The wife bought Silkie Bantams...how do I keep these things alive?

[Slothinc]

And we’re back. Another non-silkie bantam is now dying. It’s breathing but not much else. And another silkie bantam is starting to show signs of lethargy. This roller coaster is getting exhausting… we also tried to move our six pullets and cockerels outside. One of the cockerels died outside within a day, we brought them back in and another passed overnight. Wtf is going on!?!?

I don’t know if this is the issue but I would take your chick crumble and put it in a ziplock bag and smash it into dust. The tiny bantams when they are under a couple of weeks old sometimes have a hard time eating the crumble. Again, don’t know if that is the issue but wouldn’t hurt to do it and rule out.

 

[Roosterfeather]

Bantams, Silkies, etc. are the same as other chicks. They need to be warm, probably 95F if they are less than a week old.

They should be on chick starters/crumbles or all flock and have access to that and water 24/7.

With silkies, they can be prone to vitamin deficiencies so be cautious with too much of anything outside of their food. I don't start giving treats until they are a month old, and then only a little scrambled eggs.

I would also pick up some Poultry Cell as that's a complete round of vitamins. What you have is good though for now.

Poultry cell is a good idea, @Debbie292d, I've used it and it works pretty good. I've also used the pure vitamin K or vitamin D, (I forgot what it's called) It's a pink liquid, I use it with the poultry cell liquid. It is from the Rooster Booster company.

 

[FrostRanger]

Hmm, maybe give them a bit of chick grit in case they've ingested some of the bedding? That's the only thing I can think of

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Sorry Ruler, I just don't know! @Debbie292d do you know who some of our bantam and silkie experts are that we could tag into this thread?

No I do not

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Poultry cell is a good idea, @Debbie292d, I've used it and it works pretty good. I've also used the pure vitamin K or vitamin D, (I forgot what it's called) It's a pink liquid, I use it with the poultry cell liquid. It is from the Rooster Booster company.

I'm using rooster booster +K

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Hmm, maybe give them a bit of chick grit in case they've ingested some of the bedding? That's the only thing I can think of

Where should I get this chick grit and what could I substitute that I might have on hand at the home?

 

[FrostRanger]

Where should I get this chick grit and what could I substitute that I might have on hand at the home?

Tractor supply should sell it

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Tractor supply should sell it

Ok

 

[casportpony]

These guys look cold:

 

[Slothinc]

These guys look cold:
View attachment 4053167

Agreed! And I don’t know if you saw my post above but it might help your little bantams.