Help! Think CHick dying-- .... siezures?..UPDATED Sunday

[dlhunicorn]

Yes-- we allways "salt" their food with grit--

Sorry to say but there is the source of your problem with the crop IMHO. NEVER mix grit in with the feed and chicks never need grit until they are out freeranging and eating other than their commercially prepared feed (fruit and yogurt and such do not recquire grit to process)
WHEN they are ready to go outside and nip at the grass and such, there will usually be sufficient "grit" naturally available but it is always advised to set out a bowl of "chicken grit" (in a separate feeder and nOT mixed thru the feed) as it is the proper size and stops birds swallowing natural substances which are too small or big.

Do not let this bird freerange anymore (if it is indeed doing so) separate from the others and keep up the massage. Remove feed in the evening... hopefully this will be sufficient to take care of the problem in time.

Have you found the combo vitE/selenium (it is crucial as well as the B vitamins for the neck problem) ... if you do not see any improvement at all with the neck in five days then post back... a pic or video would also be helpful (you can then decide to get the prednisone which any vet will have...if you email them the treatment article from Alan along with the "Hole - In _ The - Head article and photos then most vets will allow you the prescription)​

 

[Momma_Cluck]

We fed the Grit because it is what the "Chicken people" at the farm place near here told us to do! They said they had to have some grit a couple times a week if they eat anything other than their regular "chick starter".

None of the others have this problem-- he's just a humoungus glutton! He'll fight off others for their share of the food.

But am SURE it is a head trauma... is exactly as described...

Now to make the BIG decision... we are treating him as described.. but how long do you make the poor thing go thru this before making the decision to "put him out of his misery"???

And now-- every time the oher Chicks twich or shake thier head-- my daughter freaks (ok- yeah me too!)

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
I kill them once they start acting like they are really starting to hurt. I do better seeing something dead than hurting. If I see them laid out pitifully and crying and not making ANY progress, I call it time and relieve them. I have always noticed that I can "feel" when it's time. So I guess it is different for everyone.

-Kim

 

[d.k]

* If he's already showing a little improvement I would keep working with him, but that's me. If he starts to go downhill significantly *despite* treatment, well, then-- I would probably put him out of misery. Mine animals are pets, though, and pet owners tend to go a lot farther.

 

[sammi]

did you say you gave them corn?

is it the crop?
or could he have an Air sac injury?

pic of air sac injury:

click here

 

[Momma_Cluck]

Thanks for all the help folks!

Well-- we ended-up "putting her down" using ether. She went peacfully-- the seizures were becomming more frequent, and she just stood in the center of her cage looking confused and pitiful in-between.

We thought she was doing better-- her crop finally emptied, so we gave her yogurt (her favorite) and she even let us hold her a while (which she never liked!) but then we noticed the confusion and the seizures becoming so frequent-- we just couldn't bear it anymore...


IMO-- The fact that Silkies are prone to this should be noted by EVERY hatchery that sells them!
It is a horrible thing for the animal-- or the person who owns it-- to go thru. My Daughter has cried for 2 days, and we have decided to adopt-out the other 6 to avoid EVER going thru this again!

It is bad enough for a chicken to die, or get killed... but to go thru the seizures/suffering.... it sucks.