Silkie crest almost completely gone and squinting eyes

[Silkie2]

1st question: my silkie's (my favorite one, of course) crest is almost completely gone. I figure it's from the other hens pecking at her (i'm pretty sure, shes at the bottom of the pecking order) since jade (her sister basically..) passed away, shes been the only tiny silkie in a flock of standard chickens. her crest seems to be going more and more (no scabs or scratches, just literally balding) could she just be molting? how can i get the other chickens to stop pecking her? i'll admit, the coop is a little crowded in the mornings but they do have a giant chicken run an i have been free ranging them lately. (i just put her in a crate for tonight so nobody can peck her in the coop in the morning)

2nd question: i just noticed her eyes have started squinting? like they seem almost puffy? and im a bit worried. the bottom eye lid seems to be raised up more then usual. no signs of lethargy. i love my silkies to death and after jade passed i've been a little overly worried over twix. i feel bad cause she kinda keeps to herself because the other hens peck on her


anything i can do to get her back to the thriving, fully feathered, happy chicken she used to be?


thanks,
Emma

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Separate her out before your other birds kill her. Even pecks to the skull can severely harm a silkie. They should only be kept with other silkies or gentle bantams. Hopefully she heals up without constant harassment. You will need to find her a friend or two, and keep them in their own coop and run.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x oldhenlikesdogs

 

[Wyorp Rock]

i just noticed her eyes have started squinting? like they seem almost puffy? and im a bit worried. the bottom eye lid seems to be raised up more then usual.

I agree with @oldhenlikesdogs separate her.

Can you post some photos of her eyes?

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Yes pictures would help us access the damage and help make a solution!

 

[Silkie2]

thank you for the replies.
i'll try to get some pictures in a bit.
we don't have any other runs of coops except for the duck house and run. could she live with three other khaki cambell ducks in a pretty big pen? (i would of course lock her up in a separate enclosure at night so she's not in the small duck house with the ducks)

i recently got a batch of straight run silkies and frizzles. unfortunately i got 2 rooster silkies but i did get 2 female frizzles (and sexed female cochin who, grew up with them) could i keep them and the silkie, Twix, in the duck pen with three ducks? our ducks don't really mind the chickens. they kinda keep to themselves and i have yet to see them actually "attack" one of the chickens. 2 roosters might be too much for them but if it goes well i will keep them, if not i'll get rid of one (sadly, because I've grown attached to them both lol)

i will get some pictures soon

 

[Silkie2]

Well today here eyes don’t seem as bad as yesterday. Guess im just overly paranoid.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her eye looks pretty good, it may have been puffy from being picked at.

As for if she can be kept with ducks....maybe @oldhenlikesdogs would know. I'm afraid I lack the knowledge of duck/chicken interactions to comfortably comment on your question.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ducks in general can be less deadly than other chickens. It still would be more ideal to separate silkies and frizzles into their own coop.

Ducks can make things wet, and those are two breeds you don't want constantly wet. Drakes sometimes will chase and harass chickens and try to mate them.

Keeping your birds in the proper environment is important for overall health. Certain breeds require more than others. Silkies, frizzles and polish are the main breeds that require extra care. If it can't be provided they will suffer greatly.

I recommend doing what you can to get those birds their own set up if you want them to survive long term.

 

[Silkie2]

Ducks in general can be less deadly than other chickens. It still would be more ideal to separate silkies and frizzles into their own coop.

Ducks can make things wet, and those are two breeds you don't want constantly wet. Drakes sometimes will chase and harass chickens and try to mate them.

Keeping your birds in the proper environment is important for overall health. Certain breeds require more than others. Silkies, frizzles and polish are the main breeds that require extra care. If it can't be provided they will suffer greatly.

I recommend doing what you can to get those birds their own set up if you want them to survive long term.

we have 3 female khaki cambells (no drakes) the majority of the run stays pretty dry and only gets a little wet where the pool is (which they hardly use there pool) they are currently all in the duck pen. so far so good! the ducks keep to themselves on one half of the pen and the flock of silkie and frizzles keep to themselves on the other half. our duck run stays pretty dry since it is a huge pen with 1 kiddie pool and three semi-water-loving ducks.