Silkie thread!

[Sylvester017]

OK. This isn't really a Silkie question, but I'm guessing that the most chicken walkers are here.
I'm trying to get my Black sex link used to her harness. I put it on and then she refuses to walk and when she does walk she walks backwards.
The Silkie is too small for the harness at the moment and the other chickens are fine with it. I've put it on her 3 times and about 20 min to an hour at a time. So far there's not much progress. Should I have it on her all day?
She obviously isn't used to the feel of it.
I've tried offering treats too. Any advice?

We never tried a walking harness but had chicken diapers on 3 breeds of chickens - the Silkies adapted the best. The Leghorns were quick to adapt. Our stubborn independent thinking APA Ameraucana (my avatar) moped around and wouldn't walk, stand, eat, or drink as long as the diaper was on her. We easily trained the other breeds but she would not adapt. After a week of trying we stopped using it on her. She is just too much of a free-spirit to be confined - sweet as the day is long but definitely has a mind of her own. The Silkies and Leghorns walked backwards in their diapers. My DH took the two shoulder straps in his fingers and nudged the pullets forward until they started using their legs to walk themselves. It takes patience and about 10 minutes of practice but they eventually got the hang of it and start toodling around as if nothing was on their body. The Ameraucana was the only breed that refused to cooperate.

 

[Sylvester017]

Can anyone help me with this I have nowhere else to ask? The blue frizzle chick (named Careful Eddy) has been like this for 3 or 4 weeks now. Hasn't gotten worse, hasn't gotten any better. Doc Brown doesn't know what it is either. we are betting on maybe a peck on the head? Anyhow. I treated for a little longer then a week for wry neck, then doc brown told me to just do a half of a 81 mg aspirin 2x a day. I did that for a week, then he uped it to 3x a day. Then a day or so later he said to use prednisone, 1/4 tablet once a day. I started that on August 29th. He is not any worse or better. I didn't give any yesterday, but gave one today. Anyone ever see a bobble head chick? He is now 6.5 weeks old. I hatched him. Be got mareks vac a week ago. Eddy is thriving and getting big like his siblings. It doesn't seem to get in his way. When it happens it stops him for about 5 seconds and them he recovers. It only happens when he gets too excited or after he scratches his head.

Are you aware Doc Brown is not an actual licensed veterinarian or avian specialist? He may love chickens and treated flocks for years but he's still not a vet. I would not pay someone who is not a vet. If you are giving medications on his advice I'd be careful and take your ailing fowl to an actual veterinarian's office even if you have to travel miles to get to one. Call in advance to make sure they will treat chickens. That's how I got my vet - calling ahead and making sure they don't refuse treatment. I lucked out and got one that happened to love chickens and makes you call them back to advise how the chicken's treatment is progressing! JMHO.

 

[Suzierd]

Thank you guys! for letting me know that's the right price for eggs.

 

[blipit007]

Maybe an inner ear issue? Neurological issue?

Hmmm. Maybe. There is nothing blocking her ears. It could be. I'm at a loss, it could be anything. I had another chick do it, but only 3x that I saw, and not since.

Are you experiencing very hot weather? Does eddy have vaulted skull? I was reading about ' cerebral hernia ' , I'll attach the link. It does look neurological and a good avian multi vitamin in their water regularly is the first thing I would recommend .
Also be very careful when using prednisone . This site is very good for silkie owners.

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html

Wh have had a weird summer. Pretty cool overall, but then extreme spikes in heat & humidity. I started weening him off the pred. It was making me nervous having him on it for so long. I thought I read somewhere that you need to ween them off it, is that true? Also, I have the first aid kit from First Vet Supply and have been giving them all the 3 vitamin supplements that's provided. ( I'm at work right now, and can't remember the names if them ) but one is the Vita-b, another starts with an R, and another is the Amino Acid. I'll look when I get home.

Are you aware Doc Brown is not an actual licensed veterinarian or avian specialist?  He may love chickens and treated flocks for years but he's still not a vet.  I would not pay someone who is not a vet.  If you are giving medications on his advice I'd be careful and take your ailing fowl to an actual veterinarian's office even if you have to travel miles to get to one.  Call in advance to make sure they will treat chickens.  That's how I got my vet - calling ahead and making sure they don't refuse treatment.  I lucked out and got one that happened to love chickens and makes you call them back to advise how the chicken's treatment is progressing!  JMHO.

I was not aware of that. Hmmm... I do know of a vet within an hour from me. I may have to check it out.
I appreciate all your responses. I was hoping that someone has seen this. It has me worried, but since it had not gotten worse, I feel better about that. However I'm going away for a week this Saturday. So that makes me nervous.

 

[only1bgirl]

Here is Careful Eddy at the beginning.

Does he have any pin feathers that might be poking his neck or shoulder? Feel really good around his neck and blow feathers to part them to see if you can see anything on his skin. One of my silkies had very sharp pins on her neck, she would itch and flip her head around.

 

[blipit007]

Does he have any pin feathers that might be poking his neck or shoulder? Feel really good around his neck and blow feathers to part them to see if you can see anything on his skin. One of my silkies had very sharp pins on her neck, she would itch and flip her head around.

I'll go look right now. Also, I have them on Vita-Pro-B, Replamin, & A-Lyte Amino Acid. All really great vitamins and safe to put together. They have been on these for weeks!

 

[blipit007]

So no pin feathers pricking him. Eyes and ears are all clear. Shot a quick video of him just now.

Question, I'm leaving on Saturday for a week. I have my mom (so not a chicken person, they scare her) checking waters and food, and scooping the coop... It's a lot to ask, so I was not going to ask her to add vitamins and supplements to anyone's water. I was going to put a 5 gallon poultry waterer in the silkie coop and have it be between the fence so that both the teenagers and the 7 week olds can accesses it. Along with gallon size soda bottles with the poultry nipple, one in each pen. Here's my question, I have the teenagers (4.5 months old) and the 7 week olds, can they go without any supplements for the week? The directions say to make a fresh solution daily. So I wouldn't want to make the soda bottles with the vitamin / electrolyte water and have it hanging in the coop all week would I? The coop is cool and shaded if it makes any difference. Or would it be safer having just plain water. I worry mostly about Careful Eddy.

 

[Suzierd]

Aww Eddy's so cute, I hope he out grows it.

 

[The Hustons]

So no pin feathers pricking him. Eyes and ears are all clear. Shot a quick video of him just now.

Question, I'm leaving on Saturday for a week. I have my mom (so not a chicken person, they scare her) checking waters and food, and scooping the coop... It's a lot to ask, so I was not going to ask her to add vitamins and supplements to anyone's water. I was going to put a 5 gallon poultry waterer in the silkie coop and have it be between the fence so that both the teenagers and the 7 week olds can accesses it. Along with gallon size soda bottles with the poultry nipple, one in each pen. Here's my question, I have the teenagers (4.5 months old) and the 7 week olds, can they go without any supplements for the week? The directions say to make a fresh solution daily. So I wouldn't want to make the soda bottles with the vitamin / electrolyte water and have it hanging in the coop all week would I? The coop is cool and shaded if it makes any difference. Or would it be safer having just plain water. I worry mostly about Careful Eddy.

I'm sorry idk the answer to the vitamin question but am very curios about the answer. I have a 10 week old silkie who does this same thing . I noticed it around week old & just as you said it hadn't gotten any worse . I did get some advice on adding vitamins to water & have been doing so for weeks now . I almost think it seems to have improved a lil but or mayb I just wanna think that . How old is Eddy? Sorry about your baby ..I worry about my sweet silkie & what the future may hold

 

[Fancychooklady]

So no pin feathers pricking him. Eyes and ears are all clear. Shot a quick video of him just now.

Question, I'm leaving on Saturday for a week. I have my mom (so not a chicken person, they scare her) checking waters and food, and scooping the coop... It's a lot to ask, so I was not going to ask her to add vitamins and supplements to anyone's water. I was going to put a 5 gallon poultry waterer in the silkie coop and have it be between the fence so that both the teenagers and the 7 week olds can accesses it. Along with gallon size soda bottles with the poultry nipple, one in each pen. Here's my question, I have the teenagers (4.5 months old) and the 7 week olds, can they go without any supplements for the week? The directions say to make a fresh solution daily. So I wouldn't want to make the soda bottles with the vitamin / electrolyte water and have it hanging in the coop all week would I? The coop is cool and shaded if it makes any difference. Or would it be safer having just plain water. I worry mostly about Careful Eddy.

I would just give them their last vit water before you go and ask mum to top up their water while you are gone. I would hold back on the 5 gallon waterer , it's too risky with the 7 week olds. The nipple waterer's are much safer, less chance of drowning.