silkie troubles

[palindrome_7]

I’d give her time and keep her in the coop and run. Bird flu is a virus, so it wouldn’t respond to antibiotic anyway, if that is the cause. It’s a big if though without any confirmation, but them dying so close together definitely is suspicious of something pathogenic (bacteria, virus) or environmental (eating something poisonous or similar).

Just like in humans, some birds are more susceptible to a virus than others. It’s a little like your remaining girl has been living with two covid-positive housemates - right now she should self isolate, practice self care and see if symptoms develop.

It’s a tricky position because if you *do* seek testing for bird flu and it’s confirmed your remaining bird will most likely be destroyed too. That is, if you disclose that you have her…

It’s mainly spread by wild birds, so if your girls have access to an outside area where wild birds might be stealing food or perching and pooping on the ground, it’s definitely possible.

It’s also zoonotic, meaning it can, very occasionally, be spread to humans, so practice extra good hygiene around the coop and the remaining hen.

All of the above is theoretical, so here’s something concrete: if it were me I would thoroughly clean out the coop and run with a poultry-safe disinfectant (Virenza by Johnsons, or similar) and cover the roof of the run with whatever you have to hand (spare bits of wood, roof tiles, a tarp with rocks, etc) to stop any wild bird droppings getting in.

Do a really good sweep around for anything they might have been pecking at that could have poisoned them - a rat that had eaten rat poison will run away and die elsewhere, for example, so it might not necessarily be anything you personally have put down.

Birds always hide their sickness until it’s serious - it’s a pray instinct thing. Sometimes they’ll even pretend to eat! One of the best ways to monitor a bird you’re worried about is to weigh them daily (or thereabouts) at around the same time each day. Daily fluctuations are normal but if you see a steady downward trend over a week or more it’s usually a sign that something is amiss and you can seek more help from there.

Good luck! Most of all, I hope you’re not blaming yourself for this happening. It’s so sad and rotten luck but I promise you there are many people out there taking far less care of their birds, and the resilient things are still hanging on. This was a freak occurrence, whatever happened.

Thank you. I lost a red last night…. Same way…. Sudden and found her dead this morning in the coop. The remaining red is still acting fine. So sad and so mysterious.

 

[palindrome_7]

Thank you. I lost a red last night…. Same way…. Sudden and found her dead this morning in the coop. The remaining red is still acting fine. So sad and so mysterious.

Do you think it’s possible the one red who has survived all of this is attacking them? Like, breaking their necks or something or am I crazy to think that?