Silkie lost balance

[Cara194]

I'm sorry you've had such an aweful time with it...I can't fathom losing that many chickens that quickly. I truly hope it's run it's course (or should I say curse??) in your flock.

As for 'Misty', we've been feeding him the feed appropriate for his age (currently 13 weeks) with a little water to make it easier for him to scoop for a couple months now. I tried filing his beak when it was just starting after hearing stories of that minimizing it, but it's considerably crossed now. For a little while I was trying to only feed him by hand once a day, or even every other day so that hopefully he'd work out a method that worked for him, but whenever I check his crop it's empty unless it's right after I feed him by hand. I'm afraid that if we ever had to go somewhere and there wasn't anyone willing to take the time to hand feed him then he wouldn't eat at all. The poor guy is so thin, every time I feed him (which I AM doing daily, I'm not cold-hearted) I feel like I'm just prolonging his suffering rather than actually helping him.

No fears, I won't rehome anyone. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I ever did that and someone else's chickens ended up suffering because of it.

Thank you so much for your wealth of knowledge...I'm so sorry it had to come at the price of it being from personal experience.

 

[Cara194]

I was thinking about building a 2nd coop for the silkies if Sammy pulls through. I'm afraid that our Upstate NY winters might be too cold to have just the two of them in their own little love nest. I'll definitely keep a close eye on him for a while to make sure he isn't being picked on. I'm going to be checking them constantly anyway with the concern that any of the other ones might get sick

Thanks for the reassurance! He's out there alone right now and I've been worried about him ever since I brought Sammy inside to recoup her!

PS - yes, Sammy the girl and Misty the boy...between not knowing their sex, and letting a six year old name them, what can I say? Lol

 

[leadwolf1]

My daughter is Sammi...so, not a problem We've had many mixed up chicken names. Roxanne, turned into Rocky. Patti into Patty...the list could go on and on

 

[Cara194]

One last quick question leadwolf - did you try hypericum with any of the Marek's run-in's you've had? Since we're getting some food and water into Sammy, and she doesn't seem to be in pain...I'm thinking about trying it out as a last ditch effort before having her euthanized. If she makes it, I'll keep her and her boy separate from the rest of the flock, and keep all of them away from anyone else's. I don't care if it 'cures' it as this point or just sends it into remission for some period of time...as long as she's doing better.

 

[leadwolf1]

You can try Hypericum is you would like but, I've tried it many times and it doesn't seem to make a bit of difference in the outcome If you do want to try it, find a company owned GNC and get it through them. It is much cheaper then anywhere else. Franchise owned GNCs don't have it.

I keep it on hand, use it every time, hoping for that miracle that people say that they get. I'm still hoping.

 

[Cara194]

Thanks! I gave her some figuring it couldn't hurt at this point. I was able to get hold of the woman who sold her to me as a chick and she said she's had a few silkies with the same problem, but hasn't had Marek's in the flock. She said it's happened to her right around when the roo's start getting frisky...which is exactly now. I'm still holding out hope, but as you suggested, if she doesn't make it I'll have a necropsy done to confirm or rule out for piece of mind! Thanks for all your help with this!

 

[leadwolf1]

Has the woman you got her from had a necropsy to confirm or deny the presence of Marek's? Just around when the roosters get frisky is when the pullets start going through changes, also...it is at this point that they are the most vulnerable for Marek's symptoms to appear. If she hasn't had a necropsy done, she doesn't know what is happening in her flock.