Sick baby silkie, help!!!

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Hang in there
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Keep force feeding a little at a time. Chickens are very tough little critters and don’t show problems until it is almost too late. I am not trying to scare you but I lost a few birds that were fine one day, sick the next and dead on the third. Try everything you can with heat, many small feedings and lots of love. Is she pooping at all? How does she look or feel like? Does she feel warm? Is she more lethargic than yesterday? Is her crop filling? Is she moving around?
 
Quote:
Hang in there
fl.gif
Keep force feeding a little at a time. Chickens are very tough little critters and don’t show problems until it is almost too late. I am not trying to scare you but I lost a few birds that were fine one day, sick the next and dead on the third. Try everything you can with heat, many small feedings and lots of love. Is she pooping at all? How does she look or feel like? Does she feel warm? Is she more lethargic than yesterday? Is her crop filling? Is she moving around?
 
She was peeping, walking, and eating/drinking on her own last night. This morning she was as lifeless as she was when I originally found her. I've been feeding raw egg yolk and more sugar water. She's improved a tiny bit - opening her eyes and peeping every now and then. But other than that, she's pretty bad..
Her poops are clear liquid and smell deplorable. She hasn't pooped for almost 4 or 5 hours now, that I've seen.
 
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I wonder if she got into something? Also, what do you do with her at night? Do you just put her away for the night or do you get up and feed in between? I remember from mine that they have a really fast metabolism so if they don’t get food in x-mount of time periods, they may relapse. Just a guess on my part though. I am not sure why her poop is clear and smells. Have you fed her medicated chick starter before? It is not just good for cocci, it really helps boost the chicks immune system imho. Maybe she has some sort of deficiency. I hope she hangs in there.
 
I'm no expert, but I just lost a silkie chick who had the exact same symptoms. Another chick in my group is displaying the same symptoms and I hopefully have him on the road to recovery. I've tried corid, the electrolytes (which always help) and several other things. I noticed the other sick chick passed a very large roundworm after my silkie had passed. I immediately wormed him and he's acting and feeling a lot better. Like I said, I'm no expert, and I'm still in the process of finding out what is wrong with mine, but she MAY have worms. Is she very very skinny? My silkie's poops were very watery, clear, and smelly. Good luck and I hope you get her feeling better!
 
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She and the other silkies have complete access to food and water all night (she's quarantined of course). When I went to bed last night, she was eating and drinking by herself, so I thought she'd be okay
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She's perked up more and is eating and drinking herself again now. I'm seeing a pattern...being on death's door in the morning, then improving throughout the day. She feels skinny, and she's always been the smallest of the 3 babies.


What do I give her for worming medication? It couldn't hurt to try it, right..?
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We use Valbazen for worming here. It only takes .25 ml by mouth.

Or.....I have read you can use ivermectin injectible on their skin. Just one drop, on the skin (not the feathers), between the shoulders.

In this case it would be an emergency trial; we don't usually worm until 6 months old. Have you seen signs of worms in other chicks?

Sometimes we use brown sugar in water with better success if the other isn't working as much.

Hang in there with her.

Good luck!
 
I started with Wazine17. 1oz per gallon in their water for around 24 hours. It's supposed to be gentle on their system, especially if they're "brittle" but it only eliminates roundworms. Just make sure that what she has is worms. You can get some of her fresh poo, about a tablespoon worth (collect multiple poos if you need to just make sure they're fresh) and take them to a vet and get him to check it out. They should be able to tell you if she has any parasites inside her in a short period of time. Even if they don't TREAT chickens, the roundworms and some other parasites look the same as in dogs or cats (eggs, and so on). Once you know for sure, you can put her on Wazine17 for 24 hours then follow up with Ivermectin 10 days later to kill other parasites. If she is affected, you'll see her feeling better within two or so hours of getting a nice, good drink. I was lucky enough to see mine pass a live one so I know for certain he had worms. Good luck and I hope your baby bounces back from this awful experience.

When they're small like that and skinny I think it can affect their immune system on a fatal level. Know that it isn't your fault that's she's sick. I blamed myself for my silkie's sickness, but these things just happen. You're doing the best you can. Keeping them crossed for you!
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