Sick Pullet - need advice!

PigeonLady

Songster
11 Years
Jan 3, 2009
86
103
132
Lehighton, PA
I got these 2 beautiful Silkie pullets about a month ago or more. They are timid and I know they have been chased around a lot by the other hens, but no injuries.
Today one of them looks sick. She can't really walk, and has a hard time holding her head up. She is very light and there is nothing in her crop. I suspect she has not been getting enough to eat and drink what with being chased around by the other hens.
What I already did: I put her in a separate pen with her sister. I made up a solution of vitamin/electrolytes in water. I stuck her beak in to get her to drink, but she wouldn't.
What can else can I do?
With pigeons, I can use a syringe to put water or food directly into their crop when they are sick. Can you do this with a chicken?
 
OK, I searched around and I see that it is possible to syringe feed. I will try to get some of the water into her at least.
Appreciate any other suggestions.
 
You can syringe feed!! Poor girl, they get pushed out of food and water when they are new. Try some sugar water to perk her up and hopefully spark her appetite. sounds like she needs food ASAP, also try offering moistened food ,my birds LOVE their "mash"
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I also use it as a vehicle to treat an individual bird when only one needs treated. I mix the medicine water and use this to moisten the food, with impacted crop I add probiotics and molasses.
 
Thank you, Maidenwolf. She is slightly perkier today. I got some Zoopreem, it is a hand-feeding formula they use for baby parrots, and I put some in her crop about an hour ago. Hopefully that will help! These Silkie hens are the nicest I have ever seen, appearance-wise, but extremely timid.
 
Good glad you got something for her. I have never had silkies but I have heard good things, I am a bantam lover
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,,maybe I will add some next season, Good luck , keep me posted
 
OK, this is a follow-up on my Silkie hen. I still could use some suggestions...
I have her in a separate pen with another hen friend. She still is VERY light, and whenever I check her, she has nothing in her crop. I never see her eat or drink. I have been syringe-feeding her about 20-30 ccs of Zupreem once a day, mixed very watery. I wonder if this is what is keeping her alive. She seems to have no interest in anything, all she does is sit and mostly with her head tucked back as if to go to sleep. I have trimmed the feathers all around her eyes, so its not that she can't see, as I first thought. And nobody is keeping her from eating/drinking - she just seems to have no interest. When I first got this batch of Silkies about 6 weeks ago, she was the alpha chicken of the group. I wish I could save her because she is very pretty. ...Anyone?
 
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