Prevention

[roseydv]

Just lost a silkie to a respiratory illness, did not have antibiotics on hand . i have some being shipped now. Lesson learned. This is the third silkie I’ve lost while they have been broody. I have two now that are broody i see them come out and feed and water and yell at everyone, which reassured me they were nutritionally sound. I have tried to break bloodiness without success, when one goes the others follow. I am now ”catering food” to these princesses in fear they will get behind nutritionally. They live in a newly built “castle“ with just three as of now. The big hens are separated to the other coop. I add vitamins to food. But wondering if I should give orally
Also should I give something else to support their health. I am heartbroken,
I am also wondering if it has anything to do with being stubbornly broody or just coincidence.

 

[azygous]

Broody behavior includes greatly reduced appetite. This can result in a drain on nutritional and energy reserves, resulting in starvation. This in turn hammers the immune system so there can be susceptibility to disease. So, yes, breaking broodies saves them from this fate.

You need a broody cage to break a broody. A large wire dog crate can accommodate several broodies at a time. The floor of the cage must be open mesh so air can circulate freely under the broody to cool her body to interrupt the broody hormones. It takes usually three days, day and night, in the cage to do the trick. Anything less will not stop the hormones. Food and water in the cage prevents further starvation.

You can treat the broodies with sugar water and Nutri-drench for 24 to 48 hours to rescue them. Then special extra feedings of animal protein twice a week for a few weeks can put weight back on.

 

[roseydv]

Ahh, didn’t know you needed to cool! That’s where I was failI got.

Thank you so much
judy