Silkie Loner chick 10 weeks

[DonnaScott]

I have 1 silkie and 4 regular chicks all the same age.

My silkie is incredibly slow moving around almost like he/she is depressed.

He never eats any scratch or treats.

He never goes into the coop when it gets dark and I have to manually close the door so he doesn't get crushed by it (he lays half in and half out sometimes).

He doesn't hang out with the other chicks and he doesn't appear to be getting picked on.

Is this normal behavior? Is there anything I can do to cheer him up?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Can the chick see well? Sometimes crests can block a Silkie's view, though I doubt it would be an issue at this age. How long has it been like this? Is it displaying any other symptoms? Unfortunately I'm not something who can tell by their poop on what's going on, but is its poops normal? To me it sounds more like there's something wrong with its health.

 

[DonnaScott]

Can the chick see well? Sometimes crests can block a Silkie's view, though I doubt it would be an issue at this age. How long has it been like this? Is it displaying any other symptoms? Unfortunately I'm not something who can tell by their poop on what's going on, but is its poops normal? To me it sounds more like there's something wrong with its health.

He seems to be in good health. It took him awhile to eat out of the hanging food because he would just walk under it so I'd leave food in a ground food dispenser and he does bump into stuff because his crest is huge, thick and fluffy.

I tried to cut it away from his eyes but I've been waiting for the weekend when my husband is home during the day. It's hard to do alone.

I've had him for a little over a month and he's always been super docile.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

He seems to be in good health. It took him awhile to eat out of the hanging food because he would just walk under it so I'd leave food in a ground food dispenser and he does bump into stuff because his crest is huge, thick and fluffy.

I tried to cut it away from his eyes but I've been waiting for the weekend when my husband is home during the day. It's hard to do alone.

I've had him for a little over a month and he's always been super docile.

Can you lower the feeder? Does he have easy access to food and water 24/7? Try trimming his crest back further. Hopefully that's what is going on. When you trim, wrap him up in a towel to keep him calm and from going anywhere. Doing it after they've all roosted might be helpful because he'll be tired.

 

[DonnaScott]

Can you lower the feeder? Does he have easy access to food and water 24/7? Try trimming his crest back further. Hopefully that's what is going on. When you trim, wrap him up in a towel to keep him calm and from going anywhere. Doing it after they've all roosted might be helpful because he'll be tired.

Hes good with the food bowl now.

I will trim his crest this weekend.

Thank you for your advice

 

[Slothinc]

Let us know how he starts doing after the crest is trimmed!! I bet he will start being much more likely a normal chicken. I can always tell when mine need a crest trim, they start getting left behind by the others and doing their own thing.

 

[DonnaScott]

Let us know how he starts doing after the crest is trimmed!! I bet he will start being much more likely a normal chicken. I can always tell when mine need a crest trim, they start getting left behind by the others and doing their own thing.

Today he looked dead. Laying on the ground with one wing out.

I brought him inside and gave him scrambled eggs and sugar water. He's at least participating by drinking and eating. Praying.

I have an attachment to this particular chick. Praying he makes it.

 

[Slothinc]

Today he looked dead. Laying on the ground with one wing out.

I brought him inside and gave him scrambled eggs and sugar water. He's at least participating by drinking and eating. Praying.

I have an attachment to this particular chick. Praying he makes it.

Oh I am so sorry I hope he pulls though!! So glad you were able to bring him in. While you have him inside, it’s the perfect time to give a really good trim and then observe to see if there is any difference. With how big the crest is right now he’s likely 99% blind, so it could make a very big difference right away. Focus on cutting it back on the sides. You should be able to see the entire eye area clearly when you’re done.

I hope he doesn’t have something else going on, but if he does, at least you can rule out the blindness. I have heard of chickens that were nearly starved because they couldn’t see to eat. Feel free to post a pic after you trim him back. Here is a pic of a baby that I have that is the same age and has a massive crest. She’s 10 weeks and doing so much better after she got a trim. I’ll try to find before and after pics.

 

[DonnaScott]

Oh I am so sorry I hope he pulls though!! So glad you were able to bring him in. While you have him inside, it’s the perfect time to give a really good trim and then observe to see if there is any difference. With how big the crest is right now he’s likely 99% blind, so it could make a very big difference right away. Focus on cutting it back on the sides. You should be able to see the entire eye area clearly when you’re done.

I hope he doesn’t have something else going on, but if he does, at least you can rule out the blindness. I have heard of chickens that were nearly starved because they couldn’t see to eat. Feel free to post a pic after you trim him back. Here is a pic of a baby that I have that is the same age and has a massive crest. She’s 10 weeks and doing so much better after she got a trim. I’ll try to find before and after pics.

He/She seemed so much better being brought in and drinking the sugar water.

Kinda shocked tbh. A good shocked ofc.

I will trim him up before I release him back in the coop.

Thank you for your advice. I will definitely take it.

 

[Yardmom]

Wow that is a huge crest for ten weeks! Is it for sure a male? Female silkies usually have larger crests than males.
Your Silkie was likely not getting enough to eat and drink. Trimming the crest will help, but it might not be the full solution. Silkies tend to be a very docile breed. They tend to get pushed to the bottom of the pecking order when placed with standard breeds. I keep my Silkies in a separate flock from my standard birdd, but the Silkie crosses that live with my Standard birds are clearly at the bottom of the pecking order. Your Silkie has learned to stay back from your standard birds. This behavior may not change with a crest trim. If you want to continue to keep your Silkie with standard breeds you may need to feed and water it separately a couple times a day. Or you could try putting at least 3 feeders and waters in the coop. Make sure you use clutter to block sight lines between the feeders.