Do silkies have weaker immune systems?

[marinakirsten]

Hi!

So I have always heard that silkies are more prone to injury or illness simply due to things like lack of intelligence LOL or like lack of visibility (example being all other breeds sheltering from rain and the silkies just standing there and then being more susceptible to becoming ill)

However, do they just naturally have weaker immune systems to begin with?

I ask this because my flock has come down with dry fowl pox and all my other breeds have maybe 1 dry black spot or two on their combs/wattles, and 5 of my silkies have like blistering, raw, swollen warts all over their combs and eyes. poor things. One had her eye shut for days and i had to soak and apply ointment multiple times a day to soften the crust enough for her to open her eyes. I’m managing as absolute best i can to make sure they’re at least comfortable and can see and eat/drink, but they seem to the the only ones affected (plus one japanese bantam who doesn’t even have warts or anything directly on her eyelid, just a handful of scabs) out of my 30+ birds, and i even have young pullets in there who i would think would be more susceptible!!

I’m just curious if this is totally normal for silkies

 

[Debbie292d]

I've raised silkies for nearly 8 years, and there are two facts I know and take precautions for:

They are prone to becoming vitamin deficient.

They are highly susceptible to Marek's Disease than most other breeds.

That said, Silkies have the same immune system that other chickens have.

I'm sorry yours came up with dry fowl pox.

 

[Amer]

A weaker immune system is a symptom of bad breeding, not the specific breed itself.
Breeding from strong and healthy specimens is good breeding.

 

[marinakirsten]

I've raised silkies for nearly 8 years, and there are two facts I know and take precautions for:

They are prone to becoming vitamin deficient.

They are highly susceptible to Marek's Disease than most other breeds.

That said, Silkies have the same immune system that other chickens have.

I'm sorry yours came up with dry fowl pox.

interesting. that’s what I initially thought was just an insane coincidence that only my silkies got it the worst. thanks for your well wishes!

 

[marinakirsten]

A weaker immune system is a symptom of bad breeding, not the specific breed itself.
Breeding from strong and healthy speciments is good breeding.

they were from tsc, so i guess that is expected