My broody Silkie hatched out two chicks on the 1st of Feb. This afternoon I found one just sitting in the sun and not with its mother, when I picked her up she just flopped her head backwards like a dead chick but she's still breathing. I found her face to be full of fleas, around the eyes and beak and underneath the beak as well. It's a crust of fleas! I started patting Apple Cider Vinegar on the spots with fleas on and they started scattering away. This evening I found the other chick on the coop floor - she looked dead, but when I picked her up she was also still breathing. Applied ACV as well. I have both chicks in a small brooder now, and the second chick that looked dead when I picked her up was jumping around in there trying to get out - full of life, but the first chick is not opening her eyes and just lying there - still breathing though. I keep treating the flea spots, with "Khakibos" spray this time, which is a natural flea treatment. Is there something I can give them to perk them up? Sugar water? ACV? A little bit of milk? What is the probability that they'll make it? Is it the fleas that made them weak?
ETA: It's summer over here, and the fleas must have moved in while my hen was brooding, because there are no infestations in the main coop: Only in the broody coop
I've since treated the hen, the nest and the older chicks in that coop with flea powder. On a sweet note - The older chicks were brooder chicks, and having lost both her chicks to me treating them now, the hen adopted the older chicks! Silly things trying to sleep underneath a small Silkie
ETA: It's summer over here, and the fleas must have moved in while my hen was brooding, because there are no infestations in the main coop: Only in the broody coop

I've since treated the hen, the nest and the older chicks in that coop with flea powder. On a sweet note - The older chicks were brooder chicks, and having lost both her chicks to me treating them now, the hen adopted the older chicks! Silly things trying to sleep underneath a small Silkie
Last edited: