New silkie mom in TN

[MamaNichelle]

Hi everyone, I’m officially a chicken mom as of 3 hours ago. I had chickens back when I was in highschool, But I feel like like I’m starting over.. That was many years ago and I have zero experience with silkies. Im slightly intimidated. Possibly terrified but not without reason…

If you’re standing two ft away from them, you can smell a foul odor, they are cover head to toe in dried up poo, it’s caked in their feathers. How am I supposed to fix that? (Im familiar with dust baths but this is a whole other level) and their poop is tacky black/grey putty I thought it was mud at first

I found out at pick up, they weren’t feeding them properly and used their “pen” as a food waste disposal (They had pizza before I picked them up)
Do you think the poo with a strangely rancid smell and appearance is simply diet??? I hope so..

It’s only the first night, but I will keep a close eye on them and any changes that may occur. They don’t seem to understand how a coop works, the aren’t roosting or anything. But it’s late and they’re in a foreign place, so it’s understandable.
I’m excited about them and to be here.

Watch out eastern tn, fancy ladies (and man) will be smelling good and be healthy in record time

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Welcome to BYC
I know @Debbie292d keeps silkies, maybe she can help you!

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi, and welcome to BYC! We're so glad you decided to join us! Make yourself at home!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

You will need to bring each bird inside and soak her in warm soapy water and carefully pinch the concrete poop off the feathers and then swish water around to help remove the debris. You'll need to have a small tub with warm soapy water in it that you will change frequently throughout this process until you get the vast majority off each bird. You can then towel dry the birds and use a hair dryer to fully dry them off. Keep the hair dryer moving and keep your hands fluffing the feathers to prevent overheating any one spot on them. Most birds thoroughly enjoy a good blow dry!

I would then get them on a very good quality chick starter or grower that has 18 to 20% protein in it with a container of oyster shell on the side. For the first couple of days I would supplement with some poultry vitamins in their feed. I would also offer some canned meat like tuna or sardines or even the stripped meat off of a rotisserie chicken carcass to give them a good protein boost 2 to 3 times a week.

Once you've gotten them cleaned up you can examine them more closely to make sure that it truly was just filthy feathers causing the stench and not an underlying injury or disease.

Silkies are not known to roost. Good luck with these birds!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[Lovely Lettie]

Hello and welcome to BYC! It's great to have you here with us

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC.
@DobieLover gave excellent advice. I'd add a container of grit also. Is the odor is "fishy" or "yeasty" if so, you may have to deal with sourcrop. Hopefully once you get them cleaned up, you'll find that its just poo oder.
The poor things are lucky you rescued them from that environment.

 

[theoldchick]

 

[muddy75]

 

[N F C]

Hello, those poor birds, glad you are willing to give them a decent home. Good advice from @DobieLover.