young silkie seems ill

[dac63]

I puchased 2 young silkies which are probably about 3 months old. One is not eating well and has droopy wings. The other is doing fine. The droopy one is extremely thin . I have had them about three weeks. I purchased a supplement today and got some feed that is medicated as the other i had wasn't. I don't think there is a problem with the poop I can't tell at the moment. Are silkies prone to any problems. It does peck at the food but does not eat near the amount that the other one does. Should I force feed it to make sure it is getting enough food. the craw feels like there is food there. Is there something else i should add to the feed? any help would be appreciated. Thanks dac63

 

[artsyrobin]

first thing i learned about my silkies, they are prone to vit deficiencies so it is a good idea to add a couple drops of poly-vi-sol infant vitamins to their water, it is liquid vitamins you can get at any grocery store- the kind without iron. i'm sure others will chime in too- you might also get baby oatmeal and make it for her, will give her some extra calories

 

[dac63]

I purchased something called nutritional advantage Nuti-Drench It said I could squirt some in the mouth. I just put a small drop because it said lml per 3 lbs. This little one is so skinny she probably only weighs ounces. Also it is to be mixed in the water. Should i force feed her or wait to see how the vitamin drench works as long as she is pecking at the medicated feed? Thank you for your posting in reply. donna

 

[dac63]

to okrobin i checked your paintings on e-bay they are really nice. Donna

 

[artsyrobin]

something i would try would be to dampen some food and offer it to her, they often ill eat that when they won;t anything else, i'm new to silkies so i just sharing what i'd try- if you put a drop of the suppliment on the tip of the beak that is safer than in the mouth, as she could inhale it wrong

 

[dac63]

I will try that in the morning also you mentioned baby oatmeal, would regular cooked oatmeal be ok to try ,do you think? I have one other grown silkie and 7 large cochins. they are the most calm and laid back chickens I have ever seen. I leave my grown hens loose in the morning and when I go anywhere and come back they meet me at the car. Like you I love my pets , we have 5 small dogs one my daughters and one a breeder rescue. Donna

 

[artsyrobin]

if you make it almost the consistancy of pudding, might be easier to put it in a blender and make an oat flour, then you can mix a little at a time- i am new to chickens, but am in love- as always with any critter!

 

[dlhunicorn]

As you have not had the silkie since hatch then it would be extremely hard to guess what might be the problem... (do you know if this person had them in a brooder/cage situation or were they onthe ground/freerange > you might consider ivomec Eprinex)
The other thing I would suggest is that you go to the petstore and get some baby parrot/bird formula (this is a powder that you add water to) and mix that up to a porridge consistency and mix thru her feed to concentrate the nutrition.

 

[dac63]

Well she is still alive but wings hanging droopy like , I am getting the eggs and oatmeal together and we have a pet store nearby so hopefully can get the parrot mix. Thank you both so much and will keep you up to date. I am in Pa. and right now it is hot a sticky out and i guess that doesn't help. I don't know how they were started out as i got them at a flea market. I am keeping them up off the ground right now as a precautionary again thanks. donna

 

[dac63]

Just wanted to update those of you who were so kind to give me help with my little silkie. She is so much better. I did the vitamins and egg yolk and supplement and she is not a droopy little silkie anymore, her wings are held up in a normal position and she is eating heartily. Again thank you all so much, I am sure you saved her like as she was not doing well at all when i posted my questions. donna I am posting another problem though.