be doing okay. Still very weak and sleepy.
 
We have considered the fact that she may be over heated and have taken inside with the aircon, where it is much cooler for them. We have given them a cosy corner with food and water and she seems to be doing okay. Still very weak and sleepy.


That's good! I hope she can recover :)
 

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