Silkie thread!

[SAKim]

Quote:
Where does everyone get their Prednisone- and what form does it come in (tablet or drop)?

I have a little spastic rooster that I'm very fond of, and the situation is just as B'rody's Broodello described. Any period when he is stressed - because of temperature extremes or eating poorly - he backslides to a head-whipping, creeping-backwards condition. If fed, watered and coddled assiduously he snaps out of it. This summer he was tearing around the yard like a normal chicken, but right now he's stuck in a box with his legs sticking out. I would love it if there was some pharmaceutical approach that would make his life easier. Thinking that aspirin was also antiinflammatory, I've tried that on several occasions, with no perceptible effect.

Best - exop

Prednisone will not help whatever is ailing your boy. It sounds more like wry neck than head trauma. Pick up some Exact Hand Rearing Formula for cage birds, add a capsule of vitamin E with selenium. Give that to him for a couple of days, see if that will pull him out of it.

featherbaby, aspirin can be used on chickens quite safely. Its one of the safer pain relievers for chickens.

I know the feeling of wanting to try everything to help your baby. There is so much conflicting info it is hard to know what to do.
I had a silkie with wry neck and was told that the predisone did help because wry neck is usually a swelling of the brain and predisone is for inflamation. If you have a vet (even if you don't, try your neighborhood vet). I understand if you tell them the situation and show them the treatment plan you are using, they will help you with the predisone. It is a common item in vet offices -- my dog uses it for his bad back, and my other dogs use it for allergies.

I used the predisone in conjuntion with the selenium, vitamin e, and poly vit sol. I crushed the predisone and selenium and then mixed everything in a little yogurt and hand fed... my baby liked it but since he had a hard time holding his neck steady, it was a little messy.

I was expecting to see immediate results but it took a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden, he was soooo much better. Since I used everything, I am not sure what actually worked.

I wish you the best and hope you have great results no matter what course of treatment you try.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Prednisone is actually the drug of choice for what we call "wry neck". Since there is a vast difference of professional opinions as to what causes "wry neck" in silkies (due to their vaulted skulls), it is prudent to use both prednisone and the Vit. E./selenium in treating them.

Some respond within a few days...others take a couple of weeks to respond. I'm sure there are some birds that never respond to treatment and must be euthanized. It is time consuming and frustrating at times, but the satisfaction of seeing them get better is priceless.

 

[rilly10]

Sorry to interrupt but the new silkie book is here!!! https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5487703#p5487703

 

[JustAChickenLittle&More]

Hey Pam, welcome to the silkie world. I would get some business cards printed up (really cheap, some free on vistaprint.com). Leave some in the feed stores, restaurants, etc., I would stick with white silkies, and probably splash and blue. White is very popular, next is splash and then blue/lavendar. I would definitely reserve a pen for your better Roo and a couple hens. Then later if you are doing good and want to expand your business, I would put a couple of silkie hens in with a cochin. Beautiful chickens and very popular. You can make a sign up if you want to sell your eggs by the dozen for eating (put the sign in front of your house, unless they say you can't), or if you want to sell hatching eggs, most people usually sell 6-8 eggs per auction on ebay or even here on backyardchickens.com. You can sell them auction style or for a "Buy it now" price. Don't forget your shipping costs. Make sure you pick up eggs twice a day at least to keep them fertile and fresh.
If you have any further questions, pm me or just ask away. I'm sure somebody will help.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I went to the poultry congress show this weekend in MA. Just got home a little while ago. I got BV and RV in brd buffs. There were 12 brd buffs - 6 pullets 6 hens. I also got 1st 2nd, and 3rd brd buff hens and my pullets were 1st 2nd and 3rd. I got 1st brd white cockerel, there were 3 of those, and 2nd brd white pullet. There were around 8ish brd white pullets. Also got BV in splash with a brd pullet. There were only 3 splashes, 2 males and my pullet, so I got 1st pullet there. Was a good show. Can't wait till next year. I'll have to put up some pictures later. So every bird I took to show got something.

 

[rilly10]

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Awesome! Congrats!!!! I would love to see some show pics! You must be so proud!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Wry neck/crook neck/star gazing/etc. are names for an assortment of ailmen ts that manifest with similar symptoms. Brain swelling is a common cause of the symptoms. The cause of the brain swelling can vary. Many vets prefer metacam to prednisone. But both require a prescription.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Awesome! Congrats!!!! I would love to see some show pics! You must be so proud!

Thank You!.

Here are some pictures of the birds.

I love this little white pullet. I hatched her on 7/29/10.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

hi everybody. i didnt know where else to post this so i figured this would be the best way to get a professional answer.

today i recieved a silkie roo from a fellow byc-er who had rescued him about a month ago. He is in the middle of a molt right now and has also gotten a ton of his balding from a more dominant roo in her flock.

my question is based on these photos, do you think hes a full on silkie or a 3/4 silkie mix? also, what would you say his color is? its obviously a very dark grey up top, but the butt feathers are white, and where the grey stops and the white begins there is a line of light brown. He's also got a black strip running off of the top of his back where his tail feathers would start. i gave him a bath earlier and noticed a very slight barring on his wings as well. he is in pretty bad shape but you shoulda seen him before the bath! i was shocked when the hair dryer came out and he started turning white, haha. Do you think he may be a nice fluffy guy when his molt is finished? he has little strings hanging off his butt right now that i assume are supposed to be tail feathers at some point...but not right now they aint. (i think the hens at his old house must have done that- not the molt) anyways, any info would be great. i have had a white silkie before but other than that i know absolutely nothing. thank you!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Bless his heart!!!