Chicken Parkansans?

[noriko]

I have a 3 month silkie chick who sways back and forth. Cant stand still so she has trouble eating and drinking. She was perfect untill three days ago. I have taken her out of the coop and put her in solitare as soon as I noticed her acting strangely. She has no wounds or pests on her and everyone else seems fine. Does anyone have any idea? They have a heat lamp so I dont think the cold was a factor, but as to what it could be i'm clueless. If anyone has any sugestions please let me know. Thanks,, John.

 

[noriko]

I gave her/him some baby chick starter & small amount of boild egg this morning. She/He loved it. Yes she/he was trying to eat it. She's still shaking her head so badly so it was very hard for her to aim her food. And I helped her to drink some water with Vitamine in it too. I checked her poop. They looked normal to me. I went to check my flock outside and I didn't find anything wrong with them this morning. So, I think it not catchy at least.(I hope!) Of course I'm not sure yet so I'll keep eye on them too. I know a nice women who we got my chickens from hatched the babies couple times there. Her chickens are silkies...so they just lay the eggs & sit on them. The chickens were sitting on many many eggs when I was there. I just don't know how she can handle that many chickens & chicks, though.... So I don't even know she really know which babies came from which mother hens. So, I think they are mostly like all brothers & sisters..... I'm thinking maybe their blood relation is getting too close and it causes some problem to their offspring? or this is some kind of diseases..... I just don't know. It's just hard for me to see my chick like that.

Thank you. Noriko.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Noriko,

I am not sure if inbreeding is quite the problem with chickens that it can be in other animals-but it is certainly a thought.

I have been thinking about your chicken since I read your post yesterday. I don't really know what could be wrong with her!

It sounds like it could be neurological. If she is eating that is wonderful. Maybe she ate something poisonous and that is causing the symptoms?

I'd just give her lots of TLC and good food, keep her warm and away from the other hens since they tend to pick on the weaker ones.

Hopefully she will get better! I have a pullet in the house right now who was (I think) run over by one of our goats. One of her legs is either weak or sprained and she is inside in a dog crate and loving all of the attention, good food and the warmth.

She should start laying this month, so I hope she gets well too!

Keep us updated on your little girl. It is so sad when they are sick and we don't know how to help them.

Deb

 

[illinichick]

Strange that you mention this, but I have the same situation with a 4 month old silkie. she suddenly started keeping to herself, hunched down, when she does get up, she throws her head around and is unbalanced. What's going on?!

 

[horsejody]

Sometimes Silkies can't see where they are going and whack their heads. If they have the vaulted skull, I think they are more prone to brain damage. I don't know if this is what happened, but it's something to consider.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Let's see, I haven't had silkies and I didn't know about the vaulted skull. I imagine it is similar to crested ducks and I know wse have hatched some with neurological damage due to the vaulted skull.

Would it take this long before a silkie showed signs of damage?

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
I suppose that would depend on the type and cause of the damage. It may not have happened while hatching. He may have run into something or been pecked on the head.

 

[Jenski]

Could it be Marek's Disease? I recall chicks under five months of age are most vulnerable.

http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

I welcome comments from forum experts on this.

 

[noriko]

Thank you all of you guys for good information. I hope he/she doesn't have Marek's disease. But, if she carries it....which means all of my chickens outside of chicken coop with her before carrie too????!!!! So, there is no treatment for it....and she's just gonna die???!!! How about all of my adult chickens & my Orpington chicks & another white silkie chick?(Orpingtons & white silkie baby are same age of her.) I'm going to lose everybody? I'm sorry I'm just so upset. I guess I'll read & check about this disease first. Thank you. Noriko.

-P.S- She's eating & drinking well so far. Her head still shakes but, she reaches the food & water.

 

[noriko]

Well it dosent look like mericks, she has a good appetite and she just jumped out of her box in our room.(quarentine) She walked around our room without draging her feet but she looked like Ray Charles with that head. Norikos been giving her vitamins and eggs and chick food. She eats them all, it just takes a couple shots for her to hit what she is aiming at. She can see well and her eyes are clear and bright her fro' doesnt cover her eyes and she shows no sign of having been pecked. I'll have to look up vaulted skull and see what it looks like, Thank you for all the wonderfull info and I'll keep picking your brains untill she's better if you dont mind... Thanks, John.