1 wk old silkie chick having what looks like seizures

[meriruka]

Today one of my silkie chicks was squeaking loudly. All 4 have been fine up to this point. They are in a brooder on paper towels with medicated chick feed & water.
After watching for a while, the chick will suddenly open his beak very wide, drop his head down and his body will shake like chickens do after a dust bath, as if shaking out the dirt from feathers. He squeaks loudly, then will close his eyes & lay down until the next one.
He is pooping normally.
Any ideas what this could be?

 

[chickensioux]

I believe silkies are prone to neurological issues. Maybe someone else knows better.
Here is a website that discusses the "hole in the head" of silkies. All silkies have this and sometimes they are easily injured. http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/HoleIn Head.html. Good luck with that baby.

 

[meriruka]

Thanks for the info. This sounds like what is happening. I have no idea where to get Prednizone or how much to give. Do you know?

 

[chickensioux]

No, I'm sorry I don't other than a vet. It would need systemic prednisone and I think it is only prescription. It would also probably have to be injectible. Hope you can find a vet that will either subscribe you some or will look at the chick for you. Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

You would have to get prednizone from a vet. I am so sorry about your little one

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

It is vitamin B and vit E
you need to crush the 1/2 pill
and give it to the chick with eye dropper put in back of throat till you get the 1/2 pill in twice a day for several days and it seems better
has to do with the top knot on the chicks skull
and deficient in vit B

you can also make wet mash with brewers yeast in it and will help the chick it is vit B
vit E you can take a huans vit E 1000 mg capsule and eitherput it in a small amount of wet mash
or cut end of vit E capsule and put in mouth of chick till it all goes in
If adult bird just put capsule in beask and hold beak shut and stroke their neck till they swallow it. this works for crook neck or limber neck in birds as well as having siesures

this is on Alans site under silkie top knot
"The vet suggested prednisone might help afflicted birds. Vitamin E and vitamin B complex seem to help Crookneck birds; these vitamins help the nervous system. All of this is consistent with my theory that an injury to a Silkie's exposed brain produces crookneck. "



you can go to Alans web site
also the
asbc site on silkies
Alan" <[email protected]>
ContactsTo: [email protected] this article of mine:

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/ Article/Incubato rControl. html



also his web site has lots of silkie articles

 

[meriruka]

Thanks everyone. There are no vets in my (very) rural area that will look at chickens and of course, everything in the closest town closes at 5. I do have poultry vitamins that contain vitamins B & E, would that help until I can go to town tomorrow?

 

[Judy]

Sure, might be all it needs.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

yes use a eye dropper to put in the meds mixed with water as irected
put eye dropper in back of throat and it wwill be okay
do this several times a day to get it started soon

 

[meriruka]

He's getting better! I watched him this morning and he behaved normally. Thanks everyone for your help!