Silkie thread!

[JessesChickens101]

Partridge silkie father and wheaten ameraucana mother.


Leven here is the most paranoid and best flock rooster I've ever had with the large fowl hens

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Holy cow they are stunning!

 

[DarleneE]

Hi everyone!
I am a new Silkie owner and have 2 approximately 4mo old gals. They are both doing this head shake thing, and actually they've done it since I got them a couple months ago. However now my little black one is also doing this really weird head swaying thing? It's very strange. I've been told the Silkie breed is known for their head shaking behavior and that it's common however this I'm certain is NOT a normal thing!!??
I see no mites, lice etc. I see no mucus anywhere. I have trimmed their eye fluff so they can see better in case it was that however nothing has helped. She will go a long while without doing it then she'll suddenly do it again. I'm so worried can anyone help me and tell me what I can do for her/them? They both do the head shake thing but the black one is worse. Here is a video of them and at the end of the video you can see her really doing this. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.


https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/vXM5yjH03Pjq

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Hi everyone!
I am a new Silkie owner and have 2 approximately 4mo old gals. They are both doing this head shake thing, and actually they've done it since I got them a couple months ago. However now my little black one is also doing this really weird head swaying thing? It's very strange. I've been told the Silkie breed is known for their head shaking behavior and that it's common however this I'm certain is NOT a normal thing!!??
I see no mites, lice etc. I see no mucus anywhere. I have trimmed their eye fluff so they can see better in case it was that however nothing has helped. She will go a long while without doing it then she'll suddenly do it again. I'm so worried can anyone help me and tell me what I can do for her/them? They both do the head shake thing but the black one is worse. Here is a video of them and at the end of the video you can see her really doing this. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.


https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/vXM5yjH03Pjq

I have a rooster that use to do the head tilting thing constantly when he was given to me, he doesn't do it anymore though I thought maybe nutrition related.. What do you feed your beautiful Silkies? Maybe some extra vitamin in water may help?.. Or she was knocked on the head and it's neaurological? You've done well with trimming fluff so they can see better.

 

[DarleneE]

I have a rooster that use to do the head tilting thing constantly when he was given to me, he doesn't do it anymore though I thought maybe nutrition related.. What do you feed your beautiful Silkies? Maybe some extra vitamin in water may help?.. Or she was knocked on the head and it's neaurological? You've done well with trimming fluff so they can see better.

Thanks for writing!! I am feeding them Purina start and grow non medicated crumbles. I do have some nutri drench in their water now and have Poly Vi Sol coming. I had to order it cause all they have around here is the one with iron! I paid for 2 day shipping so praying it gets here soon! I'm not aware of any head bumps but with chicks playing one can't be certain of that?? They both are doing that quick head shake thing.. but this morning I noticed Minnie doing that swaying thing also and it really scared me! The really funny thing though is I was just out there watching them for a good while and she didn't do it at all.. only the slight fast head shake that they've done since I got them?? So I'm really stumped. I just pray she gets better and I don't lose her! Just recently lost my 7yo beautiful Barred Rock and am still grieving over that! I can't handle much more....... Thanks again for writing!!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Thanks for writing!! I am feeding them Purina start and grow non medicated crumbles. I do have some nutri drench in their water now and have Poly Vi Sol coming. I had to order it cause all they have around here is the one with iron! I paid for 2 day shipping so praying it gets here soon! I'm not aware of any head bumps but with chicks playing one can't be certain of that?? They both are doing that quick head shake thing.. but this morning I noticed Minnie doing that swaying thing also and it really scared me! The really funny thing though is I was just out there watching them for a good while and she didn't do it at all.. only the slight fast head shake that they've done since I got them?? So I'm really stumped. I just pray she gets better and I don't lose her! Just recently lost my 7yo beautiful Barred Rock and am still grieving over that! I can't handle much more....... Thanks again for writing!!

Sounds like your feeding them well, no treats then? If not then this head shaking could be neurological, because of their skull Silkies are more susceptible to these issues unfortunately. Maybe other people have more insight into this issue if it can be treated or it's something they can happily live with just fine. Are they active doing normal chicken things besides the shaking?
..sad about your barred rock

 

[DarleneE]

Sounds like your feeding them well, no treats then? If not then this head shaking could be neurological, because of their skull Silkies are more susceptible to these issues unfortunately. Maybe other people have more insight into this issue if it can be treated or it's something they can happily live with just fine. Are they active doing normal chicken things besides the shaking?
..sad about your barred rock

Oh yes I'm sorry I forgot about the treats! I give them some fruits and veggies in small amounts every now and then. Nothing everyday though. Yes they are acting totally normal in all other aspects? Minnie, the little black one is an absolute piggy and is always eating! They are drinking.. now they have the nutri drench in their water as well, and they are very active running after one another and exploring their new home! We just got them into their new coop and run yesterday when my husband finished it! So they've been checking everything out etc etc. This morning I was even so excited to see that they found their way out of the roost all by themselves! Let's see if they remember how to go back up again tonight! LOL
So yeah they act normal otherwise. This is very upsetting though and it has me a nervous wreck honestly!!

 

[DarleneE]

Silkielee,

This is their new home which is at the far end of the porch which is all screened in so it keeps them safe! We just got them in here yesterday and they've been exploring all day!!

BTW standing outside the Silkie enclosure is Ebby my Black Australorp! She's all alone now that we lost our Daisy! So she hangs around the babies but we can't trust her with them as she's tried to peck them already and we can't risk a serious injury or even death! They are just too small a breed to be with such a huge chicken... which yes, Ebby is quite a big girl!! LOL Ebby has full run of the rest of the porch as well as the entire backyard. She's finally adapting to being without Daisy. She was so upset when Daisy passed that she didn't even eat for days!! I was worried sick!! She's doing much much better now though!!

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Silkielee,

This is their new home which is at the far end of the porch which is all screened in so it keeps them safe! We just got them in here yesterday and they've been exploring all day!!


View attachment 2475817View attachment 2475818

BTW standing outside the Silkie enclosure is Ebby my Black Australorp! She's all alone now that we lost our Daisy! So she hangs around the babies but we can't trust her with them as she's tried to peck them already and we can't risk a serious injury or even death! They are just too small a breed to be with such a huge chicken... which yes, Ebby is quite a big girl!! LOL Ebby has full run of the rest of the porch as well as the entire backyard. She's finally adapting to being without Daisy. She was so upset when Daisy passed that she didn't even eat for days!! I was worried sick!! She's doing much much better now though!!

Silkies and bantams in general do just fine with standard. Mine beat up our standards. I like you set up!

 

[DarleneE]

Silkies and bantams in general do just fine with standard. Mine beat up our standards. I like you set up!

Thank you! I'm really happy with the setup so far! My husband is so creative and handy! I've heard of many Silkies with standard size hens and no problem. However when we tried to let them work it out after seeing each other for weeks.. Ebby literally charged at them and was so fast that before I could stop her she pecked poor Minnie on her back and scared me to death! It could have been her head and she could have killed her. I realize there is pecking order to work out but I'm not willing to even try after the way she came at them! It's just safer to keep them apart. We have some horrible hawks circling our house alot also so it's not like my Silkies will be able to free range like Ebby does either. They're way too small. Thus this setup for them in the porch. Tomorrow I'm also setting up a sand box in there for them as well so they can take their sand baths! Can't wait to see how they like it! Thanks for writing!

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Thank you! I'm really happy with the setup so far! My husband is so creative and handy! I've heard of many Silkies with standard size hens and no problem. However when we tried to let them work it out after seeing each other for weeks.. Ebby literally charged at them and was so fast that before I could stop her she pecked poor Minnie on her back and scared me to death! It could have been her head and she could have killed her. I realize there is pecking order to work out but I'm not willing to even try after the way she came at them! It's just safer to keep them apart. We have some horrible hawks circling our house alot also so it's not like my Silkies will be able to free range like Ebby does either. They're way too small. Thus this setup for them in the porch. Tomorrow I'm also setting up a sand box in there for them as well so they can take their sand baths! Can't wait to see how they like it! Thanks for writing!

That's ok. You could have two flocks.