Broody Bist
Songster
- May 7, 2018
- 378
- 1,458
- 206
PLEASE HELP!!
My little blue silkie Ethel is sick!!!
She’s about a month and a week old, and she’s been perfectly healthy up to now. Always the first to the food bowl.
Today, I noticed a weird sound coming from the brooder. A high pitched peep I’d never heard out of any of my silkies, they are generally quiet. When I changed out the food and put new, I noticed Ethel waddled over to the food with her wings hanging down, like she was too hot. So I turned out the heat lamp for a little while.
Later, I heard the sound again. I’m not sure who it was, but when I went over to the brooder Ethel was laying underneath everyone else, at first I thought she was dead.
I lifted her, she didn’t even squirm or make a fuss (she’s one of my more skittish silkies, this was an immediate warning sign for me).
Please don’t tell me I’m a terrible chicken momma, I already feel terrible about this. When I lifted her, she weighed NOTHING. It was the equivalent to lifting a pile of feathers. I lifted the other chickens, there was an obvious weight difference. I feel terrible. Whenever I put the food in there they all swarm around it, I just automatically assumed she was eating as much as the others. Like I said, she’s always been a big eater. I feel awful School’s been piling the work on, and I haven’t got to spend as much time with them as I would like. I should be watching them more.
I have her in my lap right now in a blanket. Still not showing any interest in water, but I did get her to eat a bit.
Also, I found this in the brooder after discovering Ethel was sick (pic attached). I don’t know who it came from, but I’m super worried, and I’m keeping a lookout.
Does anyone know what I should do? Should I keep Ethel separated from the others??
Any help at all is appreciated, please please tag anyone if you think they can help. Thanks everyone
My little blue silkie Ethel is sick!!!
She’s about a month and a week old, and she’s been perfectly healthy up to now. Always the first to the food bowl.
Today, I noticed a weird sound coming from the brooder. A high pitched peep I’d never heard out of any of my silkies, they are generally quiet. When I changed out the food and put new, I noticed Ethel waddled over to the food with her wings hanging down, like she was too hot. So I turned out the heat lamp for a little while.
Later, I heard the sound again. I’m not sure who it was, but when I went over to the brooder Ethel was laying underneath everyone else, at first I thought she was dead.
I lifted her, she didn’t even squirm or make a fuss (she’s one of my more skittish silkies, this was an immediate warning sign for me).
Please don’t tell me I’m a terrible chicken momma, I already feel terrible about this. When I lifted her, she weighed NOTHING. It was the equivalent to lifting a pile of feathers. I lifted the other chickens, there was an obvious weight difference. I feel terrible. Whenever I put the food in there they all swarm around it, I just automatically assumed she was eating as much as the others. Like I said, she’s always been a big eater. I feel awful School’s been piling the work on, and I haven’t got to spend as much time with them as I would like. I should be watching them more.
I have her in my lap right now in a blanket. Still not showing any interest in water, but I did get her to eat a bit.
Also, I found this in the brooder after discovering Ethel was sick (pic attached). I don’t know who it came from, but I’m super worried, and I’m keeping a lookout.
Does anyone know what I should do? Should I keep Ethel separated from the others??
Any help at all is appreciated, please please tag anyone if you think they can help. Thanks everyone