one week old silkie serama chick biting feet and scream peeping constantly...

[Bocktobery 10]

Has anyone dealt with something like this before?

I"m at a loss as to what to do and its driving me crazy- the constant distressed peeping.

I just noticed today that the weird feathers on my baby serama chick is that its a silkie variety. I only had one before and couldn't remember what they looked like, but today I figured it out. I'm not sure if that has something to do with this chick's problem, but I thought I'd point that out. The chick was hatched on the 20th of January, so its about a week and a half old.

Symptoms: The chick keeps scream peeping and lifting its foot up and taking its beak to the foot, sometimes it takes it to its chest and nibbles. It does this constantly. I inspected the area on the foot- both feet actually- and could not find anything wrong. I decided to put some neosporin ointment (with pain reliever) on the whole leg and foot to see if this helps, in case it had a small cut that I couldn't see. I also thought if it were leg mites the neosporin would smother and kill the mites. (i dont have any mites anywhere in my flock that I know of) I put it on both feet and legs but its still picking. It won't stop its distressed peeping, even when held. The mother hen (serama, also a silkie serama) is in the brooder with them. (The brooder in in the house, not outside in the coop) I also have supplemental heating pad in the corner, which they don't typically use. I also have a heater in the room near the brooder to keep things on the warmish side. There are 4 other chicks in this brooder and while I did have some initial sickness (pasty butt) I seem to have things mostly under control. All the chicks, including this little one are moving about and eating and drinking and cuddling under mama when they need or want to.

So, this is not the first of the problems I've had with these chicks. I had treated one of the chicks early with some Sulmet for possible mushy chick syndrome. Then one of them later had the 'rice krispies' crackle pop in the chest for a while which I gave tetracycline to (only that one, via water droplet on beak- once an hour for two days). All of that seemed to clear up but I did have some pasty butt issues that cleared up with some kefir, boiled egg yolk crumbled, corn grit (I forget what its called but its like polenta) and also put apple cider vinegar in their water.

I'm just telling you all that in case it helps give an idea.

Also, his one sick chick also kind of looks funny- somewhat runtish, it looks a bit thin to me, but maybe that's the silkie feather look? Also, two others looked the same way as in they were smaller than the first two but they look ok now. This chick also looks funny in the eyes- the eyelids seem pinkish and pronounced. I'm not sure if this is because of it being a silkie serama or if its a part of sickness. OR maybe this means its really tired and distressed? I'm also kind of concerned because it seems like its beak is a bit blue- not as orange as its feet. Some of the chicks had been exhibiting what looked like labored breathing, but I'm not sure. Its so hard to tell when you are actually 'looking' for something possibly being wrong... you start noticing everything and the mind can play tricks.

So I looked it up about baby chicks pecking at their feet and found some threads started but no one followed up and I couldnt find any information on what it could be. I'm wondering if its some sort of symptom of some disease. I did not see anything like mites on the chicks. i did see some white dots on the legs, but they are not moving like how mites move. It seems more like skin flakes if anything. None of the others seem bothered at all. Two are roly poly strong as can be. Their brooder gets cleaned every two or three days. New water daily. They are on an old towel.

I just am not sure what to do for it, or if I can treat it. Does anyone have any ideas? Ever heard of such a thing? Is itchy new feather growth a common thing for silkies? I'm wondering if that is all that is going on since its just starting to grow out its feathers. It had quiet a growth spurt the last two days. What can I do to help it calm down? Its dark now for night time in the room and its still screaming out every once and awhile.

Sorry for my rambling... its late and I'm distressed as well!

 

[17 chickens]

You shouldn't use the neosporin with pain relief use the one with out it... You said you have a heating pad in the brooder, Could it have burnt it's little foot? is the foot red?
Try soaking the foot in epsom salt water warm not hot. Hope this helps...

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Hi! Thanks for responding 17 chickens!

I'm happy to say that the little chick quieted down and is not scream peeping anymore or seemingly bothered by some itch or pain. It looks less tired and has been chasing around her sisters for a tasty morsel of food this morning.. so yeah, false alarm probably. Perhaps she was just overtired and cranky and a bit dehydrated? I think she just may be one of those chicks that is very vocal, and scaring me to pieces because of it and because I had a couple of close calls in the beginning there I'm all hyper-aware. And about an hour or so after I typed up my post, she finally quieted down and went to sleep.

I'll double inspect the heating pad. That's a good suggestion.. I kind of doubt it though because I have two covers over it and its propped up against a wall and around a corner of the brooder so they can lean against it for heat rather than walk on it. I'ts possible.. I'll recheck.

As far as the pain reliever... I heard the neosporin with pain relief is okay- its pain relievers that end in 'caine' that are dangerous to chickens... or so I've heard. Pramoxine is what is used for the active pain relieving ingredient in Neosporin with pain reliever. I've used neosporin with pain reliever on chickens for years now, and no adverse reactions. Perhaps I'm wrong. Thanks though for the heads up.. I'll look it up again.


Thanks again!