7 week old silkie collapsed-please help us.

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That's a crock. Of course bantams and silkies can be vaccinated and given medicated feed. It's amazing what people think they know...
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Being these were our first chickens since I was a child{ A long time ago}
I assumed the lady at the feed store knew what she was talking about and we had followed her advice since because we wanted to do what was best for the chicks. She seemed like she knew alot about them. She told us no medicated food for bantams, and Ameraucanas. They are started on unmedicated game starter. She got us the bag for these and the medicated feed for the Orps and Brahmas. She also mentioned they don't normally vaccinate bantams. I am going to try to find out if our two standard breeds were vaccinated. The Silkies were purchased from a breeder with really nice birds and we totally fell in love with them. He had told us unmedicated so I was thinking, about what they lady at the feed store said so it must be right.
I am really worried about Mareks. It seems as if the symtoms fit, but she does not have the eye symtom. She is fighting and trying really hard now to rally and eat and drink. I have to hold her up and am feeding her with a spoon which she is eating good from. She will take small pieces of scrambled egg from my hand. She seems to have lost weight. I am getting the fecal done as soon as my vet is in and getting the coccidia meds just in case to have on hand for the others as well. I have read lots on mareks now and see two different schools of thought on it so it is alot to think about. WE have Silkies, Ameraucanas {EEs} and a couple Orps and Brahmas. We love them all, each breed is a little different and dear to us. We are so worried now we could lose them all or many of them. I will look into the vaccines and am wondering about the B factors in some chickens blood that makes them resistant. Those are probably the ones nature would want to survive to breed stronger resistant birds. I was reading that vaccines do not prevent the disease just the symtoms but it will continue to be spread by vaccinated birds though they show no symtoms.
But I do not want to lose birds we love either so I will give this some deep thought. I will now feed the medicated feed to any future chicks of any breed. I am glad I found this forum and was really happy to see we are not the only people who are crazy about chickens.
 
Worms, Coccidia etc. and parisites can cause sim. symtoms too.. Take it a step at a time. I am going through this myself, it can happen to anyone, at any time and even the Vets etc. are having trouble with it. Don't beat yourself up about it.
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I have raised many silkies, serama, cochin bantams etc. and all have been on a chicken medicated starter, as well as most people on here I believe. I don't know where she got her info. Best thing you can do is stay calm, don't make rush decisions, do your homework - not all Vets are experts on chickens even if they think they are, and keep her hydrated and fed. I wish you all the luck and prayers....
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I would give her, and the other silkies 1/4 teaspoon Corrid powder mixed in a quart jar of water.
If it's cocci, the others may get it since it's very contagious.
I hope she pulls through. You're a great chicken Mom. :aww
 
I just wanted to thank everyone for the kind words and advice. I appreciate the support. Our Silkie was clear for coccidia and worms.
She is still lying with her neck to the side and one leg forward the other backward. Just a little while ago she struggled to sit up and did for a bit. I noticed the toes on one foot are curled now and she can't seem to move them. She has been very vocal about reminding me when she is hungry and is eating great. She is drinking some water. My vet didn't seem to know if there was a test for mareks disease or if the bird must die and be sent for an autopsy. She said she had little chicken experience . I feel so bad for this baby. She does not seem to be in pain and sure has an appetite. We are keeping her clean, fed, and as comfortable as possible.Does this sound like mareks disease? Anyone else been through it here? I am so worried about the other birds. I am going to try vaccinating . I don't yet know for sure what happened to her, but I am pretty sure she didn't get injured or eat anything bad. It was a very sudden thing.
Michele
 
It sounds like it may be Mareks then, I have gone through that before and have had some survive. Some research has suggested to Vacc even the ones showing systems because it may help them aswell. Most of the time a necropsy is used to identify Mareks, but can be uncertain also. I would talk to your states Dept of Ag & Animals and see if they can give you some ideas on other options, also your states University, many have animal programs with people that specialize in poultry. Best thing for her is to keep up the nutrishion, perhaps giving her some baby parrot feeding formula, the wet mash seems to help them eat more and is loaded with good Vit etc. Also keep her hydrated but avoid dishes she can fall into. A cage that has wire is good so droppings don't stick to her. You might also want to bandiad her bad leg to the good one like they do for straddle leg, so her leg does not keep flipping back. Birds with Mareks are more at risk to contacting other dieases because of their poor immune system, any thing you can give to help her system will be helpful. I find my Vacc at Jeffers Equine,l under livestock. It's around $9-$10 , 1000 doses and can be divided up into 4 different uses if you do not rehydrate all the Vacc. Jeffers only charges $3 for insulated box and $1 for an ice pack. You have to use up the hydrated dose within 1hr. I hope this is not what she has, but if so i wish you all the luck and prayers.
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