I have a 15 week old silkie and I was about to move it outdoors for the first time with the rest of the flock a couple days ago when I noticed it was keeping its eyes shut and when it did open them they were a cloudy grayish color almost like he might be going blind. I quickly put him back into the crate I have kept him in. He seems to have a runny nose with clear discharge and shakes his head frequently. Last night he started gently opening his mouth and sticking his neck out when he breathes...sometimes a gurgling sound would come out. Today I listened to his breathing and he seems raspy and he is very lethargic and will not open his eyes much at all. I have no idea what to do for him. There isn't a vet I can take him to. I had his crate sitting next to a cage that I was keeping my 4 week old chicks in. I quickly moved the silkie into an isolated room as soon as I saw he was sick. Today one of my 4 week old chicks has been sneezing and acting lethargic so I immediately pulled her out and isolated her. The other chicks seem fine for now. I do not know what I should do. Any ideas or helpful suggestions? Do you think it will affect my whole chick flock? What should I do with the sick chicks?
I dont know where you got your Silkie from, but he has spread a disease to your chicks...who are now infected. Do NOT introduce these sick birds to your 6 healthy hens and 3 bantams. They will get sick as well. Immediately cull the Silkie and chicks and bury them deep away from your healthy flock or incinerate them. If you dont, you will be dealing with sick birds for the rest of their lives, spending money on antibiotics which eventually wont work and loss of egg production. Most importantly you will have knowingly infected healthy birds causing them to suffer...your 6 healthy hens and 3 bantams.
Additionally, respiratory diseases can be passed to healthy birds after handling sick birds via shoes, clothing, hands etc...are you willing to change clothes, shoes and take a shower prior to visiting your healthy flock each time you go outside? This is called biosecurity.