Baby Trapped In Mother's Feathers

[Cyber]

One of our Silkies, Emperor, recently had four babies, and due to the cold right now where we live, we decided to keep them inside. This morning when I checked on them, one of our babies had gotten completely stuck in their mother's feathers. It took quite a while to get them unstuck. Last time we had babies, a fair few of them broke their necks and we think this might be why.

Any advice for making sure that doesn't happen?

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Although silkies are great broodies, the down side is exactly this.

Their bum fluff can be like fishing wire around a chicks neck and can easily strangle and kill them.

Next time you come to set eggs under a broody Silkie, clip the fluff on her undercarriage down and the insides of the tops of her legs. Not totally bald but at least so it's smoother/shorter and it lowers the chance of a chick getting caught in it.

It's sad this happens but at least you saved this chick!

 

[chickens really]

I had a chick wrapped up in my Silkies feathers too. Around its wing and neck. Poor little things wing hung low for about 2 weeks.
I trimmed the wing feathers on my Momma because that's was my issue.

 

[Rietta]

How about adding a heat lamp so they don't need moms feathers to snuggle?

 

[NNYchick]

This has happened with my silkies as well. I take a brush or my fingers and comb through to break up any snarls and bedding.

 

[K0k0shka]

This is what happens when people get too carried away breeding for looks and neglect function. It’s why flat-faced dogs can’t breathe well. Basic functions like breathing and raising young are threatened just because people want something “cute” to look at. Nature is shaking her head. Not a commentary on you and your birds - glad you saved the baby - but on people breeding animals carelessly for selfish reasons. Though I guess also anybody who buys and breeds problem breeds of animals is perpetuating those issues.

 

[glassdragonfly]

Glad you saved the baby! And thank you for posting this. I have a silkie hen but have never heard of this happening. Mine has had 3 batches of babies with no problems Now I'll be watching!

 

[janiedoe]

I know this is an older post, but someone should write an article on this apparently semi-common problem.
I don't have silkies, I just enjoy reading and educating myself.
This is the first I've read of anything remotely like this.

 

[Cyber]

Just wanted to update: Haven't had any problems like that since with these babies. We lost one baby, but it wasn't because of this.