New from Ladysmith, Wisconsin.

[nchls school]

All 14 chicks look healthy. One of the serama is bigger than the "larger" silkie chicks. Two of the serama are very small. One set of seven chicks has two moms watching over them. I have a silkie hen that has seizures, but this has not stopped her from laying and brooding. Her clutch were all clear. The hen that hatched seven of the chicks is quite willing to share her brood with the handicapped hen. Oddly, when the third hen with the other seven chicks gets over the divider the old hen that accepted the handicapped hen beats the tar out of her. I can't really understand that. My wife insists that the old hen knows there's something wrong and doesn't see the seizure hen as being a threat; any comments? The seizures have been occurring for the hen's whole life. I can find no reason for them. As the bird is getting older the seizures are not so strong. In a way it's good that the clutch was clear as I'm not sure what would have happened if the hen had a seizure and been unable to care for small chicks (hasn't raised chicks before). The seizures can last up to an hour and even then the hen's body doesn't work right for a number of days.

 

[Chickenloving]

All 14 chicks look healthy. One of the serama is bigger than the "larger" silkie chicks. Two of the serama are very small. One set of seven chicks has two moms watching over them. I have a silkie hen that has seizures, but this has not stopped her from laying and brooding. Her clutch were all clear. The hen that hatched seven of the chicks is quite willing to share her brood with the handicapped hen. Oddly, when the third hen with the other seven chicks gets over the divider the old hen that accepted the handicapped hen beats the tar out of her. I can't really understand that. My wife insists that the old hen knows there's something wrong and doesn't see the seizure hen as being a threat; any comments? The seizures have been occurring for the hen's whole life. I can find no reason for them. As the bird is getting older the seizures are not so strong. In a way it's good that the clutch was clear as I'm not sure what would have happened if the hen had a seizure and been unable to care for small chicks (hasn't raised chicks before). The seizures can last up to an hour and even then the hen's body doesn't work right for a number of days.

I'm glad mostly everything is going well. I have no idea what those seizures could be from. Other hens normally like to pick on ones that have problems.

 

[nchls school]

I'm glad mostly everything is going well. I have no idea what those seizures could be from. Other hens normally like to pick on ones that have problems.

Yes, you are right; especially chickens. They can be total bullies when it comes to those that are weaker. That's a big reason why I'm confused about these two. The old hen is very dominant and the hen that has seizures is a complete opposite. And yet, the two hens are completely cooperating in the rearing of the chicks. There is absolutely no aggression towards the handicapped hen. The two moms are constantly at each others side.

I've read that crested canaries can be subject to seizures because of the crest interfering with the brain. I believe this is what is wrong with our silkie. I can see no other reason for the seizures.

 

[nchls school]

The hen that has the seizures is the brown bird in my avatar.

 

[Chickenloving]

Yes, you are right; especially chickens. They can be total bullies when it comes to those that are weaker. That's a big reason why I'm confused about these two. The old hen is very dominant and the hen that has seizures is a complete opposite. And yet, the two hens are completely cooperating in the rearing of the chicks. There is absolutely no aggression towards the handicapped hen. The two moms are constantly at each others side.

I've read that crested canaries can be subject to seizures because of the crest interfering with the brain. I believe this is what is wrong with our silkie. I can see no other reason for the seizures.

I had two hens that worked together to raise babies. Neither one were ill or anything. I think it might be a bonding experience for them. I'm sorry about your silkie.

 

[nchls school]

I had two hens that worked together to raise babies. Neither one were ill or anything. I think it might be a bonding experience for them. I'm sorry about your silkie.

There really isn't anything to be sorry about. My wife and I have had Mocha since she hatched from a setting of eggs from ebay. The first seizure was when she was five months old. We found her flopping around in the garden as though she were dying. We held her until the seizure stopped and away she went; back to scratching in the dirt and eating like nothing had happened. The hardest part was deciding whether to put her down or not. She does not seem to be in pain. She lays eggs and broods; does everything another chicken would do. Our children were special needs and it seems like a number of our pets are too. Mocha is a pet. She may be the only broody hen that likes being petted and given treats when she is brooding. I find it amusing that Mocha actually calls the chicks to come and eat out of my hand. Oddly, the old hen is doing that too. Apparently I am not frightening.

 

[Chickenloving]

There really isn't anything to be sorry about. My wife and I have had Mocha since she hatched from a setting of eggs from ebay. The first seizure was when she was five months old. We found her flopping around in the garden as though she were dying. We held her until the seizure stopped and away she went; back to scratching in the dirt and eating like nothing had happened. The hardest part was deciding whether to put her down or not. She does not seem to be in pain. She lays eggs and broods; does everything another chicken would do. Our children were special needs and it seems like a number of our pets are too. Mocha is a pet. She may be the only broody hen that likes being petted and given treats when she is brooding. I find it amusing that Mocha actually calls the chicks to come and eat out of my hand. Oddly, the old hen is doing that too. Apparently I am not frightening.

Aww that's sweet. I guess she is dealing through them. Most animals live in the moment. I do hope her seizures stop someday. It's really hard to tell when a chicken is in pain. I found my chicken with her intestines hanging out. She walked around with her intestines dragging the ground and seemed as happy as a lark.