silky chickens that wont grow

[puppy767]

thanks do you know what to do about the bugs and or the breathing problem and is that abnormally small for a 3 month old silky

 

[PaintedGemsRanch]

Try getting some soybean meal from a feed store to help boost the protein levels. Its cheaper then gamebird. Mix 1 part sbm to 3 parts feed. If you have more questions direct them to rnau as he is the one that recommended it to me.

Edit to add: for the bugs, what do they look like... black like a grain of pepper or straw colored? fast or slow moving? could be mites or lice. I am new to this so anyone that knows more please interject and if im wrong please correct me. From what I have read poultry dust will take care of them. Apply once to neck, under wings and vent area. Then reapply in 7-10 days to kill off what eggs have hatched. Continue to use DE (diatomaceous earth) as preventative. (Please be sure the DE is food grade!)

 

[silkiechicken]

Sounds like you bought some sick birds.

What ever you do, DO NOT let them come even near to contact with your current flock. Wash your hands between your current birds and everything that can possibly come in contact.

The bugs are probably lice/mites. You'll need to find a poultry dust powder at the feed store to kill them. May take a few treatments. Then the straw sound, that sounds like a respiratory infection. You'll have to look up that topic on the board as I don't have much to add besides they are usually viral so can be very contagious and can't be beaten with antibiotics because they are not bacterial. They usually have to run their course.

On size... it really depends on strain. In Europe, there is a bantam and a standard size silkie, here in the US, ours are in a rage all between the standard and bantam size of Europe. So if you just got them, I'd worry about their paracite and health fire before worrying about size.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
I agree

I haven't heard about the soybean meal, might have to check that out. I pay almost $12 for a 40 lb bag of Gamebird feed and they go through almost 5 lbs a day for 12 birds.

 

[PaintedGemsRanch]

Here is just one of the many websites I found when I googled "soybean meal for chickens" Please ask "Rnau" about it he uses it for his chicks and really likes it. He recommended it to both myself and ILOVEFRIZZLES at the swap yesterday!

Ill be at the feedstore tomorrow to get some for the babies! He said it also helped their feathers come in faster!!
http://www.soymeal.org/pdf/pg2_3.pdf

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I think you need to concentrate on getting them well before trying to put some size on them. The illness is probably preventing them from eating and drinking like they should.

From your description, it sounds like they have a respiratory illness. Make SURE to keep them separated from the rest of your birds and wash your hands often when working with them. Treat them with a broad-spectrum antibiotic and VetRX.

 

[puppy767]

the other birds also have the white crusty things and the bugs he also sold me so what do i do i also have the birds incontact with my two chickens so do i just treat them all with the lice and mite dust

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I know this is a learning experience, but in the future do not buy sick birds... even if they just have mites or lice. An illness could possibility take out your entire flock and you would have to start over. Treat all of them with the powder, antibiotic and VetRx and hope for the best.

Also, you may want to get up with the person who sold you these and let them know that their birds are sick. Then they can treat their birds also.

 

[puppy767]

Quote:
the bugs are straw colored kind of reddish brown and fast moving. ill also try that soybean meal because they are very skinny

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
Those are mites. You need to get that treated SOON.