Sick Silkies

[ChuckT]

Looking for answers.

We are new to having backyard chickens and we got 6 silkie bantams well 7 actually. One died within a week and a half????
It just got very lethargic was eating but only small amounts then just would sit there , head tucked in over her shoulders like she was have a sleep. She did this when it was raining and got very wet so we brought her inside and placed her in a box in the bathroom near a heating outlet to keep her warm.
And later that evening when the other chickens had gone into the coop we put her back in with them. Only to find her dead the next morning.

Now another one of our flock is looking the same way ..... Doesn't want to free range like the others eats small amounts and just sits there fluffed up and head tucked in ???
She does move when I go in there and joins in feeding when we give them treats. We have looks for a reason but are not sure what could be the problem.

So we are asking what might be happening to our flock.
Temperature has been cold and wet for the last week or so.
They have plenty of free range area to fossic in.
We are feeding them chicken mash that we got from the person we bought them from.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Sorry about your birds; there are so many possibilities, and sick chickens all look and act about the same way. Moving to a new place is very stressful, and can bring out an underlying problem. How old are they? How long have you had them? Housing? Silkies are pretty fragile compared to chickens with normal feathers. Consider seeing a poultry veterinarian, or having a dead bird necropsied. Mary

 

[ChuckT]

New faltpack coop. Only had them for a few weeks now. Supposed to be 16 to 18 weeks old.

The one that died has gone so can not check to see what she died from.
But the one that's sick is like her sister we think , and she is kinda doing the same things.
Camilla is limping and just sits there not doing anything while there others are running around eating and scratching.

PS thank you for you reply.

 

[Stiggy]

it could be coccidious, checking for that and even preventive treatment could be a good idea. It is true Silkies aren't as hardy as other breeds, they need to be kept warm and dry. wet and cold kills them, they cannot get warm or keep dry since their feathers are like human hair and it clumps and they get cold. have they got any nasal discharge?

 

[ChuckT]

No nasal discharge ? Just limping and lethargic. Just dose nothing hardly at all.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I would worm them first then treat them with corid. You need to also check them over for lice and mites. Are their legs clean ? There are several problems that will show up as lethargy or listlessness but parasites internal or external can bring them down.

 

[ChuckT]

Thanks again for the input about our sick silkies.
We lost another one and only have 4 left. I hope these are OK now they look better , much stronger and more active.

 

[Stiggy]

Well that's sad that you lost another one but good that the others are looking good. Once you stop treating for coccidiosis then you will need to bulk them up and give them extra high protein feed to get their growth back on track