Please help! Sick silkie and seems to be progressing quick! What should I do?

[theacw]

I hate to say it, but I didnt send her in. It was just too hard at the time and I didnt have any supplies on me to send her in, in this heat and I just wanted to give her a proper burial.

I was upset that he killed her because I was heading back to where I currently live, 3 hours away from them, and would have brought her back with me and then I was going to bring her body in after she died because I work at the university where they would have done the necropsy. Also I do not know how he did it which makes me sick. I was the one who put her in the box and I didnt see anything obvious. I will ask him soon now that I am a little more accepting in the fact she is gone. But he did say the first time he tried it didnt work and he seemed really uneasy so I am nervous to find out. AGH Poor baby

Agh, I do kind of wish I would have sent her but I was so upset at the time to think of her just getting chemically destroyed afterwards. I think I am just too sensitive..... But now I will never know what killed her and that is completely frustrating. I feel like not sending her in was selfish and irresponsible on my part.

And right before I went home, I noticed my other two had runny noses. I am hoping they were just drinking water right before I said goodbye to them and my mom said they looked ok today. But still.... now I will forever be freaked out and paranoid for my other girls.

Anyone have any ideas on what she died from?
The neurological issues were really bad at the end, I dont know if it was weakness or not but she had no control over her legs and often was in weird positions like the splits, rocking back and forth trying to stay balanced just laying there and bobbing her head.
She did have watery mucous coming out of her mouth when I put her in the box but I dont know if that could be from the way she was culled.

 

[Nutcase]

If you can't really see anything, her neck was probably broken during culling. I feel sorry for your dad

I think she always had neurological issues, but when a respiratory disease hit they both got the better of her. She may have survived if she was perfectly normal from the start. I had a pullet once who displayed the same breathing/mucus problems (but less severe), and she died in my hands within 2 days. Your little girl had a real will to live.

 

[theacw]

If you can't really see anything, her neck was probably broken during culling. I feel sorry for your dad

I think she always had neurological issues, but when a respiratory disease hit they both got the better of her. She may have survived if she was perfectly normal from the start. I had a pullet once who displayed the same breathing/mucus problems (but less severe), and she died in my hands within 2 days. Your little girl had a real will to live.

She sure did, I wish she could have pulled through! I I did ask him and he did break her neck. So glad that was it because I was having such terrible visions on how it was done. I was nervous to ask because he has no knowledge on chickens so I didnt know what to expect. Ive let him know my appreciation for helping both me and Nancy!

I have had 2 out of my 4 chickens die in the past year. I have only had them for 2-4 years. Is this typical or did I just get a sickly 2 chickens? I cant imagine losing chickens this often and wonder if its worth ever adding more to the bunch. I know chickens get sick, but losing half my chickens in 1 year is tough.

If someone could give me a quick answer to some questions, I would appreciate it so much:

Could this be from eating a mouse? She ate a mouse 2 weeks ago and I cant help but wonder...

Would the neurological issues be from birth or did she have a head injury at one point? She was clumsy and fell of roosts....

And most importantly! How concerned should I be for my 2 babies and is there anything I can do to prevent this issue for them? I cleaned out the litter, raked up the run and the feed holders. I just hope it wasnt caused from environmental issues because I feel like I do a decent job keeping things clean

Thank you to everyone that helped whether it was those who were always replying to my frantic posts, answering my pestering questions or just chimed in 1 time. I appreciate the help so much because I feel so alone when it comes to my girls and without you guys, things would be even more tough for me.

 

[Nutcase]

Losing a couple of chickens is normal for anyone. I started off with 4 chickens a few years ago and since then I have lost 3 of them. I had to get replacements several times. I do have 1 sickly chicken which has had to be nursed back to health by me about 3 times so far. Thankfully she is still alive today. She gets severe colds while the others are still perfectly healthy, and I just treat her in the simplest way possible.
It sounds like you are doing a good job of keeping the coop clean. I suspect her neuro issues were present from birth. I also think that the mouse have nothing to do with it. Whenever my chickens come across a gecko, lizard or mouse they will gobble it up and are fine.

 

[Sandstorm495]

Sorry for your loss Thea

 

[vamcbride]

I'm so sorry.

She was very beautiful.

If I had seen this post sooner, I would have suggested chicken soup.

Don't know why it works but it saves our little Serama chick's life.

 

[Nutcase]

I'm so sorry.

She was very beautiful.

If I had seen this post sooner, I would have suggested chicken soup.

Don't know why it works but it saves our little Serama chick's life.

Really? I want to look into this. I don't usually make a habit of feeding chickens chicken but I'd do it if necessary.

 

[casportpony]

Fluids are very important, that's probably why the soup worked, but I would stick with pedialyte.

-Kathy

 

[Nutcase]

Fluids are very important, that's probably why the soup worked, but I would stick with pedialyte.

-Kathy

Good to know, bookmarking this thread for later.