Help... Silkie chick has no feathers and bump on head!!

[fiset94]

I am a first time chick owner- and loving it by the way.

I picked up 6 silkie chicks from my local Agway- feed store..about 15 days ago. On the 2nd day that I had them.. I noticed that one of them had an odd bump on her head...( Hopefully a *her* ) I brought her back to the store and they shrugged it off and said that she was fine. Her behavior is much different then the other chicks.. she is VERY quiet...doesn't react to being held- Doesn't peep like the others when picked up- When I fed them X-small crickets and worms she didn't even budge to eat one... the others went CRAZY and loved eating them. The other chicks tromp all around and over her- she is very quite. She is eating the chick starter and drinking. She is walking forward- and her neck is not twisting at all.... I have included a pic of her... Do you think that there is some link between the bump on her head and the way she is acting???


I posted this on the backyardchickens yuku also.. I wasn't sure where to post this question...

 

[highpointfarm]

I have never raised silkies but that doesnt look good =/ Hopefully someone more experienced than me with silkies wil be able to help you out...

 

[stoopid]

Silkies are very prone to brain trauma, the way their skulls are shaped.
It seems that she got pecked by a hatchmate.
And once it starts bleeding, they turn into cannibals!
I would put some Neosporin on it, and make sure it doesn't get picked on.
If it continues to bleed, you will need to apply Blue Kote.
It makes a mess, but the blue color will keep them from picking on her.
And warning, it makes a big, blue, mess if it drips or you slip!

Good luck with her!

 

[NolaChick]

Poor baby! Her behavior could be the result of stress and injury, or she just may be a laid back, less aggressive chick.
Definitely apply some antibiotics ointment, at least once a day.

I've found a bit of corn starch works better than Blue Kote for small bleeds. It coagulates the blood quickly and keeps the other chicks from picking at the sight of blood/red.

Good luck with her, she's very pretty.

 

[fiset94]

So.. you think that is her brain sticking out? Do you think that when she was born that some one plucked the feathers off the spot and now it is exposed? Why would it only pop out on one side? When I picked her up the first day and was checking out at the register- I saw it on her- and the lady was like.. oh that is just her feathers. Then I brought her back a couple days later because I was concerned because I swear I saw something odd coming out of her stomach area... It looked like a white worm. They were like.. oh it's prob. her umbilical cord... but when I looked up online - It said that the cord is connected to their butt and is black and stringy... this def.. was not that....UGH! I guess the good news is that it is not bleeding.. but crusty- like a scab... no one seems to be bothering her.. or the spot. She is walking , and eating normal. She is just really quiet.. and always sleeps by herself in the brooder.

Michele

 

[cary 1973]

oh poor poor baby i guess lucky for the chick the store did not take her back seems like they are not ver knowbldge in chick and prob would of just thrown her away. I sure hope she makes it

 

[whitlockj85]

I really like the BYC forumns. They have already proven themselves more useful than any of the feed stores surrounding us. I like corn starch as well. It's easily accessible as we always have it on hand.

 

[Amay89]

How did that chick do? I found one of my little baby chick with the whole head full of crusty black stuff, I isolated it in another brooder but not sure how it’ll do

 

[KathieMc]

Also, some silkie chicks are born with vaulted skulls and they will sometimes have an opening in them. This is like a baby's soft spot and is only cover by skin and feathers. If this area gets damaged or punctured, it can cause trauma and in some cases even death.

 

[Amay89]

I have a baby chick that has the top of the head dark and crusty doesn’t look like a scab tho. Was really weak yesterday so I pulled him appart and gave him water. He’s standing today but I’m not sure what it is. Also it’s not a silky it’s some kind of mutt so I have not idea what it could be