I think my silkie is sick *** update all better I think thanks!***

[Suellyn]

Is she still doing it as frequently as she was before, or is it getting less frequent/improving?

Am new to chickens but a Vet Tech, and the 2 things we always did with birds that were ill/injured in any way were keep them warm, and try to keep their blood sugar levels up (by giving something to eat or something nutritious to drink). I would hesitate to really force her into it, tho, since this may all be just a "stress-related" reaction in the first place.

I would THINK that if overheated she would be open mouth or rapid breathing constantly, not just that "hiccup-looking" gasp every now & then.

Does she sound raspy or gurgly when she is breathing and/or when she gapes like that?

 

[Suellyn]

oh, and compared to the other chicken that she is with, does she seem to be breathing faster or the same as him? Does her breathing seem more "labored" (chest & sides seem to be moving in & out in a more pronounced way) than his?

 

[loftkeeper10]

seening the pics i think you brought the bird inside from a cold weather gave it a bath and put it in kind of a shock i did this once with some moderns and thought they were all going to die so will not bring birds in from the cold and bath with warm water will let the birds ajust to being warm and then bath i believe cold to hot just like in people caused the reaction you are seeing

 

[AHappychick]

she does not seem to be breathing more but her beak opens a bit when she inhales. she is doing it less frequently now....

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
No, this chicken was in my bathroom never outdoors, just went from 70 degree temp to warm water.

 

[katrinag]

I am glad that she is doing a little better.

 

[Suellyn]

It's so hard to say what's happening, but if it seems to be improving then that is definitely a good thing. If truly DID aspirate some water somehow, she will probably need veterinary help/antibiotics (aspiration pneumonia), but I don't think there is any way to tell for sure right now. If gets worse, or raspy, or more labored, then you know she is getting into deeper trouble. If continued improvement, perking up, picking at food/water... hey do you have any pedialyte? Do you think she would drink some? Or maybe baby food or yogurt like someone else suggested... Am just thinking that if she got really stressed, it would be good if she nibbled or drank something to get her strength back up. So if she has a "sure shot favorite treat", I'd toss some in with her.

Heat, food/drink, minimize further stress, and monitor her, is the best you can do for her for now..

 

[AHappychick]

I have pedialite I will try some in her water, and yogurt. Thanks everyone, I just got her a little more than a week ago, so I dont know her very well yet.

 

[Suellyn]

I figured if you had a 3 year old, then you probably had Pedialyte

!

Keep us posted!

 

[AHappychick]

Thanks everyone I guess I either shocked her or something. Although she did not seem all that bothered by the bath neither of the birds did. I am thinking I had the water too warm maybe or she is just a fragile little thing. Anyway I have her all settled in her winter cage. I am going to make a separate silkie fizzle coop in the yard come spring, but this should do. She seems to like it and has perked up and is eating and drinking. In the future I am going to try to just wipe her with a wet rag when she gets dirty. Thanks so much for all your help everyone

Here they are settling in back to normal