PLEASE HELP MY 2 YEAR OLD SILKIE

[Baby Love]

Hi Everyone,
This is my 1st time. Sorry if it's to long.
I have a beautiful nearly two year old Silkie hen who has not been her usual bossy chatty self for about three days now should I be worried, I love her to bits. Instead of being mum and running around bossing and leading my other two Silkies around even though they are both quite a bit bigger than her she just follows them around at a distance to my back door where she just sits huddled against the step and she is not as chatty as she normally is. She lets them eat and drink before her, something that just wasn't allowed before. In fact she doesn't seem to be drinking and eating much at all even when I give her favourite treats, tomatoes (She does eat and drink some - just not nearly as much as she normally does).
She hasn't laid for a while now but doesn't seem to be broody but she does have some new feathers coming through.
She has runny poop and a very dirty bum even though she has a dust bath.
At times she seems to be panting for breath and when I pick her up I can hear a snuffly sound as if she has a bad cold.
Should I separate her from the other two?
I am an ex-city dweller and know nothing what so ever about chickens except how lovely they are PLEASE HELP should I take her to the vets? Is there something I could/should be giving her/them that I’m not? I am putting the contents of a garlic capsule in their drinking water. Are there any other vitamins I should give her?
I feed them on mixed corn that has layers pellets and grit included min the mix.
I have bought Harka-Mectin 5ml for worms, lice mites etc. but am too afraid to give it to them, as she is already not right.

All your help and advice would be much appreciated as I haven’ found much help in the books that I have.
Thank you in advance for all your help and good advice.
Baby Love

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I'm sorry your silkie is not feeling well. I think nobody responded right away because there is no clear cut answer. She may have a respiratory infection, so it might be a good idea to separate her. Infections can be hard to diagnose, so if you have a vet in your area who sees chickens, then that might be a good idea. Respiratory infections are more than just "colds for chickens" so a vet could be helpful.

Here is a link to treatment options which included a section on respiratory infection:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/517234/medical-treatments-recommended-by-bycers#post_6580204

 

[Baby Love]

Thank you Scratch'n'peck for your reply.

I took her to the vets this afternoon; you were right, she has a chest infection and was given an antibiotic injection and a course I will syringe into her mouth twice a day.

In case this might be of use to someone else, the vet told me to keep her in a well ventilated, dust free environment and keep her warm, a hot water bottle is a good idea. There is nothing else that can be done but to wait and see because by the time it is noticeable that something is wrong it is late. The vet did not sound hopeful but said that there is a chance now that she has had antibiotics. I have my fingers, toes and legs crossed!

She did not say that I had to separate her from the others as it is most probably to late already and she did not give me anything for the healthy two as she will not give a healthy bird antibiotics as it kills their own immune system, but I am to keep a look out for any signs and to take them in immediately if any should develop.

I have ordered some multi vitamins from the internet which I will put into their drinking water instead of the garlic on a daily basis, it might help, either way it can’t hurt can it? I have also read some where that organic cider vinegar and olive oil are good, is that true if so how often do you give them all these things, I can’t find any clear information on what to give and when to give it, everything I’ve read differs and is confusing, where did you get your knowledge from and can I get it there to?

I have separated my Baby Girl, she is now in a big box in the kitchen, I will let her out in the garden during the day so long as it’s not to cold or wet.

If anyone out there has any useful tips or information that could help please let me know.

Thanks again Scratch'n'peck for all your advise.

Baby Love

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I hope your Baby Girl gets better soon. One of my roosters had a respiratory infection and got antibiotics, which helped him get better and his coop mate did not get sick. So I will hope for the best for your flock.

As far as Apple Cider Vinegar - often referred to as ACV, I think there will be different opinions but adding a few tablespoons to their water is what I typically read. I don't read much about using olive oil as much except when the chicken is dealing with a impacted crop.