Help - Sick One Week Old Silkie Chick

[ChicksnPacas]

I tried posting in the emergency section, but I'm not getting any replies - anyone out there that has any suggestions, please let me know.

Early morning yesterday the chick was fine, then a few hours later I noticed his vent area didn't have down on it. I watched him for quite awhile, and he was the only one pecking at it. I checked to make sure it wasn't blocked. The vent area all day has been contracting in and out or spasming. He only tried drinking on his own twice, and I never saw him eat. This is what I've tried:
Just in case he was blocked up - gave a couple drops of mineral oil (about 30 minutes after that a little clear stuff with a touch of blood came out)
Ran a little bit of water along his beak periodically
Mixed chick starter with a little water and tried putting in his beak, but he wouldn't take any
Sprinkled chick starter around him, but he wouldn't try any
I've only seen him go twice more during the day, but it was pretty clear with a bit of a red tinge in tiny spots.

Surprisingly he was still alive today. He is still not eating, and I am putting water along his beak periodically. I tried yogurt today, but very difficult to get any into his beak. I also have children's drop vitamins to give him that I am starting today. He is still going just a little, and it is pretty clear still with the tinge of blood. His vent area is still pulsating.

Is there anything else I can try? The other seven chicks with him and doing great, and he was also until this morning. We're new to all this, need help please. At times I feel like I'm doing too much to him and he's getting stressed, but on the other hand I feel like I'm not doing enough. Yes, I know some just don't make it, but I want to do everything possible. Thanks, Michele

 

[WriterRiderChick]

Hi, Michele. I'm going through something similar with a one-week-old Silkie at this very moment as well. My chick did have pasty butt, and I didn't start seeing the pulsating bum (for lack of a better term) until after I'd soaked the blockage and removed it. The chick did have a couple massive poops after that, so I'm thinking the experience just stressed out its hind end a bit. I will be interested to see what kinds of replies you get. The best of luck to you and your chick!

 

[ChicksnPacas]

I was so hoping someone here would have been able to give me some direction. I'm sad to report my little chick died. Second out of eight chicks from Cackle that have died in eight days. Being new to chicks this is devastasting. I'm so hoping I don't lose them one by one. The others so far seem to be doing well.

 

[Gindee77]

I'm so sorry about your chick.

I lost 4 out of 17 which I thought was quite a large percentage. I've had chickens before but not for years and so I'm starting new almost too. I had a couple with pasty butt and I know what you mean about the pulsing. Sometimes I just think they don't thrive because they were weak at the time they hatched. I felt bad too, but I guess it does happen and I'm just glad I have 13 healthy chicks left and they don't have any disease issues (I was so worried about this when I started losing chicks!!!) I also suspected that I put them on pine shavings too soon. I had them on shredded newspaper after I saw a couple of them with over-full crops. All the ones with pasty butt and over full crops are the ones that died. But they were all rather puny and sickly when I got them. I'm just not sure what happened.

I'm sorry you didn't get help...Friday is probably a bad day for everyone being out shopping or doing things away from the computer. People on here are great and always willing to help out. I just got here for the first time in quite a while and didn't see your post until now. I don't know if I would have been much help anyway. I'm such a green-horn!

But anyhow, welcome to the forum.

It's good to see another person from Illinois here.

 

[Cetawin]

I am sorry the little one died.

 

[Texas Fluffy Feet]

I am so sorry for your loss. It certainly sounds like you tried your best. Perhaps there was something wrong internally with your little one. Did the other one that passed exibit the same symptoms?

 

[ChicksnPacas]

Thanks for the postings. The first silkie that died lost the fuzz on its butt, but was just very lethargic, and it happened after two days of getting them. This morning there are two more silkies that have lost the fuzz on their butts. They are not pasted up, very energetic and eating well. I am so worried the silkies may have something they are passing to each other. We only have one other silkie that still has the little downy butt. There are three leghorns and one ameraucana with them, and they are doing great. Anyone else have silkies from Cackle that aren't doing well?