Sick Silkie? PLEASE Give Advice!

[SarahF]

Dh brought Molly's Sister (that's her name cause we only named Molly) in to the house because she apparently didn't look so good.

He said she has been going outside all on her own in the dead cold, he found her under a nest box (5 inch clearance) last night and this morning just sitting in the corner. I thought last night she could maybe be sitting on eggs, but DH found no eggs.

She really smells and some of her wing feathers seem to be missing their 'fluffiness'. Other than that, I don't know how to tell if she is actually sick.

I've cooked some egg for her and mashed it up. We'll see if she eats that than I will offer her regular feed and water.

Any suggestions on how to tell if she's sick would be really helpful! I'll post the picks I took once DD goes down for morning nap.

Thanks,
Sarah

 

[SarahF]

Wing feather's seem to have lost their 'fluffiness'

Back of head was never really fluffy, but never bare like this. Also...what in the world is on the front of it's face...tell me that's not a comb!

Side view

Side view of face

 

[gumpsgirl]

The back of my Silkies head looks like that also, because of the roo that is in with her mating her all of the time.

Not quite sure about the wing feathers though.

Is she doing anything else out of the ordinary? Sneezing, coughing, gaping, droopy head?

Did she eat the egg you cooked for her?

 

[SarahF]

I saw some of the egg on her beak. She is a she, right?
"her" sister doesn't have the bald spot on the back of her head and her wing feathers are fluffy.
This chicken doesn't seem sick, just hasn't been walking around, always sitting on the ground, or outside (which it has been really cold here for the last month). What about the stench? Should I try giving a bath? She/he really reaks!

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm not really a Silkie expert. I've only had three and currently just have one. I really can't tell you for certain weather it is a pullet or a cockerel. It is really looking like a cockerel to me now that I'm looking at it. Do the other chickens pick on it?

As for the stink, I would bring it in and give it a warm bath and then put it under a heat lamp until it is completely dry.

I also can't really pinpoint why it is just sitting around. Have you checked it's lets to make sure they are okay? The sitting around could also be the cause of the stink.

Hopefully someone else will weigh in on this and be able to be of more help to you.

 

[SarahF]

I just checked on apparently HIM and it looks like he is molting...I've never had a chicken molt before, but clumps of feathers are coming out. Also, his feet seem really...fake. Could they have been affected by the cold ground??? Like frostbite?

 

[SarahF]

UPDATE:
We've had "Moe" in now for 5 days and he does not seem to be improving.
The bottom of his one foot and toes are black and very hard. He does not use this foot AT ALL. He uses his wing to catch his balance if needed.
The bottom of his other foot is not black, but the toes are. The skin on the bottom appears to be loose, like a blister. He can put pressure on this foot though.
I've given him two baths so far in warm water with epsom salts. He eats and drinks fine, and poops like a machine.

What would you all suggest? We realize we cannot put him outside now till spring, but if he cannot walk, what would be the point?

Is he in pain? Will he be able to live outside again without walking?

Your advice is greatly appreciated. I feel very sad about the whole thing.

More Update:
We have two Columbian Rock X RIR roosters (huge!) who had been fighting a few weeks ago. Well, the one who "lost" has really bad frostbite on his comb and wattles. I mean, 75% of his comb is black (all tips plus some) and 40% of his wattles. I'm TOO terrified of them to do anything about it. They attack me everytime I go near, and DH asked his grandmother to slaughter them for us, but we can never seem to lock her down with a day. I'm reading more and more about aspirin in the water for pain...would he be in alot of pain? I look at them through the run (because I won't get any closer), and he seems to be the only one with frostbite. The other rooster, who "won", has a few black spots on his comb, but nothing to be as concerned about (seeing as they are both on 'death row').

If they are in pain, I'll have them done sooner, along with my poor silkie.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Hi Sarah,

i found this thread with suggestions on treating frostbite. Here is the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=129715 Read what AngelzFyre has to say.

The other thing you want to check for are mites and lice. Hold him securely and tip him over. Check around the vent area close to the base of the feathers. If you see teeny things moving, it will be lice or mites. The other issue you might consider is worms. You may want to take a fecal sample to a vet and have them check. All these things are easy to treat. More serious is the frostbite. If he has lost use of most of his feet, it might be kinder to put him to sleep.

On your other birds, if it were me, i would not want any animal that could potentially harm me. i would get grandmom over to cull them asap.

Good luck, and please keep us updated.

Colleen

 

[SarahF]

DH and I gave Moe one more look over and decided that he would never walk again. DH thought it was mean to keep him alive if he was in pain and we couldnt do anything but medicate him. So DH put him down last night. It was very sad.

Thank you for your suggestions.

SarahF

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm so sorry SarahF. Sounds like you did all you could for him and sending him to chicken heaven was the best thing.