Updated: Emergency: Found 4 month old Silkie down: Possible head injury

[BlossomSilkies]

I think his head is injured, but not super bloody. Could one of my more agressive mama's hurt him that bad?

I have put antibiotic cream on the spot. He isn't waking up and is still breathing.

Not sure he will make it. Anything else I can do?

 

[tiki244]

A silkie head injury is a very serious matter. Is he seperated and in a warm and quiet place? It doesnt sound like he is doing too well.

http://browneggblueegg.com/Article/CerebralHernia/CerebralHernia.html


http://browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Yeah he is in my closet in the small pet carrier with towels around him.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Could one of the other hens have pecked that hard to injure him that badly? I can't see any other way he could've gotten hurt in the chicken coop.

 

[Gofygure]

Does he have a vaulted skull? It's very easy for Silkies to develop head trauma, particularly with holes in their heads. And yes, a hen could manage the damage easily.

If he has brain damage, there's nothing you can do to help him, unfortunately. You can wait to see if he'll wake up, but it might be kinder to put him down.

Do you have other young silkies in a coop with older standard birds? I can tell you from experience that's a recipe for disaster.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

I don't have standards in with my Bantys. In this pen is a silky hen with 2 two week old chicks, another silky hen and a banty cochin x silky hen and her 2 week-old chicks.

I'm sure his skull is vaulted.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

I will keep him comfortable tonight and keep an eye on him. my husband will be home later so if he isn't getting better we will put him down. Poor little guy.

 

[Gofygure]

Poor thing. Sometimes these freak accidents happen and there's no accounting for them, especially with the fragile little bantams. I hope he pulls through, but if not I'm sure you'll make his passing easy.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

What's hard sometimes is when to know it's hopeless and it's time to put them down. Sometimes is easy to see that it's time and sometimes not.

He made it through the night. He actually was sitting up this morning. Still very much out of it though. Eyes closed.

I have given him water from a syringe and also some babyfood squash. Just a little bit though. He is in the pet carrier, in my closet, in the dark to rest his brain. Sweet little guy. I don't know what will happen, but I guess I will give him a little more time and see if he improves or gets worse.

Sometimes I just don't know what to do.

 

[tiki244]