Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[littlecritters]

I really need some help understanding what our newest quarantined bird(s) may have and how to treat. The splash boy that we have been tube feeding was the first to develop a little white crust on his nostrils. I thought it was a respiratory issue due to his compromised immune system and his near death from the shipping delays.

Now two of the girls have been getting whitish crusty stuff also. The photos appear yellowish, but in person it is more white.

Could this be fungal? Favus? What would be the best treatment(s)?

These pics are of the same pullet:

 

[thedragonlady]

hmm, good point! So far, I have sold all culls on CraigsList. I have never listed a name, or tried to pawn them off as someone's birds. Understandable why you wouldn't want your name attached to birds you are weeding out.


I read on to hear what you meant-- but was very interested in the lesson you learned.
I need someone like that to take my culls! But I also feel that especially the pullets-- if they can find a pet home, that would be ideal.


I have never seen or heard of an auction like that here locally. How did you find yours? We have swaps... but that's about all that I know of.


Looks like a girl. She has girl coloring too, and no streamers coming off the crest that I can see. My splash boys get really dark in the hackels, and she has stayed the lighter color.

I've been gone-- but LOVE the discussion going on! So many great points and good ideas for going forward with our breedings!

Dragonlady, how did you find your asian gentleman? Did you take out an ad for your silkies to eat? So far, I have sold everything on CraigsList for $5 a piece-- basically eating prices here. I'm pretty sure one guy that showed up to buy several roosters was going to eat them. But he didn't tell me he'd like to come back for more, or anything. Wondering how you established that relationship.

Check with any Asian grocery stores in your area. They want Silkies. I was contacted by an Asian bunch one time who wanted me to produce 25+ chicks a week for them to raise out for their market. In the 1980s, they were willing to pay $10 per chick. A lot of $, but think of the numbers you'd have to keep ! I politely declined, and my buyer kept on buying the ones I had available.The numbers got fewer and fewer as I got my line established.

 

[thedragonlady]

Alright, I have finally gotten more pictures of my roo to ask if ya'll think he is blue or black. I had pics on here of him but I was told that it would be easier to tell if there were pics of the underfluff. I know that the underfluff for a blue would be blue looking and if he was black then the underfluff would be silvery looking. By what I saw it looked more silver but I'm not for sure. What do you think?

I know they aren't the greatest pics but that is all I could get and I know he looks a little brown or reddish but that is just the sun on him.




I swear after getting the pics on here they look even worse than they did on my phone. I didn't think they were THAT bad. I may just have to break out the camera. If you could diagnose his color from these I would appreciate opinions. Thanks.

Looks like a blue to me. Is his hackle darker?

 

[thedragonlady]

I really need some help understanding what our newest quarantined bird(s) may have and how to treat. The splash boy that we have been tube feeding was the first to develop a little white crust on his nostrils. I thought it was a respiratory issue due to his compromised immune system and his near death from the shipping delays.
Now two of the girls have been getting whitish crusty stuff also. The photos appear yellowish, but in person it is more white.
Could this be fungal? Favus? What would be the best treatment(s)?
These pics are of the same pullet:

That almost looks like fowl pox. Look at the spot above her eye too.

 

[setsbackyardhen]

HI im new to this and got given these two lovely girls just woundering what breed they are

 

[setsbackyardhen]

HI im new to this and got given these two lovely girls just woundering what breed they are

 

[Me & Jack]

I really need some help understanding what our newest quarantined bird(s) may have and how to treat. The splash boy that we have been tube feeding was the first to develop a little white crust on his nostrils. I thought it was a respiratory issue due to his compromised immune system and his near death from the shipping delays.
Now two of the girls have been getting whitish crusty stuff also. The photos appear yellowish, but in person it is more white.
Could this be fungal? Favus? What would be the best treatment(s)?
These pics are of the same pullet:

Really hard to tell from this photo and from just the one main crust/lesion. If it's fowl pox it's easy enough to vaccinate your flock. Just dip the two-pronged tool in the vaccine and then prick the wing web. Two person job at worst and takes a few seconds per bird. If it's Favus then using something like Selsun Blue on the affected area will work. It's also possible that nasal or ocular exudate is collecting in that one spot, in which case you may be looking at a respiratory issue, for which antibiotics will at least help with any primary or secondary infections. No harm in treating for all three possibilities simultaneously IMO. In the meantime keep isolated and practice bio-security as best you can.

 

[littlecritters]

That almost looks like fowl pox. Look at the spot above her eye too.

Oh boy, I'm filled with distress and frustration...this is the group of birds that we had shipped from out of state which got lost in transportation...by the time we located them, one was dead, the others were lethargic, dehydrated and suffering from heat...and one boy was barely alive, passing blood....he is the one we ended up tube feeding and now has neurological damage similar to cerebral palsy....in fact, he is the one that started with this whitish crust on his nostrils which I thought was dried nasal discharge...this is the second group of birds we purchased this year that have had significant problems (including death) due to unusual circumstances beyond our control...we have been providing ICU level of attention and care...it's become very fatiguing.

 

[littlecritters]

Really hard to tell from this photo and from just the one main crust/lesion. If it's fowl pox it's easy enough to vaccinate your flock. Just dip the two-pronged tool in the vaccine and then prick the wing web. Two person job at worst and takes a few seconds per bird. If it's Favus then using something like Selsun Blue on the affected area will work. It's also possible that nasal or ocular exudate is collecting in that one spot, in which case you may be looking at a respiratory issue, for which antibiotics will at least help with any primary or secondary infections. No harm in treating for all three possibilities simultaneously IMO. In the meantime keep isolated and practice bio-security as best you can.

Do you have a suggested antibiotic? I will run to Agway or Tractor Supply today to get something. I may mist them with some Oxine this morning, just to be on the safe side.These birds have been in quarantine in my house in a room which has never housed chickens. I try to be very careful about Biosecurity, hand washing, not wearing the same shoes etc......

Actually, I just checked my Emergency Kit purchased from Dr Brown and it contains Oxytetracucline and Sulfadimethoxine for respiratory problems. I'll try those and see if they help.

 

[stoopid]

Tina, Doc is away for the weekend, maybe try calling him tonight. Will look for you in the meantime.
Hugs.

Usually fowlpox just needs to run its course. There isn't much you can do, except try topical antibiotic for the lesions.
I'll get back with you if I find anything worthwhile.