Silkie thread!

[ScaredOfShadows]

didn't see any signs of injury, had some ad mites and bathed him for it, but he kind of started hiding in a corner and got listless

Mites are horrible on birds, Mites + shipping stress is disasterous. Mites are blood suckers and the stress they put on the body and sucking them dry on top of a compromised system from the shipping stress sounds like that did him in. Or it could have been Cocci on top of that. Did he ever touch the ground while you had him? If he went outside on dirt/ground thats my bet - if he was indoors the entire time I'm just going with the dual stressers.

Only thing I was told and have done with shipped birds of any age is keep them quiet the first day give them a booster (vitamin/electrolyte water, sugar water, whatever something to help give them a boost) then feed them some boiled eggs and crumbled food. When I take them out of the box at home I look them over really well for 2 reasons - 1. to look to see the bird I got was what I paid for, 2. injuries, mites, signs of sickness, etc. Then after all that I slowly start treating them like any other bird but keep the quarantined.

 

[chisNchickens]

Great. That kind of sounds like mine. I don't understand how shipping causes this though...I mean my guy was pecked on the head very hard
by a much larger bird. That is pretty much a direct hit. Don't see how it could be so common with shipped birds - or rather I can't imagine what causes
this during shipping. Maybe someone here knows...so sorry for your loss.

 

[dwegg]

ChisNchickens I really hope for a full recovery for your boy...sending healing thoughts to you...

Thanks everyone for answering about the silkie club registration question...it might just be my iPad ? I will try again later...

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Great. That kind of sounds like mine. I don't understand how shipping causes this though...I mean my guy was pecked on the head very hard
by a much larger bird. That is pretty much a direct hit. Don't see how it could be so common with shipped birds - or rather I can't imagine what causes
this during shipping. Maybe someone here knows...so sorry for your loss.

Direct hit to the head can cause neurological problems. I would give vitamins/electrolytes. Would also supplement with B12 vitamins you can find the liquid gels over the counter at the pharmacy, give 1 capsule twice a day til you see significant improvement.

 

[artsyrobin]

i don't know if i'd do shipping again- he was such a beauty- maybe go the egg route or shows to get another- but if shipping stress can do this- i don't want to put another through it- i didn't give him electrolytes- maybe that was my mistake? would that alleviate the stress??

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[Debbi]

Great. That kind of sounds like mine. I don't understand how shipping causes this though...I mean my guy was pecked on the head very hard
by a much larger bird. That is pretty much a direct hit. Don't see how it could be so common with shipped birds - or rather I can't imagine what causes
this during shipping. Maybe someone here knows...so sorry for your loss.

Chris, does your bird have a vaulted skull? They seem to be much more prone to head injuries due to the exposed brain being only covered with skin. I have a Blue Partridge pullet that got pecked hard on the top of her head by a rather excited male. No blood, but within a few hours, she showed up with the symptoms of wry neck (head/neck twisted upside down). I went the vitamin route with her for about a week with no improvement. The weather had been warm for the week, then came a cold snap. She was still outside with the others, as she would eat and drink fine, and would only display the wry when she got stressed or excited, once calm her neck straightened out again. When the cold hit, she really improved, leading me to believe that there was a definate swelling of the brain, and the cold weather took down the swelling. Just speculation on my part, but it makes sense. She is still alive and well, but every once in awhile, she will go wry on me again for just a few minutes. I would say by now, being that it's been several months ago that this happened, it is a permanent condition due to the brain trauma, but otherwise, she is fine. Hope this may help you some, good luck with your bird.

 

[chisNchickens]

I think you are replying to me...? Yes, Bonk has a vaulted skull but not as extreme as some of the others I hatched. He is still alive!
He is still not acting quite right but I am sure that is to be expected. I am giving the adizone for inflammation and pain and I am certain that is helping. Poor sweet guy. Thanks for your kind words.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

i don't know if i'd do shipping again- he was such a beauty- maybe go the egg route or shows to get another- but if shipping stress can do this- i don't want to put another through it- i didn't give him electrolytes- maybe that was my mistake? would that alleviate the stress??

the elctrolytes and vitamins don't alleviate the stress, but it gives them an energy boost and re-hydrates them which they really need. Also it helps their bodies get back to normal faster. If the bird was shipped with mites (which it sounded like on FB to me) - then he was already stressed and not in prime health when he was put in the box and shipped. The 2 days without water (most birds don't eat or drink during shipping because its dark in the box) can leave them dehydrated a bit, and with mites on top of that probably led him to be anemic...

I have had 5 started/adult birds shipped, had no issues with none of them except my polish girl got 'sea legs' which they are prone to when shipped. Some birds are just more prone to stress and small things affecting them, even a couple hours car ride can stress some out too much. I've heard of people losing silkies days after a show because the bird was stressed from the travels etc...

Just keeping them quiet for a day or two, little handling - making sure they get a boost and get some food in them and keep an eye out for mites and signs of disease is all you usually need to do, some birds are shipped and the seller doesn't know (or could be dishonest in some cases) and send carrier birds (birds who are carriers for a disease, no symptoms till stressed then it pops up and effects the bird) and after they get to the buyer they start showing signs of sickness.

 

[Hawkeye95]

i don't know if i'd do shipping again- he was such a beauty- maybe go the egg route or shows to get another- but if shipping stress can do this- i don't want to put another through it- i didn't give him electrolytes- maybe that was my mistake? would that alleviate the stress??

I had 3 birds shipped to me a few months back. All of them had some kind of shipping stress. I got my cockerel a few days ahead of the others. He presented with just being a bit "off". I was already prepared to give him electrolytes and sugar in his water. That perked him up pretty quickly. I also dusted him for mites (which I did not see any evidence of.. but wanted to be sure). I did that within hours of him arriving.

Then my other two silkies came in-- which BTW, none of my birds had an extended trip, they arrived within two days. They did however, arrive on a plane. I have heard horrible things about the potential of altitude/air pressure injuring birds with vaulted skulls (like silkies). But mine were fine. Anyway, I treated my new pullets with the same thing-- electrolytes and sugar in the water and a dusting in case of mites. They were both off too when they got here. But after a couple of days seemed to snap out of it. I attribute the electrolytes and immediate care to their survival.

Unfortunately about 3 days later after they arrived, they all ended up getting sick from being stressed and were "yawning" and had a sneeze. NO mucus discharge, no runny nose, and no watery eyes... nothing except the yawning, shaking their head and a sneeze. I immediately took them to the vet when I realized their symptoms were not treatable with VetRX and I got them on 5 days of .5cc Baytril. Vet said that their lungs sounded fine, but he believed they had an upper respiratory infection in the sinus cavity. I continued with the electrolytes in their water while they were antibiotics. I also top dressed their feed daily with Probiotic powder to help counter act the damage antibiotics can do to their bowels. I continued the Probiotic powder 5 days past the last dosing of Baytril since antibiotics remain in the body days after the last dose.

They all lived and are fine now! I think you just have to really be on your toes and stay on top of any signs or symptoms when you have shipped birds. Be prepared, and keep all of this stuff on hand. Delaying even a day or thinking about what to do could kill them. If he had mites--that could have contributed to what killed him on top of the shipping stress. I think he probably also really needed the electrolytes to keep up his strength. I always add a bit of sugar, too. I'm very sorry for your loss, he was a beautiful roo.

BTW-- because these birds did show signs of some kind of sickness, they will NEVER be put with any of my other birds. They will forever live together by themselves. I plan to incubate eggs and keep their chicks away from them. I don't know what these birds had and if they might be carriers, but I'd like to take no chances with it.

 

[artsyrobin]

thanks, with all chicken things, i am learning the hard way! i am glad yours pulled through- one thing, an amazing diff between hatchery and high quality silkies! i am sold cuz of Casper- but such a bad way to learn... and i had electrolites and didn't use them....