Silkie thread!

[Fancychooklady]

We no longer let people pet ours for this reason...Even when we sell them, you can pet what you bought...Baby ducks are the biggest draw for touching, in our experience, we now keep them in enclosed cages when we're out selling them...

Ideally any bird that has been off your property , whether it be at a show or sale , should be quarantined. I don't allow anyone to walk in my pens and after seeing unwell birds at a local show , I don't show either.

 

[Kayana]

You should wait until they start developing they're individual characteristics and personalities.

 

[flyladyrocks]

There are several causes for early chick mortality. How old is your chick? Heat is very important , check the vent area for pasting and what does the poop look like ?
This article has a chart with the heat - age ratio required . Without more details it's hard to help you. General lethargy and sleepiness fits coccocidiosis.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/baby-chick-basics-what-you-need-to-know.html

 

[Fancychooklady]

With that detailed answer two things come to mind. Coccidiosis or perhaps blockage . I stopped using pine shavings after I lost 2 chicks to choking and blockage. I know that many people use it without incident but for me it is ' once bitten , twice shy '.

 

[kyexotics]

Ideally any bird that has been off your property , whether it be at a show or sale , should be quarantined. I don't allow anyone to walk in my pens and after seeing unwell birds at a local show , I don't show either.

We were going to show at the KY St Fair this year as we know our birds would take all the blue ribbons compared to what we saw but, for same reason you mentioned, have changed our mind, no way we're leaving our birds there for days...

 

[Kayana]

With that detailed answer two things come to mind. Coccidiosis or perhaps blockage . I stopped using pine shavings after I lost 2 chicks to choking and blockage. I know that many people use it without incident but for me it is ' once bitten , twice shy '.

I have always heard that using pine is bad for any bird. Something to do with the pollen or maybe the oils I do not know. I have heard that cedar is bad too. I just use corn cob bedding for my birds. Its all natural, if the birds were to happen to decide to ingest some it wouldn't hurt them in any way. So, if I were to recommend any kind of bedding I think corn cob would be best. I have not had any issues in it, and the birds seem to LOVE to scratch in it and dig for things. My chicks love it as well they always seemed to kind of dig in it, and then lay in the hole keeping warm and the feeling of it against they're skin/feathers.

Melissa

 

[judy mclean]

Got new babies hatching started last night 2 so far

to me silkie are the cutest babies

 

[Fancychooklady]

Got new babies hatching started last night 2 so far

to me silkie are the cutest babies

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[flyladyrocks]

With that detailed answer two things come to mind. Coccidiosis or perhaps blockage . I stopped using pine shavings after I lost 2 chicks to choking and blockage. I know that many people use it without incident but for me it is ' once bitten , twice shy '.

Very interesting b/c I have heard that cedar is bad, but never heard that pine was bad however I did hear that corn cobb bedding was but I do not remember why.

I have always heard that using pine is bad for any bird. Something to do with the pollen or maybe the oils I do not know. I have heard that cedar is bad too. I just use corn cob bedding for my birds. Its all natural, if the birds were to happen to decide to ingest some it wouldn't hurt them in any way. So, if I were to recommend any kind of bedding I think corn cob would be best. I have not had any issues in it, and the birds seem to LOVE to scratch in it and dig for things. My chicks love it as well they always seemed to kind of dig in it, and then lay in the hole keeping warm and the feeling of it against they're skin/feathers.

Melissa

 

[Fancychooklady]

Oh so sorry for you and your little girl. As I said most people have no probs with shavings, I use oaten chaff in my brooder now. It's light and easy to scoop out and keep clean. This may have been something specific to this chicks incubation so I wouldn't take it to heart. Hopefully your little one will busy herself with loving the other chicks.