Silkie distress! Please help!

[ghedwards]

I have a silkie hen who's approx one year of age. I noticed yesterday that she just didn't seem her normally spunky self! She is kinda walking around by herself eating and drinking okay but when I picked her up to check on her and put her back down she stretched out her neck a little then dropped it down (towards her chest, like she was tucking it under) and started to shake her head back and forth. She then, for a moment, was unstable on her feet. She's VERY friendly and always pecks around my feet but she just "was not interested" in me. She done this again today when I picked her up and sat her down (gently). Balance is off when moving her. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME! I love her so much!! No vets in my area that treat chickens you may email me at [email protected] thank you in advance!!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about your silkie, you might want to try posting in the Emergencies forum for help with figuring out what is wrong www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures hope she is OK

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry about your Silkie. Definitely post this in our emergency section for more help.

I know how hard it is to see them sick. I hope she is going to be ok.

 

[ghedwards]

Thank you guys for responding! She is eating and drinking just fine, she's just acting nervous kinda around the others. (That's not like her) she is normally a spunky little girl. She walks "normal" on her own its only noticeable when you pick her up and put her back down that she's just a little unsteady. Displaying the symptoms i mentioned. (she only does it for a moment) It's not real bad but I noticed a difference. Others (that don't know her) may not pick up on it. I wanted to catch it early, if there's a problem. I am new at this lol! I only have them as companion pets. Not to breed or for their eggs. So I love her dearly! I was raised in a farm as a child but really only "played" with the animals. So I don't know what to look for:/

 

[gander007]

 

[chickachick31]

Welcome, I'm a newbie too. I have a silkie that I adore, as well. I hope yours feels better soon.

 

[Chickenloving]

Welcome to BYC!!

This might help: http://urbanchickens.org/chicken-illness-injury-and-disease/ Hope she gets better soon.

 

[drumstick diva]

Sounds like typical "silkie syndrome." Some silkies have a very vaulted crest and the skull has not completely closed over. Any little bump to the head can cause this. Sometimes they have slight seizures.

My friend's male silkie had frequent, severe ones in his early days. He also had the head dropped between his legs and walked backyards or sommersaulted because he lost his balance. When he had seizures his whole body felt HOT, my friend used to cool him down with water. I mention this because he is several years old now, has been well for quite some time. Every day, she thought he would die, and every day he did not. He is quite a feisty character and really guards his hens. BTW all her birds are kept in the house.

Causes can be nutritional as well. Reading up in BYC - we found that people were treating with 2 drops 3 x a day of Polyvisol infant vitamins(NO IRON) and also a couple drops of vit.3 squeezed from a capsule. This can be a long process, some silkies get well fast only to relapse a few times before coming out of this. In some situations a vet has given steroids for any possible swelling of the brain.

The bird may also have "wry neck," where the head can swivel around backwards apart from hanging down to the floor between legs. Gentle positioning and massaging the neck to its rightful position - can have therapeutic effects.

You can go to "Silkie thread" - just it in the searchbox - the people there may be able to give you other information. MOst of the cases I've heard of eventually get back to normal. I have not heard of any bird dying from it unless the owner gives up and puts them down.