Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Does not sound good I’m sorry to say. Chicks can go downhill pretty quickly as I’m sure you know.
You could try putting amprollium in the water but it won’t do much good if it’s not drinking. Does not really sound like coccidiosis though.
All you can do is keep the little sweetie warm and comfortable and keep trying to get it to eat and drink and hope it turns around.

Seems to be a little better now eating tiny bit on its own but very wobbly and sleepy

 

[LynnaePB]

Yall all have silkies n understand their pet like nature...I only have 3 and they are 7 months old. 2 pullets n 1 cockrel.
Just like pets they have been until my cockrel just repeatedly attacked me, drew blood and everything in numerous places.
Have yall encountered that?
Here's separate post cuz I didn't know what to do. Any advice is helpful from yall that have had silkies a long time.

I'm so sorry to hear your little cockerel has been turning on you. I know some are pretty lucky with lovely silkie boys but I've certainly had a few very aggressive boys. Most of mine go through a bit of a hormonal stage but settle down a decent amount given some time. Some never get better though. It sounds as though your boy has gotten pretty bad, he may be one that just doesn't grow out of it but it might be worth looking into some of those methods on dealing with aggression if you'd like to try working with him.

This is one of the more thorough articles I've read on rooster behavior and may be useful

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/a-viewpoint-on-managing-roosters.74690/

Good luck!

Ok so what happened today I really did not expect at all! Jade, Cupcake, and Muffin all got blue ribbons, Henry, Onyx, Omelet and Emma all got reds (which honestly I figured Henry would gut disqualified because he weighs like 20 ounces less then the standard lol ) and then Jade got best of breed out of like 20 other silkies!!!!View attachment 2897738View attachment 2897739

I'm so glad to hear they did so well, congratulations!!!

One of Puffs chicks is not going well, Puff left it and went off with other 2 foraging so I took it inside now, it's wobbly and won't stand, just sleeping. I have been helping it dipping it's beak in vitamin water. Should I change water and give it Amprolium instead? I have started a thread but only one response so I'm struggling here what to do.
View attachment 2897776
View attachment 2897777

I'm so sorry to hear the baby isn't doing well.

If it's had some time and nice and warm and still isn't doing well I would probably try the amprolium personally. A little sugar water might help if it has low blood sugar. Coccidiosis seems to be a more dire threat than vitamin deficiencies in my experience so if I'm unsure of which it might be I'll start with treating for coccidiosis. Usually my babies with vitamin deficiencies have more neurologic symptoms (like head ticks, wry neck, occasionally trouble walking/balancing). Lethargy and weakness/sleepiness would have me more worried about possible coccidiosis. If he/she isn't eating and drinking syringe feeding may get the little one through until treatment takes effect.

 

[LynnaePB]

Seems to be a little better now eating tiny bit on its own but very wobbly and sleepyView attachment 2897870View attachment 2897871

It sounds as though there has been some improvement so maybe waiting and continuing doing what you've been doing would be alright. Good luck, I hope the little one pulls through!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Great news!!!
Chick perked up and I put him back with mother Puff and he ran around happily now snuggled under Puff with the others. I will keep watch though in case he declines again. Hopefully mother Puff can take over from here to keep the chick in good health

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Great news!!!
Chick perked up and I put him back with mother Puff and he ran around happily now snuggled under Puff with the others. I will keep watch though in case he declines again. Hopefully mother Puff can take over from here to keep the chick in good health
View attachment 2897978

So happy to read this.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

So happy to read this.

I thought it would be the end of this chickies life! But he seemed to improve thankfully.. must've not ate or drank enough maybe or something made it lethargic and wobbly strange, usually broody hens take good care of the chicks and Puff is a great mum so not sure what went wrong. Hopefully he'll continue to recover ok and not go back downhill

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I thought it would be the end of this chickies life! But he seemed to improve thankfully.. must've not ate or drank enough maybe or something made it lethargic and wobbly strange, usually broody hens take good care of the chicks and Puff is a great mum so not sure what went wrong. Hopefully he'll continue to recover ok and not go back downhill

I have had this happen with older birds, where they looked a little off, brought them inside overnight, gave them lots of water with electrolytes and molasses (Nutradrench) and perked up the next day with no indication they had ever been ill. Perhaps this is the same for a little one, just got a bit dehydrated.

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

That’s fantastic! Congratulations.

Thanks!

I'm so sorry to hear your little cockerel has been turning on you. I know some are pretty lucky with lovely silkie boys but I've certainly had a few very aggressive boys. Most of mine go through a bit of a hormonal stage but settle down a decent amount given some time. Some never get better though. It sounds as though your boy has gotten pretty bad, he may be one that just doesn't grow out of it but it might be worth looking into some of those methods on dealing with aggression if you'd like to try working with him.

This is one of the more thorough articles I've read on rooster behavior and may be useful

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/a-viewpoint-on-managing-roosters.74690/

Good luck!

I'm so glad to hear they did so well, congratulations!!!

Thank you!

I'm so sorry to hear the baby isn't doing well.

If it's had some time and nice and warm and still isn't doing well I would probably try the amprolium personally. A little sugar water might help if it has low blood sugar. Coccidiosis seems to be a more dire threat than vitamin deficiencies in my experience so if I'm unsure of which it might be I'll start with treating for coccidiosis. Usually my babies with vitamin deficiencies have more neurologic symptoms (like head ticks, wry neck, occasionally trouble walking/balancing). Lethargy and weakness/sleepiness would have me more worried about possible coccidiosis. If he/she isn't eating and drinking syringe feeding may get the little one through until treatment takes effect.

I'm so glad you know all this! You're the silkie life saver!

Great news!!!
Chick perked up and I put him back with mother Puff and he ran around happily now snuggled under Puff with the others. I will keep watch though in case he declines again. Hopefully mother Puff can take over from here to keep the chick in good health
View attachment 2897978

That's so exciting! (And not really nice of me to say but Puff might be cuter than those chicks.... )

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

I put the eggs in the bator early because they had big air cells. (came from Oklahoma.) I would definitely recommend the seller (even if they weren't silkied cochins ) they were packaged GREAT, , some of them had poop spots but I don't really care because I put poopy eggs in my bator sometimes. (after cleaning them )

I think this was the listing. https://www.ebay.com/itm/234092453798

6 left. 4 with blood rings and 6 not fertile.

 

[Remiel]

Ben and Klaus experienced their first snow today! They did better than most of our new chickens, a bunch jumped in the snow and then refused to move again so we have been doing rescue trips throughout the day. The first was my poor silkie cross Apollo. She is usually pretty flighty but she didn't complain or fight at all when I approached and picked her up and shuffled her back to the coop.