Silkie thread!

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'd appreciate some advice with this silkie. I think she has a problem with her back, possibly some sort of curvature and roaching. Her profile is different from her two siblings but it had always been subtle. Now it seems to be more noticiable. This morning, she got knocked off balance by another bird at the feeder and I brought her inside to take the following pics. She has no wasting, weakness or other issues...which makes me feel this is a skeletal issue and not neurological.

I'm concerned that if her internal organs are compressed, she may have a hard time laying eggs and may not thrive or be vigorous. I'm not sure whether to keep her as a pet. She would certainly not be used for breeding, but I'm not sure if quality of life will become an issue. My husband made me laugh when he suggested that I take her to a chicken chiropractor. Any input would be appreciated, as I am unsure what to do.

Pic 1 - If you touch her back, the right hip is 1/4" to 1/2" lower than the left hip. I'm pointing at in this photo.


Pic 2 - Her spine seems to curve toward the left hip (on the right side of this pic) and also "humps up" a bit.I'm touching her spine in this pic.

Pic 3 - In this photo you can see that her right side is more rounded and appears shorter than her left side, which is longer and straighter.

Pic 4 - Same here...

Wry tail. I have heard of a bird being helped by an animal chiropractor, but that was in Tucson, not up here. Definitely do not breed as it is genetic--along the lines of scoliosis. I had one a couple of years ago that I gave to a pet home where he lives a pampered life with an elderly lady. And I have a second right now who is sharing a cage with my pigeon and looking for a pet home. Unfortunately, he is male, so finding him a home is not as easy as it would be for a pullet.

 

[littlecritters]

Thanks Sonoran, scoliosis is the perfect description for this chick. It's shame because she is such a sweetie. I'm sure my daughter won't want to part with her, but we may be able to find her a good foster home.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[peepblessed]

I wanted to share a few pictures from the other day.

Such wonderful photos of your gorgeous birds!! You really should publish a calender!!!

 

[2hot2chicken]

Most exhibitor breeders do not consider bird sales a business. That said, taking your money that far ahead of ahead of time is not appropriate, IMO. Asking for it far enough in advance for the check or money order to clear before going to the expense of shipping is one thing, asking for it months in advance is something else entirely.

Well I don't like to pay that far ahead either. But I did agree because it seemed reasonable to ask for a deposit of half down. Being told the eggs would be set as soon as the deposit was received. I know I wouldn't want to hatch a bunch of chicks for someone who will back out after they were hatched. Then I would be stuck trying to sell the chicks individully and it could take a while so that would mean setting up a brooder and all the $ there, so a deposit wouldn't be out of the question. I just didn't appreciate being put off sooo long, the lack of communication and then not even getting what I ordered. And not even answering my emails now....

That is what gets me the most. That person knew they screwed up and won't even offer me a refund or replacement chicks!!!! There only excuss I got was in an email right after I got them saying "there was so many communications they thought I was changing my order"????

However that works? There was maybe 10 emails from them in 6 months and the last email I sent to them prior to receiving the chicks was "to please to send me the 2 buff, 1 porcelain and the rest partridge and BBS....that you have ready to go now." How do you get cancel my order for the buff and lav and black listed on my paypal receipt and send me only 8 BBS when I ordered 24 and paid for 12 already? Its just such a mess.....

 

[LeonieJane]

Anyone want to have a shot at guessing the sexes of these guys?



^^^Pretty sure this guy is a roo

I should have mentioned that the top grey one is a lot bigger than the rest as well. The 2 darker birds have not even a hint of a wattle. However they are larger than the bottom 3 birds but not as large as the first grey bird.

 

[tilosi]

Hi guys...got a few questions. How long before you put new chicks on pine shavings instead of paper towels? I just can't keep their feet clean on the paper towels. How do you guys do it? As soon as I put new down, they initiate it immediately! And, how do these little things manage to poo on each other? I have one that has poop right on top of its head...I washed them, but the same chick got it again, on top of the head!!
These are the four chicks that were 1 week old yesterday. I thought I had all whites, but the one that had the smutty look on its back is now having color come out in its wings and elsewhere...maybe I got a strange splash.
I'm about to give them another bath and hopefully get a new picture to share.
TIA,
Tina

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Hi guys...got a few questions. How long before you put new chicks on pine shavings instead of paper towels? I just can't keep their feet clean on the paper towels. How do you guys do it? As soon as I put new down, they initiate it immediately! And, how do these little things manage to poo on each other? I have one that has poop right on top of its head...I washed them, but the same chick got it again, on top of the head!!
These are the four chicks that were 1 week old yesterday. I thought I had all whites, but the one that had the smutty look on its back is now having color come out in its wings and elsewhere...maybe I got a strange splash.
I'm about to give them another bath and hopefully get a new picture to share.
TIA,
Tina

I only keep them on paper towels a couple days, then put them on bedding. You usually just use the papertowels long enough for them to get the idea of eating their crumble and not the bedding.

 

[2hot2chicken]

Just thought I would say I did contact the person I got the eggs from. I just said for their records I thought they should know how my hatch went. They contacted me almost immediately and offered to replace the eggs for the cost of shipping saying they have never hatched pink skin from their pen before. and suggested maybe waiting until the temps cool a little bit so the eggs have a better trip. Now I am wondering if maybe the eggs got xrayed or something? Maybe that could explain multiple chicks with bad toes and pink skin? IDK I am going to try it again either way so we will see. I also have another BYC member who has buffs and is willing to hatch some chicks for me and ship me the best they get for a pretty good price so we will see how it goes. I will post some pictures of my new chicks on here later tonight....

Thank goodness for BYC and all the help and advice on here ! If I just had my DH to talk about chickens with he might think I have really lost it and leave me.... He teases me now about how much I talk chickens, chickens, chickens......

LOL If he only knew how much time I spent on here....

 

[tilosi]

Well I don't like to pay that far ahead either. But I did agree because it seemed reasonable to ask for a deposit of half down. Being told the eggs would be set as soon as the deposit was received. I know I wouldn't want to hatch a bunch of chicks for someone who will back out after they were hatched. Then I would be stuck trying to sell the chicks individully and it could take a while so that would mean setting up a brooder and all the $ there, so a deposit wouldn't be out of the question. I just didn't appreciate being put off sooo long, the lack of communication and then not even getting what I ordered. And not even answering my emails now....

That is what gets me the most. That person knew they screwed up and won't even offer me a refund or replacement chicks!!!! There only excuss I got was in an email right after I got them saying "there was so many communications they thought I was changing my order"????

However that works? There was maybe 10 emails from them in 6 months and the last email I sent to them prior to receiving the chicks was "to please to send me the 2 buff, 1 porcelain and the rest partridge and BBS....that you have ready to go now." How do you get cancel my order for the buff and lav and black listed on my paypal receipt and send me only 8 BBS when I ordered 24 and paid for 12 already? Its just such a mess.....

The best recourse you may have if dealing directly with an individual seller does no good, is in feedback. On here, there is a trader feedback area on each person's profile page, where you can leave feedback on your experience for the lot you were purchasing. You can also still leave comments under the original auctions and BIN thread that you based your order from, and you can post your experience tactfully in any current listings for the same lot--maybe, post a picture of what you receives vs what you ordered.
I, too, had very bad experiences with buying from someone on here and someone locally, and understand your anguish--sometimes there is nothing more that we can do, other than not to give up based on one (or a few) person's actions. I do hope this person will do the right thing for you and hope you have better experiences in the future.

 

[richardadent]

How old are your Silkies?