There are 4 chicks in the brooder that are 8 weeks old. I started with 5; 2 silkies, 2 cochins, and 1 cochin mix.
The blue silkie, Petie, was the only hatchling from shipped eggs, so I went to a friend and bought 4 that were also just hatched. All were fine for several weeks. About 4 weeks ago Petie stopped growing and started sleeping most of the time. He would eat and drink then go back to sleep. The others were running around fine.
By early this week Petie was half the size of the others, always sleeping, and getting weak. This past wednesday we lost Petie. We was down and was about dead. His body was stiff, he was gasping for breath, and couldn't hold up his head. We put him down so that he wouldn't suffer anymore.
Now Spenda, the white silkie, is starting to act the same way that Petie started. He is sleeping most of the time and just not staying with the others. The other 3 are hyper and active like normal 8 weeks old.
I have no clue what is going on.
I have raised a few silkies in the past and raised them the same as other chicks. They have starter grower and fresh water. They are on shavings and the brooder is cleaned weekly. Every other day I wipe the inside out with a damp cloth to keep the chick dust down. The temperature in the Brooder is between 70 and 75.
When Petie was like this I tried antibiotics in the water and that did nothing.
I just put some Poultry Vits & Nutrients in their water. I just don't know what else to do.
Matt
The blue silkie, Petie, was the only hatchling from shipped eggs, so I went to a friend and bought 4 that were also just hatched. All were fine for several weeks. About 4 weeks ago Petie stopped growing and started sleeping most of the time. He would eat and drink then go back to sleep. The others were running around fine.
By early this week Petie was half the size of the others, always sleeping, and getting weak. This past wednesday we lost Petie. We was down and was about dead. His body was stiff, he was gasping for breath, and couldn't hold up his head. We put him down so that he wouldn't suffer anymore.
Now Spenda, the white silkie, is starting to act the same way that Petie started. He is sleeping most of the time and just not staying with the others. The other 3 are hyper and active like normal 8 weeks old.
I have no clue what is going on.
I have raised a few silkies in the past and raised them the same as other chicks. They have starter grower and fresh water. They are on shavings and the brooder is cleaned weekly. Every other day I wipe the inside out with a damp cloth to keep the chick dust down. The temperature in the Brooder is between 70 and 75.
When Petie was like this I tried antibiotics in the water and that did nothing.
I just put some Poultry Vits & Nutrients in their water. I just don't know what else to do.
Matt
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