- Jan 14, 2009
- 99
- 41
- 41
Dear backyard forum,
I'm very concerned and hoping you can help me.
I only have two silkies, Sophie and Suzie, less than 2 months old. Yesterday morning Suzie became all twisted, even moreso in her neck, but she can't stand up most of the time and has begun having severe dystonic problems.
Then, suddenly today she had a dropping with what looked like blood in it, but Im not quite sure it is blood. as it also looks a bit like flesh, subsequent droppings have been normal. Dh is on the way to vet, (non_avian.).. with the abnormal and a normal FECAL sample. It also looks like it could be some bit of flesh, rather than blood.The bloody, or fleshie portion is cylindrical. The pooh around it is very disintegrated and watery, maybe slimy, but I didn't touch it. I'm thinking the stress of whatever this neurological thing is, has kicked up coccidiosis. Sp? the chicks have been outside to visit the chicken yard on warm days.
The brooder has newspaper on the floor that I change at least twice a day, sometimes 3 or 4. In the meantime I brush away or pick up poohs and cover loose stools with scraps of paper. This brooder is 3ft circle wood with plexiglass surround, so that I can see them at all times from My bed. I am here 21 hrs a day. They bring me a lot of joy, and as the new hatchlings come on, the older ones move out to the chicken coop or in the case of the seramas an inside one. The plexiglass brooder is new only to these babies.
There are no other signs of trauma, though she was born with curled toes on left foot. Her sister is perfect. They are buff silkies and the only two who hatched from maybe 8 or ten eggs.
She is eating and drinking and doesn't seem to be feverish though I can't swear to that as I haven't taken her temp.
I have been feeding her yesterday and tomorrow and personally handling her, because she is so twisted, she can't eat unless I support her on both sides in a position that she can get her self upright. Good appetite. Part of the time she has had to drink water from my finger tips with her head upside down.
It has been quite warm the last two days and since the chicks are older Dh insisted on turning off the brooder heater. (ceramic non_lite,) hanging above the brooder on tripod.
Did I say that I found her this way, yesterday morning, so this is second morning.
The treatment I have administered thus far has been tryaminicyn and supportive in nutrition and hydration, as she is unable to turn her head up most of the time to eat without assistance.
When returned to the coop she becomes a twisted ball and schrirms upside down all over the brooder. She seems to be suffering as she cries out as though in pain, but when I hold her supportively she is much better.
I have to tell you, I relate to her suffering very much, as I have MS, and one of my major problems is the spasticity, paralysis, pain, and twisting. This is very concerning for me. I have never seen it in an animal.
I can't think of any products or toxics she could have come into contact with. And none of the other birds are presenting likewise.
Eating serama feed, hi protien game, ground so the seramas can eat it, but there are larger chunks the silkies prefer. The serama's have confused the silkies with mama's because they are so large in comparison, though only two weeks older. They all snuggle together to sleep and eat.
Dh, just returned from Vet, fecal sample was clear, no parasites, nor coccidiosis.
Do I need to be concerned about Marek's disease?
I don't want to loose her, and am concerned about the other birds in the brooder. (Her sister and four younger serama's) as this neurological problem is new.
We need to keep cost as low as possible, but I have a medical background and am able to aid in her care and dx. I have not much expericence in Vet work.
If you can help me at all, I would greatly appreciate it. Willing to answer more questions. Will check often.
With great appreciation,
MarlaKaye
I'm very concerned and hoping you can help me.
I only have two silkies, Sophie and Suzie, less than 2 months old. Yesterday morning Suzie became all twisted, even moreso in her neck, but she can't stand up most of the time and has begun having severe dystonic problems.
Then, suddenly today she had a dropping with what looked like blood in it, but Im not quite sure it is blood. as it also looks a bit like flesh, subsequent droppings have been normal. Dh is on the way to vet, (non_avian.).. with the abnormal and a normal FECAL sample. It also looks like it could be some bit of flesh, rather than blood.The bloody, or fleshie portion is cylindrical. The pooh around it is very disintegrated and watery, maybe slimy, but I didn't touch it. I'm thinking the stress of whatever this neurological thing is, has kicked up coccidiosis. Sp? the chicks have been outside to visit the chicken yard on warm days.
The brooder has newspaper on the floor that I change at least twice a day, sometimes 3 or 4. In the meantime I brush away or pick up poohs and cover loose stools with scraps of paper. This brooder is 3ft circle wood with plexiglass surround, so that I can see them at all times from My bed. I am here 21 hrs a day. They bring me a lot of joy, and as the new hatchlings come on, the older ones move out to the chicken coop or in the case of the seramas an inside one. The plexiglass brooder is new only to these babies.
There are no other signs of trauma, though she was born with curled toes on left foot. Her sister is perfect. They are buff silkies and the only two who hatched from maybe 8 or ten eggs.
She is eating and drinking and doesn't seem to be feverish though I can't swear to that as I haven't taken her temp.
I have been feeding her yesterday and tomorrow and personally handling her, because she is so twisted, she can't eat unless I support her on both sides in a position that she can get her self upright. Good appetite. Part of the time she has had to drink water from my finger tips with her head upside down.
It has been quite warm the last two days and since the chicks are older Dh insisted on turning off the brooder heater. (ceramic non_lite,) hanging above the brooder on tripod.
Did I say that I found her this way, yesterday morning, so this is second morning.
The treatment I have administered thus far has been tryaminicyn and supportive in nutrition and hydration, as she is unable to turn her head up most of the time to eat without assistance.
When returned to the coop she becomes a twisted ball and schrirms upside down all over the brooder. She seems to be suffering as she cries out as though in pain, but when I hold her supportively she is much better.
I have to tell you, I relate to her suffering very much, as I have MS, and one of my major problems is the spasticity, paralysis, pain, and twisting. This is very concerning for me. I have never seen it in an animal.
I can't think of any products or toxics she could have come into contact with. And none of the other birds are presenting likewise.
Eating serama feed, hi protien game, ground so the seramas can eat it, but there are larger chunks the silkies prefer. The serama's have confused the silkies with mama's because they are so large in comparison, though only two weeks older. They all snuggle together to sleep and eat.
Dh, just returned from Vet, fecal sample was clear, no parasites, nor coccidiosis.
Do I need to be concerned about Marek's disease?
I don't want to loose her, and am concerned about the other birds in the brooder. (Her sister and four younger serama's) as this neurological problem is new.
We need to keep cost as low as possible, but I have a medical background and am able to aid in her care and dx. I have not much expericence in Vet work.
If you can help me at all, I would greatly appreciate it. Willing to answer more questions. Will check often.
With great appreciation,
MarlaKaye
