Silkie thread!

[CALI CHICK]

I'm going to the Stockon show next year in January too and I know Sheri and would gladly transport anything if she doesn't have the room or time.

Hi neighbor! Last year Sheri asked if I wanted to help her bathe the silkies before the show? She must have taken 30-50 down! I'm kicking myself for not being able to make it because that would have been a great learning experience. I would REALLY like to go to Stockton this coming year also. I've heard it is just the biggest poultry show. My son saw another breed he'd like to raise (Belgian D'Anvers) so I might try to buy some pullets for him there. Maybe we could meet-up sometime. My son is in the Citrus Heights 4H.

First things first! We don't have another coop for another breed here. I wish we could find a house (around here) to rent or buy with more land, that allowed chickens and roosters. We are in Foothill Farms and allowed chickens because our property just barely meets the minimum size requirements. The ordinance doesn't say we "can't" have roosters, but I don't want to upset any neighbors. Until we move, I have a bedroom set up as a rooster hotel.

Nobody crowed this morning (YET) so I haven't had to put anyone in the crowing room today.

 

[Suzierd]

Hi all! We unexpectedly bought a white silkie pullet a couple of days ago. We were there to pick up some Showgirls a man found for me at a swap. I had gotten Showgirls from him before and they were perfectly healthy. Anyway, on the way home we noticed the Silkie had a runny nose (on one side of her beak) and she sneezed a couple of times. When we got home we gave her a bath and found she was covered in lice and mites. We dried her then dusted them all with Sevin dust, gave her some vitamin drops and the next day some VetRx. It has been three days and her nose isn't running but she still sneezes every once in a while. The lice and mites are cleared but we will dust again in 10 days. I read in Storey's Guide to Chicken Keeping that once a bird has gotten ill, even if they get better they can still carry the illness to others and shouldn't be bred since they can pass on bad immune systems. That its best to put them down. My question is, how acurate is this information and should I keep her or put her down? She eats, drinks and poops normal. I just can't keep her if it isn't safe to put her in with my existing flock after the newbie quarantine is over but I also don't want to sell her and pass the problem off on someone else either. Any advice would be appreciated.

Keep her in quarantine, if she has a Respitatory disease she can infect everybody. There is no cure she will remain a carrier even if she gets better and she can remain symptomatic. That being said it is possible it could be environmental. I would have her checked for MG, you don't want to take any chances. You can have a vet do it if you can find one that treats chickens or your state agriculture department. You may need a blood test one lady on BYC had a 4 H member that knew what they were doing come draw blood for her to send in. Be careful not to ware the same shoes in her pen as your birds pen or use the same tools you can spread it from one pen to the next. She may have a overload of worms also. It's very risky buying from a swap.
http://agr.wa.gov/foodanimal/avianhealth/docs/mycoplasmagalliscepticum-website.pdf
Keep in mind some strains are mild some are very bad.
please keep us posted.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Just wanted to mention that Sonoran Silkies was correct in predicting that BB is a cockerel.

BB gave us his first crow this morning!

BB doesn't have any apparent streamers (@ almost 6 mos old) and doesn't chest bump with the younger splash cockerels???

I REALLY need to get some girls for my BBS breeding pen. It is poor Mysty Blue with 3 roosters!!!!!!! At least they aren't old enough to breed yet.

By the way, how long after the first crow (and first egg) do silkies begin mating?

And, here is the man, himself! Perhaps we should change his name from BB to something stronger....like BULLET!

Very pretty!! Is he a black or a blue? I have a Blue that is this dark and even in the sun looks very glossy black. But she throws lots and lots of splash babies and has a grey undercoat. So she's definitely blue. But he's so pretty!! I'd love to have a black rooster, but I'm planning on buying eggs next year.

Hi all! We unexpectedly bought a white silkie pullet a couple of days ago. We were there to pick up some Showgirls a man found for me at a swap. I had gotten Showgirls from him before and they were perfectly healthy. Anyway, on the way home we noticed the Silkie had a runny nose (on one side of her beak) and she sneezed a couple of times. When we got home we gave her a bath and found she was covered in lice and mites. We dried her then dusted them all with Sevin dust, gave her some vitamin drops and the next day some VetRx. It has been three days and her nose isn't running but she still sneezes every once in a while. The lice and mites are cleared but we will dust again in 10 days. I read in Storey's Guide to Chicken Keeping that once a bird has gotten ill, even if they get better they can still carry the illness to others and shouldn't be bred since they can pass on bad immune systems. That its best to put them down. My question is, how acurate is this information and should I keep her or put her down? She eats, drinks and poops normal. I just can't keep her if it isn't safe to put her in with my existing flock after the newbie quarantine is over but I also don't want to sell her and pass the problem off on someone else either. Any advice would be appreciated.

I use Denagard http://www.qcsupply.com/denagard-liquid-concentrate-novartis.html It is expensive, but it clears up CRD and other upper respiratory problems. Although, I have had all of my birds since hatched, so I know I have nothing serious going on around here. I don't know what to tell you about that bird, but I wouldn't want to keep it. Definitely keep it separate. I have seen a lot of really bad, bad diseases go around in birds. When I was a kid, we had a form of pneumonia go thru our flock and wiped out half of them. (they had runny noses and eyes and very labored breathing) We ended up butchering the rest of them in favor of starting over. That was just our laying flock, not our project birds. I don't know what happened, but I know wild birds can bring in stuff.... but in your case, a wild bird did not infect your sick chick. It is more likely it is passed on from another sick bird with who knows what. You can try to treat it with the Denagard or Baytril injectible, or even an OTC drug like Duramycin. But I certainly wouldn't put it in with my other birds, because it is not "cured".

 

[CALI CHICK]

Very pretty!! Is he a black or a blue? I have a Blue that is this dark and even in the sun looks very glossy black. But she throws lots and lots of splash babies and has a grey undercoat. So she's definitely blue. But he's so pretty!! I'd love to have a black rooster, but I'm planning on buying eggs next year.

Thank you, Hawkeye. Bullet is a Blue silkie that I hatched from Mary Robbins Blue/Black eggs. Like yours, his feet and underfeathers are much lighter and as a chick he was much lighter all over. I'm so proud of him...he didn't even crow this morning. If he's a quiet, good boy, he'll sure make my life easier.

Right now I have another dark blue pullet (Mysty Blue), Bullet here and 2 more splash cockerels for my breeding pen. I am incubating more BBS in September, but considered looking for black eggs if it is important. Do you think it is important to have a solid black in a BBS breeding pen? I really like blue and splash silkies, but wasn't sure if a true, black silkie should be added? Thank you for your thoughts, Cali

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Or the mites/lice could have been the carriers. Biting bugs spread disease. (And that is one of the common ways that wild birds spread disease--through sharing their bugs.)

 

[4hchickmama]

Hi neighbor! Last year Sheri asked if I wanted to help her bathe the silkies before the show? She must have taken 30-50 down! I'm kicking myself for not being able to make it because that would have been a great learning experience. I would REALLY like to go to Stockton this coming year also. I've heard it is just the biggest poultry show. My son saw another breed he'd like to raise (Belgian D'Anvers) so I might try to buy some pullets for him there. Maybe we could meet-up sometime. My son is in the Citrus Heights 4H.

First things first! We don't have another coop for another breed here. I wish we could find a house (around here) to rent or buy with more land, that allowed chickens and roosters. We are in Foothill Farms and allowed chickens because our property just barely meets the minimum size requirements. The ordinance doesn't say we "can't" have roosters, but I don't want to upset any neighbors. Until we move, I have a bedroom set up as a rooster hotel.

Nobody crowed this morning (YET) so I haven't had to put anyone in the crowing room today.

Haha thats too funny...we are going to get d'Anver hatching eggs in a month and hatch them. I'm sure we will have more than we need if your son wants a few. Our city ordinance doesn't say we "can't" have roosters either, but...I'd rather not push the limits.
We should brave Stockton together! We are in Rocklin, and were at Flatlands 4H but are trying to move to Gold Country in Sept.

 

[4hchickmama]

I had a silkie in the past that would sit on my runner duck eggs She raised those ducklings like her own little chicks

Awesome! Now to find us some ducklings!!! Thank you guys so much!!

 

[jhfamily5]

Very pretty!!  Is he a black or a blue?  I have a Blue that is this dark and even in the sun looks very glossy black.  But she throws lots and lots of splash babies and has a grey undercoat.  So she's definitely blue.  But he's so pretty!!  I'd love to have a black rooster, but I'm planning on buying eggs next year.  

I use Denagard http://www.qcsupply.com/denagard-liquid-concentrate-novartis.html  It is expensive, but it clears up CRD and other upper respiratory problems.  Although, I have had all of my birds since hatched, so I know I have nothing serious going on around here.  I don't know what to tell you about that bird, but I wouldn't want to keep it.  Definitely keep it separate.  I have seen a lot of really bad, bad diseases go around in birds.  When I was a kid, we had a form of pneumonia go thru our flock and wiped out half of them. (they had runny noses and eyes and very labored breathing) We ended up butchering the rest of them in favor of starting over.  That was just our laying flock, not our project birds.  I don't know what happened, but I know wild birds can bring in stuff.... but in your case, a wild bird did not infect your sick chick.  It is more likely it is passed on from another sick bird with who knows what.  You can try to treat it with the Denagard or Baytril injectible, or even an OTC drug like Duramycin.  But I certainly wouldn't put it in with my other birds, because it is not "cured".

Thank you so much for the advice. I am sorry you had to lose so many birds. I don't know what to do with her. She had the runny nose (one nostril-little clear drainage) and an occasional sneeze for three days. No other symptoms ever developed and now she shows no symptoms at all. She sneezed a couple of times yesterday but not at all today and I wasn't sure that it wasn't the dust that made her do that. I gave her Ivermectin on day one and she never pooped any worms but I always do that anyway just to be sure. When I got her she was in a separate pen from the showgirls I picked up. They all shared a cage on the ride home (I didn't know she was sick at the time) but she was isolated as soon as I got home and has been a separate cage since. They are in cages next to each other in the garage. (Now looking back I hope it isn't an airborne thing.) Because the showgirls were with her for a few hours, are they not safe to eventually merge with my flock either? They show no symptoms at all. Is it possible that the silkie pullet could have had a "no big deal" runny nose without it being something serious? Especially since it cleared right up on medicated feed and VetRx? Could I be making something out of nothing? There are no avian vets of any kind anywhere in my area. My hubby would flip if I spent 20x the cost of a bird on vet care anyway. I believe in taking the best care possible of all my animals but I also have to be practical. I just didn't realize that sick birds could pass things on even after they were well. I always quarantine, worm, dust, bathe etc my newbies and would never bring home a sick bird if I knew it. Mites, lice and worms are common and easy to clear up but I have never dealt with a sick bird otherwise so I am at a loss. I hate to cull her if it wasn't necessary but I also don't want to risk my other birds. Also, does she need further medication when she no longer shows symptoms? I am thinking that time will tell. I have had her for five days now so no matter what they all need quarantined a few more weeks. I hate not knowing what to do. To make it worse, she is my 10 yr old daughter's and she is very attached already. The longer I take to decide, the more attached she will be and it will be hard to explain to her how I need to put the bird down when she is "better".

 

[Hawkeye95]

Thank you, Hawkeye. Bullet is a Blue silkie that I hatched from Mary Robbins Blue/Black eggs. Like yours, his feet and underfeathers are much lighter and as a chick he was much lighter all over. I'm so proud of him...he didn't even crow this morning. If he's a quiet, good boy, he'll sure make my life easier.

Right now I have another dark blue pullet (Mysty Blue), Bullet here and 2 more splash cockerels for my breeding pen. I am incubating more BBS in September, but considered looking for black eggs if it is important. Do you think it is important to have a solid black in a BBS breeding pen? I really like blue and splash silkies, but wasn't sure if a true, black silkie should be added? Thank you for your thoughts, Cali

well, I love, love, love him! I want one just like him!! But I want a black. I want an All-black pen. I'm not wanting to mix blacks in with my blue and splash. But there is a lot of benefit of a black over a splash, but I wouldn't want to do it to the detriment of ruining a good black by breeding away from it. I think you can have a good blue splash pen just fine without black. BUT, I have read that splash can dilute, and there are good reasons for having a black pen. My way of thinking is that blacks should be bred separately and brought in when needed. This Fall, I'm setting up new breeding pens in my horse barn and I'm going to set a couple up for just black. The more I read, the more I think I'm understanding how important it is to breed like to like and not go mixing them up. Except with blue and splash.

Or the mites/lice could have been the carriers. Biting bugs spread disease. (And that is one of the common ways that wild birds spread disease--through sharing their bugs.)

Indeed! I didn't even think of that. But of course, that going to be the transmitter. Our horses are vaccinated yearly for West Nile for the same reason-- because mosquitoes can infect them from other animals.

Thank you so much for the advice. I am sorry you had to lose so many birds. I don't know what to do with her. She had the runny nose (one nostril-little clear drainage) and an occasional sneeze for three days. No other symptoms ever developed and now she shows no symptoms at all. She sneezed a couple of times yesterday but not at all today and I wasn't sure that it wasn't the dust that made her do that. I gave her Ivermectin on day one and she never pooped any worms but I always do that anyway just to be sure. When I got her she was in a separate pen from the showgirls I picked up. They all shared a cage on the ride home (I didn't know she was sick at the time) but she was isolated as soon as I got home and has been a separate cage since. They are in cages next to each other in the garage. (Now looking back I hope it isn't an airborne thing.) Because the showgirls were with her for a few hours, are they not safe to eventually merge with my flock either? They show no symptoms at all. Is it possible that the silkie pullet could have had a "no big deal" runny nose without it being something serious? Especially since it cleared right up on medicated feed and VetRx? Could I be making something out of nothing? There are no avian vets of any kind anywhere in my area. My hubby would flip if I spent 20x the cost of a bird on vet care anyway. I believe in taking the best care possible of all my animals but I also have to be practical. I just didn't realize that sick birds could pass things on even after they were well. I always quarantine, worm, dust, bathe etc my newbies and would never bring home a sick bird if I knew it. Mites, lice and worms are common and easy to clear up but I have never dealt with a sick bird otherwise so I am at a loss. I hate to cull her if it wasn't necessary but I also don't want to risk my other birds. Also, does she need further medication when she no longer shows symptoms? I am thinking that time will tell. I have had her for five days now so no matter what they all need quarantined a few more weeks. I hate not knowing what to do. To make it worse, she is my 10 yr old daughter's and she is very attached already. The longer I take to decide, the more attached she will be and it will be hard to explain to her how I need to put the bird down when she is "better".

Honestly, there is no way to eradicate all disease because of the bugs that will transmit them anyway. It sounds like your bird recovered pretty fast. Here's what I would do--- go ahead and keep her quarantined for the next 3 weeks. Watch her closely. Watch the others closely. Dust them again in a couple of weeks, because the eggs that the mites left will be hatching again around that time. Use Sevin to dust them when that happens. Don't put them with anyone else until you have caught the next wave of parasites and they are looking really clear. Use your discretion and common sense. I wouldn't want to cull her either. I always treat. I don't know, I'd be leary about adding her to the flock if you say your others have never been sick.... that would concern me. Reevaluate the situation after your quarantine and see how you feel then. I would pick her up and listen to her lungs and check routinely for crackly lungs. You can hear it by putting your ear up to their back and sometimes their breast. The back is easier. I have a stethoscope, so of course, that would be the best way to listen.

 

[peepblessed]

Awwwwww, they are SO sweet. It looks like you had a great hatch! Are these from shipped eggs or from your own BBS pens? CONGRATULATIONS, Peeps

BTW-I mentioned to Sheri Minkner (the breeder here in the Lincoln/Sacramento area) that you are looking for a Partridge Rooster. She said she has some. She currently has 2 partridge breeding pens. I'm not sure if your health or schedule would allow for traveling, but in case you would like to network I'll give you her information. Sheri always shows at Stockton each year. Maybe you could meet up there? She is a super nice lady and has been working with silkies for a long time (I think 10+ years.)
Email:
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http://www.californiacountryranch.com
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Thanks, Cali!! That is great info! These are from my own flock. That's why the hatch was so good. Everything hatched except for the eggs that were older than 10 days. I intentionally put in some older eggs as an experiment. Oddly they developed fine until about day 18. I have heard that 10-11 days was the limit.