Silkie falling forward and unable to balance

[24Silkie]

Hello all!
I have a 10 month old Silkie pullet. A few days ago she started losing her balance and falling forward. I brought her inside 5 days ago and she’s been inside since. She’s eating, drinking by syringe, and pooping. Poops look somewhat normal. She’s able to move her legs and flap her wings when she’s supported. She even jumps around when I support her chest. Before she started losing her balance, she and the entire flock were on a Corid treatment. (3 weeks ago we had a pullet died and necropsy showed she had coccidiosis.) She finished her treatment and I started her on Poultry Cell. No improvement. I’ve been giving her NutraDrench, Selenium, and HydroHen in her water. And squeezing a Vit E (100 IU) softly into her mouth. No improvement yet. I’ve researched different threads on BYC and saw that I could give her 400 IU of soft gels (without piercing them) so I just tried that too. She’s able to hold her head up in her own but makes an ‘scanning’ motion.

Her diet consisted of layer and grower feed (we had chicks in the coop too) and kitchen scraps. Right now I’m giving her anything I think she’ll eat. She loved raspberries and blackberries. Pine chips in the coop and sand/dirt in the run.
She’s very thin.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ve been giving her NutraDrench, Selenium, and HydroHen in her water. And squeezing a Vit E (100 IU) softly into her mouth. No improvement yet. I’ve researched different threads on BYC and saw that I could give her 400 IU of soft gels (without piercing them) so I just tried that too. She’s able to hold her head up in her own but makes an ‘scanning’ motion.

Welcome To BYC

Do you have a video of her? Upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Neurological symptoms can be common in Silkies. It can take weeks for symptoms to start to improve. I'd give her 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex along with a little egg daily to help with the uptake of E.
Plain fresh water to drink and a nutritionally balanced poultry feed to eat.

 

[24Silkie]

Welcome To BYC

Do you have a video of her? Upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Neurological symptoms can be common in Silkies. It can take weeks for symptoms to start to improve. I'd give her 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex along with a little egg daily to help with the uptake of E.
Plain fresh water to drink and a nutritionally balanced poultry feed to eat.

This is the best video I could get…

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is the best video I could get…

I'd definitely try the Vitamin Therapy to see if that helps.
I'd focus on her eating a nutritionally balanced poultry feed. All flock crumbles/pellets or chick starter would be good to give.

Hard to know if she's suffered injury to the head - Silkies have a hole in the skull so a good peck or knock on the head can cause neurological symptoms. Unfortunately, they also seem to be prone to Marek's disease...but really the only good way to know is if you lose them and send the body for testing at your state lab.

This may sound a bit odd, but she may also benefit from having the feathers trimmed from around the eyes.

She's a Cutie Pie isn't she! I'm glad to see you have her propped in a box. I was going to suggest a sling, but with her being so "limp" she's unlikely to stay upright in a soft fabric sling, the box is much sturdier, and it looks like she's got quite a bit of support.

Welcome To BYC

Do you have a video of her? Upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Neurological symptoms can be common in Silkies. It can take weeks for symptoms to start to improve. I'd give her 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex along with a little egg daily to help with the uptake of E.
Plain fresh water to drink and a nutritionally balanced poultry feed to eat.

 

[24Silkie]

I'd definitely try the Vitamin Therapy to see if that helps.
I'd focus on her eating a nutritionally balanced poultry feed. All flock crumbles/pellets or chick starter would be good to give.

Hard to know if she's suffered injury to the head - Silkies have a hole in the skull so a good peck or knock on the head can cause neurological symptoms. Unfortunately, they also seem to be prone to Marek's disease...but really the only good way to know is if you lose them and send the body for testing at your state lab.

This may sound a bit odd, but she may also benefit from having the feathers trimmed from around the eyes.

She's a Cutie Pie isn't she! I'm glad to see you have her propped in a box. I was going to suggest a sling, but with her being so "limp" she's unlikely to stay upright in a soft fabric sling, the box is much sturdier, and it looks like she's got quite a bit of support.

Thank you for sharing suggestions and advice!! It means so much that you responded. Thank you.

 

[Carterborchers]

Oh, she is so cute. I hope she shows some improvement soon.

 

[Ohio Duck]

Thank you for sharing suggestions and advice!! It means so much that you responded. Thank you.

Hi, what ended up happening with your young silkie? I have a 4 month old pullet with the same symptoms. I have been treating her with vitamins so far.

 

[24Silkie]

Hi, what ended up happening with your young silkie? I have a 4 month old pullet with the same symptoms. I have been treating her with vitamins so far.

Hello.
It’s been 25 days with the same symptoms. I have her inside and made her a sling out of PVC and fabric. She’s still eating, drinking, and pooping- probably not as much as she would be if she was with the flock. I’ve been giving her Vit B and Vit E daily. There might have been a slight improvement at first, but that’s leveled out. Sorry your chicken has the same symptoms. We did have a pullet that died in December and the necropsy indicated Marek’s. I’m assuming it’s also Marek’s with this current chicken.