New Baby Silkie with Vitamin E Deficiency

[edselpdx]

Since eggs (egg yolks) are a good source of vit E, I kind of doubt that Vit E deficiency is the issue in young chicks, as the chicks have just absorbed the yolks from the eggs. I wouldn't push too hard to have her take the Vit E specifically. In a very young chick, I would suspect a neurological abnormality (congenital related to their unusual skull anatomy) before vitamin deficiency.

Feed a well-balanced chick starter, and add multivit (either poultry or infant--no iron) if you want. Chicks this young do not need other dietary sources of vitamins/food except as treats. Before giving any other foods besides chick starter, be SURE to provide free choice grit, or mix a small amount of chick-sized granite grit with the chick starter.

 

[Clare_CA]

Thanks so much, ultasol and edselpdx, for your help with this dear baby chick of mine. I separated all the crested chicks from the noncrested chicks as a member here suggested, and that seemed to work well because the crested ones seem so much more mellow. Everyone seems happier now.

I had an appointment with my vet for a Vitamin B shot, but I canceled it because, for the first time in many days, the chick was sleeping lying down. I bought some injectable B-complex from my local feed store since a few members here mentioned that it really seemed to do some good. I'll get some of that 'polyvisol' as well; although, she seems to resist taking food and water from me. She is getting 'Quik Chik' as well in her water.

I need someone to tell me where to give the chick the Vitamin B Complex shot if I'm going to do that.

edselpdx, I too wondered how a chick that is only a few days old could have a Vitamin E deficiency as well. I got the starter kit from McMurray's when I got the chicks so I have the grit and vitamins and things.

Thanks again, all, for your help.

 

[Clare_CA]

I thought I would post an update. I figured out why the chick's left eye was closed. It was because of the Vitamin E gel that is very sticky that had gotten on her face when I tried to give it to her. She turned her head away, and it got all over her face. Her feathers were matted down around the eye, and it occurred to me to take some warm water and try and wash her face, and it worked. Her left eye is now open. I'm going to try to give her a Vitamin B complex shot today and see how she does with that, but I'm not going to be giving her anymore Vitamin E other than what she's getting in the vitamin supplement in her water. She's trying to sleep upside down at the moment but is doing better overall. I think she is glad to have her vision restored to normal!

 

[BoerneChickens]

I'm expecting two silkie chicks in a month or so - so I am interested to keep up with this thread. I hope you get her stabilized!

 

[Clare_CA]

Thanks so much, BoerneChickens! My Silkies seems like the sweetest, most mellow chicks! The little one is doing great. She is in with all the other silkies, and she is much more comfortable than being with the other more rowdy chicks. She is sleeping better and moving around better, and I haven't seen her hold her head down now in a couple of days. I have just been giving the vitamins in the water, and I give her and the other chicks chopped up broccoli every day. I also gave them cottage cheese and wheat germ. I haven't given the Vitamin B shot, and I don't think that I will need to now. I read somewhere that silkies can get this condition also from being too crowded, but being too crowded may also lead to head injuries so who knows. I am just glad that she is feeling better.

That's her reading the temperature gauge!

I'm so grateful for the advice that I received on this thread. Thanks again to everyone for your help.

 

[Dora'smom]

If you're going to use Poly-vi-sol, buy the one without added iron.
Often they can take a couple of small drops of vitamin solution if it is dripped along the side of their beak.

 

[edselpdx]

You're welcome! Glad to hear she's doing better now!

 

[Clare_CA]

Hi All! I just wanted to give an update on little 'Tumblina,' as we are calling her now! LOL! She is back to normal now and hasn't done the head tucking, tumbling thing since I last reported it here. She is eating normally and sleeping well.

I don't know if it was a vitamin deficiency or a head injury, but I'm leaning toward the head injury or neurological abnormality as Edselpdx said. It only lasted a couple of days thankfully. I'll be watching her in the future for any recurring episodes.

I am just so grateful for all the help I received on this thread. Thank you again, everyone.

 

[Cinderellasnickers08]

Clare_CA,

The little Silkie is keeping her eyes closed because it's too difficult to focus right now. Extreme Vertigo! I have a Black Silkie going throu this all right now too. Giving a vitamin suppliment with E in it, since I can't find all the same stuff that everyone else is recommending for this Wry neck/ Crooked neck syndrome. I can tell mine is doing the same things, but mine is 12 weeks old.

She stuck her head under the feeder w/a bar on it, while another bird was on top of it. Then it was jumping off it causing it to spin wildly. Her head got konked while under it eating. Causing brain trauma injury. Nuerologically she's got some healing to do. Hoping & praying she pulls throu.

She's been growling at the other birds when any get close to her, backing up while shaking her head. This makes it worse for her vertigo, so I help her stop & pick her head up from curling under her. I've been making a mixture soup of her normal feed with some water. Putting it in a syringe to feed her by her beak. She wasn't eating or drinking till I did this. I have added a drop of this vitamin suppliment to it 3-4 times a day, sometimes just fluids hourly depending on heat of day. Supplimental Vitamin given only a drop at a time. I'm looking also for a measurable way to be sure of what is acceptable to give without overdosing. My vitamin suppliment says to give by mouth 1ml to every 3lbs bird. She's much lighter, not even a pound yet. So not sure what to do except a drop at a time.

When she has her moments of control, I help her hold her head into the feeder (now without the metal bar above it to be safer now). I wiggle the food towards her beak to encourage her to nibble at it. It works some. It's been 4 days, and today is the first day of seeing any response to actually eat. The water is still a problem to get her to drink. I held her outside today which seemed to brighten her day. Fed a small blade or 2 of grass to her by hand, & 1 clover leaf. Nothing else. She opened her eyes for the first time in all these days to the sounds of outdoors. It seemed to make her work harder at trying. Then back inside to stay warm enough.

Just adding my info in case it helps with why her eyes are closed. They are not in pain from what I have heard, just really upset about the vertigo & getting run down enough to give up. So keep their heads up if possible as much as you can, helping them, giving them more self esteme while they go throu this healing and trying to focus. This way the neck will grow stronger as they heal. Some don't make it, but others do. Your chick seems to be not as bad with your kindness to lean on. Congradulations on your quick thinking to keep such a close eye on them for such things. Hoping she pull through with great quickness & stays well in the future.

Good luck,
Cinderellasnickers08

 

[Clare_CA]

Hi Cinderellasnickers08,

Thanks for your reply. My little chicken is all grown up now and laying eggs here at 23 weeks. It turns out that she is a Black Cochin and not a silkie as I orginally reported. Looking back now, I believe it was an injury to her fragile brain as well. The good news is that it only lasted a week, and she recovered. In my opinion, I don't think force-feeding the Vitamin E really helped. It was messy and uncomfortable for her. After a member here suggested broccoli, I put it in the blender and gave it to them every day, which gave them some good nutrition as a supplement to their food and helped with water intake. Hard boiled eggs that are mashed is an excellent treat too and good protein and fat. You can also put a fresh raw corn on the cob with her to give her something to peck at and help with water intake. I believe the snacks really helped with her mood and her nutrition and ability to heal.

The good news is that the condition and/or injury only lasted a week for me. I could see how exhausting this injury is with all the tumbling so I would hold my girl in my hands and put her on my lap so she could sleep some without tumbling all over the place.

You sound like a really good mommy, who is doing all the right things for her baby. I would just mix the vitamins in with the water at the suggested rate on the package and give her that to drink as often as you think she needs it along with any snacks and treats. I'm hoping and praying she pulls through for you. Please give me an update on how she is doing when you can.

Clare