Injured silkie

[thyme4jb]

I have a two month old lavender silkie who isn't eating or drinking on her own. I can get her to take water from a syringe, but I'm concerned about her not getting any food. I'm thinking of grinding up the food and adding water to it and putting it in the syringe. Would this work? Is there something else I can give her that she will eat, or is there a way to force her to eat? I don't think she is sick, but injured. She was getting run over by the other chicks, her being one of the smallest, and I am guessing she got injured because she doesn't walk around or move much at all. If left unsupported she falls on her side. Please, no culling talk yet.

 

[Hungry Chicken]

Sorry to hear that. I have fed my chickens wet bread and scrambled eggs which they eat when they're unwell and won't eat regular feed. Or try just grinding up the feed to see if she'll eat crumbles. I'd add some electrolytes to the water too. I'm personally not good at diagnosing or injuries in general but some pictures would probably help if someone more experienced answered the thread

 

[thyme4jb]

Pictures won't help. She is just a little dust bunny at this time...can't see the injury, if there is one. I've put ACV into the water. Mostly concerned about how and what to feed her.

 

[Hungry Chicken]

Here's what I've read from some other threads, namely this one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-to-feed-a-chicken-who-wont-eat.1318690/page-3

Yogurt with a bit of honey, pureed cat food, fine scrambled egg. I guess chickens like chopped raw liver too? Since she's taking things from a syringe basically anything liquidy/pasty. Maybe even applesauce? I have only tried wet bread and scrambled eggs.

I've also seen Nutri-Drench work with chickens that don't eat, I think you can find it at most feed stores.

Is her poop looking ok?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Silky can be toughest ones to raise.
You have been given some great advice
Wishing you great luck.

 

[AGstudy]

I would separate her from the rest of the flock. If she is sick the other birds may be driving her away from the feeder. Regardless, birds that don't feel well don't eat as much in front of birds that are higher than they are in the pecking order.

Try giving her scrambled eggs and yogurt. If she eats this try adding some moistened feed to it.

Sometimes when I give a sick bird water from a syringe I hear noises as the water moves to the crop (kind of like when you eat something after having gone a long fast) and often the bird looks in some discomfortable. My current working theory is that in these situations the bird wont eat because it hurts to eat. I mix a small amount of smashed tylenol (1/8th of 1pill) into the syringe water. After about 15minutes I try putting some yogurt on their beak and see if they will take it. The majority of the time this seems to increase their interest in food. This doesn't always work for me, but we are all still learning, right? I also try soft berries.

I have tried making a feed mash and injecting it with a syringe. I don't normally get much into them and the syringe is a headache to clean afterward. Scrambled eggs and yogurt are my first go tos.