Silkie cockerel has head on backwards???

[Scooter&Suzie]

I would start giving them vitamin supplements. I wonder if your food is bad? If multiple are showing this, it would lead me to believe that it has something to do with a vitamin deficiency that your younger silkies are needing to grow. It would less likely be injury if you're not seeing missing feathers, etc. from aggressive birds picking at them.

Hmmmm... I wonder.... Before I had some feed left out in the rain, but it was unopened and in a water proof bag. When I got it inside and opened it (from the bottom) I saw that some mold was on the top because the bottom was kept together with a paper strip and got some of the food wet. I removed all of the moldy food, but is it possible that some of it was bad, it just didn't appear bad? I can go buy some more feed and see if the problem goes away. I hate to throw away food, but I suppose if it is making my birds sick I kinda have to

 

[Shayna]

I would definitely get rid of it asap. I understand not wanting to waste food, but that mold spreads very easily and is very toxic. That very well could be causing the issues. A new bag of food and some polyvisol (w/o iron) given orally for the few showing symptoms should help get them better.

 

[Heat]

I would definitely get rid of it asap. I understand not wanting to waste food, but that mold spreads very easily and is very toxic. That very well could be causing the issues. A new bag of food and some polyvisol (w/o iron) given orally for the few showing symptoms should help get them better.

Agreed... I know we do everything in our power to keep the feed dry (Hubbies tools have been tossed in the rain to make room in the shop for a few bags before!), if one bag gets wet we move on to the next one.

Good luck and I hope the food change helps your Silkies!!! They are beautiful birds none-the-less!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I just got back to this thread...sorry I didn't check in earlier.
Yes, get rid of that feed in my opinion!

The mold works its way through the whole bag, and can cause death in chickens.

If mulitple silkies are having trouble, I agree with the others it sounds like a food issue and not a pecking/brain injury issue.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would definitely get rid of it asap. I understand not wanting to waste food, but that mold spreads very easily and is very toxic. That very well could be causing the issues. A new bag of food and some polyvisol (w/o iron) given orally for the few showing symptoms should help get them better.

x2

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Okay, I'm gonna dump the feed into the woods as soon as possible. I was just wondering, should I bury the feed so that wild animals don't get sick? Or should I put it in the trash can?

The silkies are 13 weeks and can go onto the layer pellets at 18 weeks. Could I give them that until I get to the store? Or is that unsafe?

 

[aoxa]

Okay, I'm gonna dump the feed into the woods as soon as possible.  I was just wondering, should I bury the feed so that wild animals don't get sick?  Or should I put it in the trash can? 

The silkies are 13 weeks and can go onto the layer pellets at 18 weeks.  Could I give them that until I get to the store?  Or is that unsafe?

I would trash it. No need to risk other animals' safety.. unless they are coons

 

[Shayna]

I think the layer pellets will be ok for them for now - given the other option with the possibly toxic feed. Do get the new feed as soon as you can though, because the increase in calcium isn't good for the youngins. Good luck! I hope this quickly resolves the issues!

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Okay, into the trash goes the bad feed! Do I need to clean the feeder with any chemicals to kill the germs and such?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Okay, into the trash goes the bad feed! Do I need to clean the feeder with any chemicals to kill the germs and such?

I'd just scrub it out with a little bleach water myself. If you don't have bleach then scrub with dish soap very well.