LolaCola Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Thursday evening I found her dead she seamed ok that morning, I feed then quickly that morning, which make me think I could have noticed something if I'd looked a little closer the only thing in hind sight is that she pecked at me, which is unusal. I'm heart broken and angry at myself for not noticing anything was wrong. The only things I can think of happening is, it was the cold/snow or poor little thing got scared to death (we have a new puppy, who isn't aloud access to the bantams, but just the sight and him sniffing at the coop maybe? ) or we have a couple of scavengeing cats that are constantly trying to get in the coops. Now poor Sugar is alone, I tried letting her run with the big girls, but they very very violent towards her, and if she went into there coop, I'm worried she will get trampled on. She seams a little traumatised, if that's possible, we have had her indoors a lot, but can't keep her on her own can I? More snow next week, surely she can survive that alone? I don't know what to do now! I had a nightmare hatching just two silkies, and now this. Poor little thing, I'm not sure I'm cut out for chicken keeping if this is how heart breaking it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Oh that is so sad , I don't know what to say except that we introduced two new chickens to our old two and lost one of them within a couple of weeks which left our newby Rosie on her own .It did take a couple of weeks of keeping her seperate but able to see each other by splitting the run in two.and she was quite alone but it did not seem to bother her .She slept in a seperate coup until one day Poppy decided to join Rosie and then a couple of days later Clover joined them.. every thing is fine little Rosie although with the other two will always be slightly apart (a bit like 3 girls in the play ground ) Keep trying there are more highs than lows ...Good luck x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Oh dear Lola cola, I think I remember your hatching difficulties!!! Didn't you have bad ebay eggs?? So sorry for you losing your little one The winter is definitely the hardest time for chicken keepers!!!!! You have just been unlucky, hatching late may have been a small factor but like most times we lose a girl we never find out why. Hugs I guess try and find a little friend for your remaining little one...preloved prehaps? I would bring her in at night, especially with the cold snap. You could also try a snugglesafe for warmth atleast. I have 2 unexpected little ones in my ark at the mo (long story, Tilly & Polly 18wks were from some of my own eggs!!But not hatched by me ) Not doing intros till spring with the bigs girls and boy in the cube & run. So worrying about them in the ark in the cold!! I had a low phase earlier this year, losing 2 girls and felt like giving up!!! But I think you have to accept that these things are just a part of chicken keeping. You can always try hatching again next year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Oh Lola cola, I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. Like you said though, she pecked you in the morning - which was out of character for her. Perhaps there was something else wrong with her, and in that short space of time, I doubt you'd have been able to prevent her demise, even if you'd been prepared. I felt like giving up yesterday, following the death of my Lizzie, but spending time with the others this morning, I know it's not all worry and upset. Very best wishes to you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 I am so sorry LolaCola. I remember well your hatching experiences this summer. One of my first hatchlings died suddenly no apparent reason seemed fine in the morning and the afternoon but by evening I found her dead in the run. Please don't blame yourself, these things happen and chooks are good at hiding illnesses. Can you find a little Silkie mate for Sugar? Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 I guess try and find a little friend for your remaining little one...preloved prehaps? I would bring her in I agree not out at night on her own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 I'm sorry you lost your silkie. I lost two chicks at a youngish age so know how you feel. Sending you hugs xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 How sad about your little Silkie! I expect she pecked you because she was uncomfortable in some way, possibly in pain, but sometimes with birds one can't always tell what is wrong and they can go downhill alarmingly fast. I'm not far from Bucks on the edge of Oxfordshire and here it has been down to -5, but my Silkies have all been fine so I very much doubt she froze to death. However now that you have just one, you might want to pop your remaining girly in a garage or even in the kitchen overnight, in something like a pet carrier, as she will not have another body to snuggle up to. I would suggest you get a couple more Silkies. If you do, I don't think you'll need to go in for elaborate intros. I've always just popped them in together after dark. Being a gentle breed they don't seem inclined to nastiness. Have you tried Notcutts? They sometimes have young Silkies and rather nice ones too. Good luck with finding some nice companions for your little girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 I'm not far from Bucks on the edge of Oxfordshire and here it has been down to -5, there are all sorts of variables. as this was young and only the 2 of them. Everyones set ups are different, I have 2 WIR one is in the sun almost all day and is covered om all sides... the other is near the house under the car port which sadly never gets any sun from November to March.... my friend has an eglu with 4 meter run for 3 hybrids . which a;so gets no sun. this has been totally covered and wind shield in some places... I have 3 ten week old chicks that I am keen to get outside to sleep, we have not had really cold -2 I think and mostly when they are out free ranging they seem fine, but do huddle up when in the shady run, that has side covers too... the breeder told me they were big chicks and quite hardy... Mum has only this week stopped sleeping with them and by choice they roost.. so not saying it did, but it might have not had enough fats /energy reserves etc, o keep warm? it might have picked up a bug.. I think there are 3 times chicks are might just keel over too from what i have read, tiny about this sort of age then just as they come into lay????????? Seems you hardly ever know why... Definately needs some friends to sleep with. Sadly we have chicks at a less than ideal time of year... A bit like 2nd late litter hedghogs.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaCola Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hi all, sorry for not replying sooner, not had much luck with Silkies at all where as my hybrids,are well and truly happy and bomb proof in this weather, maybe it was there age, or it just being two of them, not sure, but was told the remaining one is still a little small, so am feeding it up, plenty of protein and she/he now has a new friend, a cutie pekin bantam and are getting on fine. But the point about sun/ placing of the coop, very interesting, as I only just moved them a few days before, I like to move the coops around, and the silkies coop was well out the sun and pretty much in the open as opposed to the hybrids big coop that is in the sun, and against fences and very rarely moved. The Silkies were getting very Muddy, hence why I just moved them. I'm keeping everything crossed and come spring will be adding to the bantam coop, not sure I will be hatching again though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 LolaCola so glad your little Silkie has a friend now. Don't be put off the hatching experience though . . . how about trying it a bit earlier in the year so the younguns are full grown by the time the cold sets in Your present Silkie girl would probably do the incubating for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
