How on earth do I get the vitamins into the Silkie!!??

[kidsmaw]

My 6-week Silkie is totally onto me trying to "sneak" vitamins into her food, applesauce, yogurt, etc. you name it I've tried it and she'll have nothing to do with it. I recently tried holding her cradled in my arm on her back, but she holds her beak SHUT TIGHT. What do I do? I tried looking to see if I could somehow pry her beak open, and that does not appear to be an option. Open says me and pretty please didn't work either.

Suggestions?

 

[sonew123]

why are you giving vitamins in its opem mouth? Does it have a problem. When mine had wry neck-I had to pry its beak open and do it that way..hope yours is ok?

 

[artsyrobin]

i always put a couple drops of vitamins in the water, or on the tip of the beak- instinctively they will lick it off- might try that....

 

[kidsmaw]

No, he/she isn't ok. Not exactly sure what's going on. I did post this under emergencies this morning, and haven't gotten a response yet. So if you have any advice, I would love to hear it

Here's my situation:

My silkie is 6 weeks old. When she was born she was a little wobbly in the legs then over time got stronger & more stable.

I let her go on her first 'field trip' outside when she was 3 weeks old, and she did a strange little thing. She made a move with her head that I can only come up with one way to explain... She looks like Stevie Wonder singing. You know the head sway?

I watched her over a period of time, and then watched her when I brought her back inside to her cozy bathtub brooder, and it stopped. Took her back outside and waited and it started up again, but only when the wind blew.

I started researching and thought maybe it was from a vitamin deficiency so I started her on Poly Vi Sol yesterday (I will get vitamin E today). After I put the drops in her beak she immediately started doing the head sway thing and scratched at her left ear for a few moments and then was done with both the swaying and scratching.

When the wind isn't blowing she acts perfectly normal.


The more I think about it the more I am sure it's an ear infection that she was born with. So my question is, how do I treat her? If she needs antibiotics, which is my guess, then can I purchase those at my local feed store or can I only get them at a vet?

Any help you would like to offer would be most appreciated. And an ear infection is just my best uneducated guess, so if you think it's something else, please say so.

 

[kidsmaw]

I tried the outside of the beak. Mine "instinctively" wiped it's beak off in the dirt.

 

[redhen]

Sorry, i wish i could be of some help. I have no clue what it could be.

Hopefully some of the experts will chime in and help you soon.

 

[sonew123]

dont be alarmed but mine did that before he really got wry neck-I should have noticed the Stevie Wonder thing earlier-If you can some how pry the beak open and drop a few drops down its beak-they;; swallow it-Mine would not let me just put a drop on its beak and swallow it! terd.

 

[kidsmaw]

I got this response from a bird veterinarian. I thought maybe it would be helpful to some of you, so here it is:

I'm not convinced that this is an ear infection- if it was then she would show symptoms all the time, rather than just when it's windy or she's been stimulated.

It definitely sounds neurological- and you may well be on the right lines with a vitamin deficiency, as Vit A deficiency can cause weakness and paralysis, however Vit E deficiency can cause 'stargazing' which basically describes them pointing their head upwards and very often they will sway from side to side when they do this, similar symptoms also occur with Vit B (thiamine) deficiency, as this vitamin is especially important in neurological development.

The thing with nerves is that when they are not being over stimulated the bird can look normal, but once you start stimulating more senses (which is what the wind does) this overburdens the under developed nerves, so you see the weird head swaying.

I would start supplementing Vit E and thiamine(B vitamins) and see if things improve.

 

[TaLani]

To give her medicine, have you tried to have someone else hold her & then you use your left hand to pull down on the feathers just under where her bottom beak and feathers meet and then with your right hand put a few drops into her mouth??

 

[Akane]

Do not ever turn animals upside down or preferably even vertical to give something orally unless you've been informed otherwise by a knowledgeable person or vet. It is very likely they will aspirate a liquid or choke on something when not held in a normal eating/drinking position. Always give medications with the animal upright. They will also be much more likely to willingly eat or drink when upright and will usually very adamantly refuse to take anything when on their back. They know that's not a good position to try to swallow anything.