Treating Botulism? **UPDATED*RIP Spike

[threehorses]

You KNOW you're a chicken lover if poop gets you jazzed up. LOL

Awesome progress - really remarkable. Now the spoiled boy can eat on his own, eh? lol Nice!!

Very good work, OKrobin! Please continue to update. I know there are a few of us following this boy.

Thanks!

 

[artsyrobin]

Little Spike is a chow hound now, pigging out like trying to make up for lost time, his legs are a bit strong, but so far can't stand, but will try to kick off with his feet- will get more pics uploaded tomorow... he even has begun quietly chirping

 

[threehorses]

That's awesome. The kicking off is how Dingey started, too. Since she was in the sling, she'd kick off and spin herself to one side. (She did that if she was ticked at me for messing with her, too).

I'm glad to hear of his progress, it cheers up my rather icky morning.

Keep us posted, please!

 

[artsyrobin]

you don't happen to have a pic of her in the sling do you? so far he is eating well, and talking, seems like he silent chirps, then his voice kicks in, had to trim his little feather butt, but he is pooping well, though it still is a tinge green, not the color of normal poop, i hope that settles down soon- i will be out of town the end of the month and don't think the airlines would appreciate a silkie with me! praying he will be much improved so hubby won't have to work with him

 

[threehorses]

I sure wish I did! I have some old discs around here that I need to pull out. I tried to reopen my website but they had deleted my data unfortunately.

The sling, for her, was just a dust mask. I cut leg holes in the bottom, cut the area by the vent back a little so her poop would clear it. I used the elastic bands tied to the top bars of the cage so that her feet would just touch the floor and bend her legs - so she could push against the floor or just relax. Her feed and water were in little dishes (bird cage dishes) right in front of her.

She was a crazy looking girl. If I find them, I will surely post them here or on a Dingey page again on my website.

I did see a sling in a book the other day - for treating birds, but it could as easily be fashioned for helping in your case. Let me see if I can find it or at least scan it if I can get my computer to do that.

Yeah I think I had to trim Dingey's vent feathers a bit, too. Weird about the green still being there. But he's improving so I wouldn't worry about it. I'll join you on the prayers for him being much improved. Maybe that sling would help make that part easier? hmmm

 

[artsyrobin]

well, todays update- this evening he tried to take a step, and flapped his wings! poop is loosing the green and turning more beigish, he didn't get very far, since his legs are still weak, he also started purring tonite... glad they are house birds, that way i can watch him close. He sleeps in the laundry basket by the bed, so i check him periodically through the nite. i also exercise his legs periodically through the day. I will do a search for the sling.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Very nice!! he's not spoiled one bit, is he? lol!!

First step!

 

[artsyrobin]

LOL! Spoiled for sure! actually they normally would be in my art studio, but since this happened both have been getting lots of handling- looks like he or she is trying his darndest- can chickens get heat stroke? since this all started when we had our first heat wave, wondered if that might be a possibility? looks like major heat this weekend, maybe i'll move them into the cooler area of the house...

 

[artsyrobin]

Weekend update on spike- he is holding steady, no major changes, but he seems to have a bit of a problem chirping, sometimes he tries and nothing happens, also, i have been flexing his legs periodically, haven't been able to rig a satisfactory sling- was wondering since his right side is weaker, should i try having him lay on his left side to encourage more movement?

 

[lesterlu]

hi OK and three,

i am so glad spike is doing much better.

can i ask you guys a question? tell me if i should start a new thread.

my silkie has been going through the same symptoms as spike. i wasnt sure if it was botulism or head trauma so i have been using selenium, Vit e, Vit B and oxytetracyline. she is very, very thin, but today she eagerly drank and ate more than in the last ten days (i feed her from a cc dropper.) she has been getting more mobility back into the lower part of her neck but she cant get the top of her head up.

i noticed today she has a round mass sticking out on the back of her little neck. it appears the same size or little bigger than the width of her kneck/throat.

any insight? i am going to call the state vet tomorrow to see if i should go ahead and cull her or if he needs to do a necropsy, but i wish there was a silkie expert that could help. do you two have any insight. will i be doing the right thing? thats her in my avatar (last fall) and i love her so.