New to this site, need help

Date sort Score sort
AlanasFlock

AlanasFlock

In the Brooder
Joined
Apr 28, 2015
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
24
Location
Florida
Hello, just trying to figure this out. I have always lurked from the outside but just now became a member bc I need help and advice from others on one of my girls. I have 4 1-month old chicks(all different breeds), we got them 2 days after they hatched, and just last night got a 4 month old Silkie hen. We wanted a young one, but had to wait for an older one when we realized they cannot be sexed until this age (no roosters allowed in our area). Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what's going on with the new Silkie. When we have her in her box she won't eat or drink and pretty much just sits there, sometimes with eyes closed. She also does the same thing if you pick her up, she pretty much is motionless with small cooing sounds or slight movement here or there but for the most part, nothing. But when we bring her in the backyard, although she is slow, she walks around and follows us and picks at bugs. I've only been able to see her poop twice (both times outside- there still is nothing in her box), and one time it was greenish and one time is was white, both small amounts. I emailed her previous owner and she now tells me that she had been by her mothers side her whole life until "a few days ago", and also that her eyes used to be so covered by her fluff that she had zero visibility, and wasn't eating well. (She trimmed the fluff back around the eyes the day before we bought her). She also stated she has always been "calm, delicate, and chill." Tonight only makes our second night having her but we love her so much already, and just want to figure out if any of this is normal Silkie behavior? Or what should I do? I'm concerned bc it's so polar opposite of how our other 4 hens act, and my previous flock of birds who were always pecking around for food and fast moving. I have vitamins I dropped on her beak today, and also some water. But idk what else to do? Any suggestions? Please and thank you.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Is there plenty of light where her box is? You might want to post in the Emergencies forum about your Silkie, that does not sound like normal behavior www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures Do you know if she has been wormed or anything. I would quarantine her away from your other chicks in case she has something they could get, there is a good quarantine section in the Learning Center https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
 
No, I don't know if she has been wormed, but I will email her previous owner. And thanks I will post there too!
 
Have you checked her for mites /lice. They can bring a bird down fast. I think the previous owner is saying her mother had the silkie as a house pet. If so she may not be used to being outside and around other birds. She may miss her home life but, does seem to be ill anyway. I think the woman just wanted to get rid of the bird without paying for a vet.

Why would she sell a bird that isn't eating well. I'm surprised she even admitted that.

Well that is something you can't change. Have you tried offering her finely mashed hard boiled egg yolk moistened with a bit of water of plain yoqurt. She may be tempted by watermelon, which would give her some liquid as well. Have you posted on the "emergencies, dieases, injuries, cures" thread I hope they can diagnose her problem and determine treatment. Hope she will recover.
 
Thank you, I did just post in emergencies. I should have done that first, but being brand new didn't know what I was doing!

I think what she meant was the mother, meaning the bird's mother. She says they were living outside in the coop and run, but that they had a big hawk problem and all the juvenile silkies were getting plucked away one by one, so she decided to sell the remaining few off. But I can't be sure of the exact details, because it is a little fishy that she didn't disclose certain info to me until after I purchased the bird. Either way, i would like to give the poor thing a good shot, as willing to do whatever I can in my means. I am going to keep her isolated for now and check her for mites in the morning when she wakes up. I have some diatomaceous earth.......?
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom