Silkie thread!

[PaintedFeathers]

hi guys. I lost another silkie today. I lost one this fall. and then now this one. they were from the same batch, hatched in july from a local breeder. now I'm down to 2 roosters and 1 hen and 1 pullet. now what do I do?? and WHY am I losing them? what am I doing wrong? how can I figure out what is going wrong with them?

did she show any symptoms?

 

[chickenkeeper12]

I'm addicted to silkies!!!!

 

[mimi14]

Do silkies do well with the nipple waterers? I had ordered some for the whole flock, but wondering about my little silkie

Yes mine do great!

 

[sheeshshe]

she had a nasty butt. and she weighed barely anything when my friend picked her up out of the coop.

I haven't paid much attention to them as it is winter and they haven't been in the run since it is still snowed in, so I couldn't really tell behavior wise if there was anything wrong. I just give them water daily. I know her bum looked really messy, but sometimes that happens to chickens.

 

[Sanna]

I'm addicted to silkies!!!!

I think we all are!

 

[countrygirl74]

Something got into the hen fortress and killed my little girl Shasta All of the others were able to get away in a small space, without flying. Could it have been mice?? That's all that could get in. Nothing left but feathers, no blood. She was broody, and wouldn't have moved. It was able to just tear her up I'm heartbroken. Crying and shaking as I type. I don't know what to do with my others tonight??

So, so sorry to hear this... I would be devastated too. I hope you have no more losses. The only time I had a loss to a bantam that left only feathers and no other traces was due to a hawk. Is there anyway a hawk could have gotten in and back out somewhere? Friends of ours came home one day to find a hawk in their coop that couldn't figure out how to get back out!

 

[PaintedFeathers]

she had a nasty butt. and she weighed barely anything when my friend picked her up out of the coop.

I haven't paid much attention to them as it is winter and they haven't been in the run since it is still snowed in, so I couldn't really tell behavior wise if there was anything wrong. I just give them water daily. I know her bum looked really messy, but sometimes that happens to chickens.

She could have had intestinal parasites. I would de-worm your whole flock. Also check for external parasites.

 

[moomoodiddy]

So, so sorry to hear this... I would be devastated too. I hope you have no more losses. The only time I had a loss to a bantam that left only feathers and no other traces was due to a hawk. Is there anyway a hawk could have gotten in and back out somewhere? Friends of ours came home one day to find a hawk in their coop that couldn't figure out how to get back out!

I have alot of doves get in my run and have a panic attack when they can't find a way back out ... Lol stupid birdies

 

[sheeshshe]

I did the wormer in the fall after the first one died, I followed up with a second dose. I used safeguard.

Could it be external, what should I be looking for?

 

[PaintedFeathers]

I did the wormer in the fall after the first one died, I followed up with a second dose. I used safeguard.

Could it be external, what should I be looking for?

Look for little bugs crawling on them. Look them over carefully, mites are as big as pinheads

That "may" be one cause, parasites can really take a toll on birds. Are you able to take the other one to your states agricultural center to get a necropsy? Ours is at our agricultural college.