Wasting Silkies

[sheeshshe]

I just lost a silkie last week, she felt like there was nothing to her. Now I just went and looked at the other 4 silkies and they also look thin. I used safeguard on them in novemberish... I did the 2 doses. I had lost one and I thought maybe it was worms. So I dewormed the whole flock.

I'm not seeing any other symptoms other than the wasting. Well, they do have messy butts. What could be going on here and what do I need to do to figure it out?

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Sounds like worms. Since you dewormed them last in November, it will be fine to give them another dose. Another possibility is mites, but this is much less likely.

 

[sheeshshe]

do you think that whatever wormer I used didn't take care of whatever worms they had? do I need another type?

 

[sheeshshe]

also, I have 3 chicks in there that one of my silkies is taking care of. what do I do for them??

 

[BuffOrpington88]

1. The previous wormer may have worked, but the worms have come back since it's a few months later. Anyways, switching the dewormer may be a good idea so the parasites don't become resistant to a single brand.

2. You can check on the packaging, but most wormers are for adult birds, so I would advise against it.

 

[sheeshshe]

no mites. no lice.

only 1 other has a messy bum, the other 3 do not.

 

[sheeshshe]

what does one do for chicks? is there anything at all I can do for them if it is worms?

I mean, the keel bone I can feel it on the chickens. so they're thin... but only 1 has a messy bum. must they be messy for worms? what else can cause wasting? and the poops that I see in the coop look solid... not sure if they're the chicks poop or adults or whatnot.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Sorry, not sure what to do about the chicks. I would deworm the adults, if only as a precaution.

 

[sheeshshe]

Ok. thanks!

 

[Kaybug137]

Maybe try looking through this post https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/502160/deworming

Hope it helps some. No one likes a sick chicken Hope they get better