Hello all,
This is my first post, though I have been lurking for a few weeks.
Sadly, my reason for posting is not a happy one. I have six chicks, one is a six week old Pekin Bantam and the other five are five week old Silkies.
This evening, shortly after they had settled down for the night there was a sudden commotion then my largest and most dominant Silkie collapsed onto his side, flapped his wings then passed away. This was absolutely devastating as Benny was a family favourite, he was full of character, obviously in charge and a real cutie. I was so shocked as he always seemed the healthiest and strongest. Around an hour later, the smallest silkie, Daisy, who was half the size of Benny despite being the same age, started to look limp and lathargic. We nursed her but within about half an hour she had a flap of her wings and passed away. Prior to this there were no symptoms or unusual behaviour from either chick. They were eating and drinking and acting true to their personalities, there was nothing what so ever to indicate that anything was wrong. Their poops were normal, firm with no blood. I can't understand, I was just so stunned! It's now been around three hours since we lost little Daisy and the rest of the flock appear ok so far, though it's hard to tell as they are now sleeping.
Some background info; this is my first time keeping chickens. We hatched our Bantam, Emily, in an incubator but the Silkies were bought as two week old chicks. They are kept in the house at the moment and are cleaned out every two to three days and fresh straw put down. Emily has not been vaccinated but we were told that the Silkie chicks had been vaccinated against cocci. There have been no health concerns or signs of anything abnormal to this point, poops always looked good with no blood are diarrhoea. They seemed to be developing well. They both seemed like happy, healthy, active chicks. At he start of the week I switched them from baby chick crumb onto growers pellets with a little poultry grit. They always have a few drops of colloidal silver in their water and a small amount of herbal parasite treatment. This has been the case from day one.
As I say, even an hour before Benny died they were acting normal and there were no concerning signs. Does anybody have any idea what could have caused the two deaths? Should I be concerned for the remaining chicks? Any help or advice gratefully received. I still can't believe it has happened!
Daran.
This is my first post, though I have been lurking for a few weeks.
Sadly, my reason for posting is not a happy one. I have six chicks, one is a six week old Pekin Bantam and the other five are five week old Silkies.
This evening, shortly after they had settled down for the night there was a sudden commotion then my largest and most dominant Silkie collapsed onto his side, flapped his wings then passed away. This was absolutely devastating as Benny was a family favourite, he was full of character, obviously in charge and a real cutie. I was so shocked as he always seemed the healthiest and strongest. Around an hour later, the smallest silkie, Daisy, who was half the size of Benny despite being the same age, started to look limp and lathargic. We nursed her but within about half an hour she had a flap of her wings and passed away. Prior to this there were no symptoms or unusual behaviour from either chick. They were eating and drinking and acting true to their personalities, there was nothing what so ever to indicate that anything was wrong. Their poops were normal, firm with no blood. I can't understand, I was just so stunned! It's now been around three hours since we lost little Daisy and the rest of the flock appear ok so far, though it's hard to tell as they are now sleeping.
Some background info; this is my first time keeping chickens. We hatched our Bantam, Emily, in an incubator but the Silkies were bought as two week old chicks. They are kept in the house at the moment and are cleaned out every two to three days and fresh straw put down. Emily has not been vaccinated but we were told that the Silkie chicks had been vaccinated against cocci. There have been no health concerns or signs of anything abnormal to this point, poops always looked good with no blood are diarrhoea. They seemed to be developing well. They both seemed like happy, healthy, active chicks. At he start of the week I switched them from baby chick crumb onto growers pellets with a little poultry grit. They always have a few drops of colloidal silver in their water and a small amount of herbal parasite treatment. This has been the case from day one.
As I say, even an hour before Benny died they were acting normal and there were no concerning signs. Does anybody have any idea what could have caused the two deaths? Should I be concerned for the remaining chicks? Any help or advice gratefully received. I still can't believe it has happened!
Daran.
