New to chicken keeping and have my first sick hen!

[SamPotter]

I have a beautiful blue silkie named Cliffie who is about 5 months old. I've had her since she was a chick and was hoping that she would start laying soon. Her symptoms sound pretty similar to other posts on this forum:

- Difficulty walking and keeping balance.
- Just sitting on the ground.
- Very quiet!
- Only eating a little.

Her poos look normal, and vent is clean. Clear eyes and nostils, no signs of mites etc. She is sleepy and only perks up when you chat to her.

I noticed that other people's hens died after having these symptoms and was wondering if anyone knows what is wrong with her and what the treatment is?

Any advice and comments would be much appreciated.

Also I have 3 other hens that are fit and well. They are not picking on her or anything like that.

Best wishes,
Sam

 

[chicmom]

Hello Sam,

I am not sure what she's got, but I think I would try some vitamins/electrolites in her drinking water, plus maybe some duramayacin powder in the water too. Perhaps it is some type of infection......

I am guessing truthfully....

Good luck with her!

Sharon

 

[dawg53]

I agree with chicmom and you should seperate her from the others. Try giving her some yogurt,mixed with a scrambled egg in her feed, this acts as a probiotic within her system. I wish you the best.

 

[fiberart57]

Welcome to BYC. I'm sorry your first post has to be one of distress.

Gently feel her abdomen for an egg, hard-shelled or not. If you feel one, place her in a warm bath, not too warm, and try to get her to pass it.

Go up to the search option and look for egg-bound problems. That may help you to clarify the symptoms if nothing else.

Good luck, Mary

 

[SamPotter]

Thanks to everyone for their replies!

Unfortunately my silkie died in my arms last night before we figured out what was wrong with her. So sad...

But we later discovered what had happened to her:

She had eaten some mixed grain that had been hiding underneath their water dispenser. This grain had gotten wet and started to ferment. Cliffie died of alcohol poisoning. Silkies do not have the enzymes required to metabolise alcohol, but most other breeds do. If one of your silkies start to display these symptoms and you think they may have eaten some wet grain, you must feed them olive oil. This will empty her tummy of whatever she has in there and hopefully save her life.

Best wishes and much love to everyone,
Sam

 

[KKatknap]

Oh, I'm so sorry!

It's good of you to share your findings for others. So sad that you lost your hen - I'm so sorry!

 

[dawg53]

Crap, sorry to hear about your loss.