At a loss...

[Anoushka]

I have a Silkie. I’ve had her for 5 weeks. I got her when she was between 12 &14 weeks old. She became ill : weeks ago. Wouldn’t leave the coupe. She’s been on 3 courses of antibiotics. One prescribed by my regular vet and the other two by a chicken specialist. She had a temperature at the examination hence the meds. They took stool samples and checked her for worms and coccidiosis which both came back negative. She eats, not a lot, pooing but she doesn’t move much. I have her inside, isolated form the others. She’s been on a painkiller ‘loxicom’ for two weeks. She still chirps and makes noises. I really don’t know what else I can. Her eyes are bright. No discharge. Her stool is frequently runny, especially after the painkiller. I’m putting avian vitamins in her food. The other 3 are fine. I bought a secondhand Wooden coupe and we had a mite infestation but she was out of the coupe a week before We realised and the others are ok. Vet couldn’t see any mites on her and I’ve checked daily and can’t see any. Vet thinks she has an internal infection of sorts. Any tips/ideas?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Can you get some photos of her and her poop?
Can she walk at all?
What was her temperature?

Can you tell if she can see well - does she need the feathers trimmed away from her eyes?
Is her crop emptying overnight?
What do you feed?

 

[Anoushka]

Thank you so much for responding. Will get some pics when I’m home of her. She’s called a Britney.
I think she can see ok. I gave her a small bath yesterday to wash her undercarriage and washed her head to clear The feathers around her eyes.
She doesn’t walk far. More likely will shuffle in a circle.
Her temperature was 41.
How do you know if the crop is empty overnight?
I feed her layered pellets. I bought an organic brand that does smaller than average size. I bought her chick crumbs but she doesn’t eat those much. I give her cornflakes and coconut milk on the morning because she eats that with the most vigour and I put the avian vitamins into it.

 

[LaFleche]

Her temperature was 41.

This is normal temperature for chickens, no fever at all.

Did the vets tell you what kind of bacteria/germs they found to go against with 3 different courses of antibiotics? Did they make a microbial sensitivity test before prescribing these antibiotics?

Try some scrambled eggs with oatmeal and millet.

 

[Anoushka]

If it was 42 is that still normal?
They didn’t find any germs or bacteria in the stool tests. No they didn’t do that test before prescribing.
she’s definitely very weak but she does chirp. I will try the scrambled egg and oatmeal you suggest.

 

[LaFleche]

Well, after all those antibiotics the normal intestinal flora will be destroyed which often leads to diarrhea and more weakness.

Try the Moro carrot soup which helps restore a healthy gut and catches even bacterias resistent to antibiotics:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-rosie-is-limping.1409101/post-23172560

Chickens usually love it and the diarrhea will cease quickly.

 

[LaFleche]

And please, trim back her head feathers to allow free and unobstructed vision. You should be able to see her eyes clearly.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She doesn’t walk far. More likely will shuffle in a circle.

How do you know if the crop is empty overnight?
I feed her layered pellets. I bought an organic brand that does smaller than average size. I bought her chick crumbs but she doesn’t eat those much. I give her cornflakes and coconut milk on the morning because she eats that with the most vigour and I put the avian vitamins into it.

I agree 41 is a normal temperature.

Her crop is on the right side of her breast, you should be able to feel it if she's been eating/drinking, it will feel like a lump. Check that when she goes to bed, then first thing in the morning before she's had anything to eat or drink. It should be flat/empty in the morning.

The shuffle walk in a circle - I would make sure she's getting Vitamin E and B1 (Thiamine). Post a photo of the vitamins you are giving her.

I would encourage her to eat the poultry feed, this has essential nutrients for her.
You can try giving them wet if you wish, soak them in a little warm water to the consistency of oatmeal. I don't see why you can't add just a little of the coconut milk to help flavor it up if that's what she's keen on.

 

[Anoushka]

So here are some pics of her stools. They do vary in consistency. And there’s pictures of Britney. The carrots are on the boil. She loves the scrambled eggs with oat meal and I will trim her her now! Thanks for all the tips so far!

 

[LaFleche]

Her droppings do not look that bad, but she might need some grit for better digestion.

For the carrot soup remember to only use half the amount of salt as chickens have very sensitive kidneys.