Silkie thread!

[Momma2bellas]

Wow I need a hen like that lol, but she'll huddle up and cover her chest she'll be okay.

You are more then welcome to come get her. All this after a prolapsed vent on her first egg.

 

[WyandotteLove1]

I don't think pulling feathers out is normal, but I know how to help you. I've had a broody chicken, and what I think you should do is put her in her own little brooder with food and water and shavings, and make sure that she is eating and drinking every single day. Then, when you think she is getting a little better, you can slowly reintroduce her back to the flock. If she still isn't better, repeat the same thing. That's my advice to you. Hope you find this helpful!

 

[QueenMisha]

Help!! My Silkie hen that I have is 10 months old and is now broody for the 4th time.  I have noticed she has lost or pulled a lot of feathers off her chest/stomach area, is this normal? I go out a few times a day and move her off nest to outside with others but she has still lost weight. She will eat and drink when I move her so not sure what else to do, really don't feel like locking her up in a cage with air blowing over chest its just too cold outside for that. Any help would wonderful, she is my favorite one I have and I've already dealt with so much with her.

It's normal for broody hens to pluck their breast feathers. It's also pretty typical for broody hens to lose weight, though it shouldn't be too severe. If you don't want to put her in an open floor cage you can put her in a dog crate without bedding instead. Newspaper can be used to line the floor for easy cleaning while also not allowing the hen to nest in it.

 

[Alex1010]

You are more then welcome to come get her. All this after a prolapsed vent on her first egg.

I see your in KS and I'm in NC that's a drive lol

 

[Fancychooklady]

Interesting links. I do notice that they don't mention how much excess protein caused said organ damage. I'm more inclined to think that the kind of levels that cause that much damage would be quite high - 25, 30%, or more. I would really rather doubt that 6% protein makes much a difference in the birds. I've got birds who have been on 20 or 22% since hatch, for several years now, and upon butchering (mostly old hens) I've seen no gout or organ damage. Occasionally crappy or miscolored lungs but that would be due to the Mycoplasma my flock carries.

I've never noticed my bird's droppings to be any wetter than normal. They are all typically quite well formed.

You are correct. Some studies suggest that the damage wasn't notable at 35% protein. If you are happy with what you are feeding , stick to it. But for the others on this site I think it is best to warn them of the possible dangers of over doing protein. A healthy bird with healthy kidneys may tolerate excessive levels of protein , but birds that have been compromised by illness may not.

Btw, I myself feed game bird finisher, but not all year round. In the dead of winter and when the birds are moulting it helps them to maintain condition .

 

[joydix]

i got the eggs from papas poutltry in redding ca. that egg was from a combined pen of lots of colors. could be anything. she..SHE is turning quite grey with the spots now...i hate to admit this but i really really like the color and i sent her eggshell to a DNA test place..to see if she is a she. if a boy i have a good home and then i can focus on the others rather than get too attached to that one. it would be great if the black were a blue...last time i had silkie chicks i had 3 girls....i had DNA done and both were girls so i chose one, sold the other and also what i thought was a Roo...and he turned out to be a girl too! thanks for your opinion...

 

[abbevilleoz]

My Cuckoo cock Lincoln. He's been inside the past several months recovering from a truly nasty eye infection which occurred after a fight with another rooster; took a lot of work and Baytril to get him back into shape. He's blind in the one eye now but still handsome as ever. He'll be my main breeder male this season in the Cuckoo line I'm starting, the female offspring of which I'll use to produce sexlinked Silkies. In combination with a line of Buff and Partridge (and crosses thereof) cocks.

I love this chicken !

 

[chadmen2013]

i got the eggs from papas poutltry in redding ca. that egg was from a combined pen of lots of colors. could be anything. she..SHE is turning quite grey with the spots now...i hate to admit this but i really really like the color and i sent her eggshell to a DNA test place..to see if she is a she. if a boy i have a good home and then i can focus on the others rather than get too attached to that one. it would be great if the black were a blue...last time i had silkie chicks i had 3 girls....i had DNA done and both were girls so i chose one, sold the other and also what i thought was a Roo...and he turned out to be a girl too! thanks for your opinion...

how much it cost to have the shells tested.I never heard of this before. That so cool. Have they always turned out to be the right sex they told you it was. Would be interested in find out were to have this done.

 

[4Ever Farms]

Silkies are cool !!!!

 

[QueenMisha]

You are correct. Some studies suggest that the damage wasn't notable at 35% protein. If you are happy with what you are feeding , stick to it. But for the others on this site I think it is best to warn them of the possible dangers of over doing protein. A healthy bird with healthy kidneys may tolerate excessive levels of protein , but birds that have been compromised by illness may not.

Btw, I myself feed game bird finisher, but not all year round. In the dead of winter and when the birds are moulting it helps them to maintain condition .

OK, I understand. It's definitely very important for newbies to the hobby to be exposed to all potential outcomes of different styles of feeding and care. I hope those reading this thread have learned some new information today.

Actually, the fact that a higher protein feed could have a negative impact on an unhealthy bird ever occurred to me. I always recommend people with lethargic or sick birds add a bit of protein to their diet to boost their caloric intake and such but it makes me wonder exactly where the line is between supplementing their energy to help them recover and taxing their organs even more.