debbiedoobs Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Hi all, I have a 2 yr old Blue silkie that is falling over as she walks. I haven't noticed anything different from her until today. When I let the girls out into the garden she was the last out, as she came out she was walking slowly and acting a little drunk. I brought her inside immediately and she won't eat or drink, she seems to have something already in her crop and has very very smelly greeny coloured poo. She's still pretty feisty and is noisy just like always! I've put her into an open box with bedding in which she was happy to go into. I've checked her around her vent area and doesn't appear to be egg bound. Any advice would be greatly appreciated x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 I am certainly no expert but has she been vaccinated for Mareks Disease? The symptoms sound neurological so would get that checked out ASAP.....do you have a poultry savvy vet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Have you opened her beak and had a sniff. If she woke up with a full crop, she could have sour or impacted crop. I don't actually know that much about it, but there is lots of information on the web. Good luck. Poor little thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Thanks for the replies. No she hasn't been vaccinated, God I hope it's not that! We do have a vet that have dealt with our chickens before, don't seem to have much luck with our chucks. My husband Let's them out of their house into the run at bout 6 and then I let them free range in the garden from bout 10, so she may have been eating this morning, she was squawking in my face earlier but dint smell anything. So you think I should get her to the vets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 I've made an appointment with the vet for tonight, hope she'll be ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Ooh really don't mean to scare you, as I say I am no expert but maybe call the vet and ask for a bit of advice before taking her, I have heard a vitamin deficiency can cause that kind of symptom too but maybe wise to get her checked out. Who knew keeping chickens could be sooooo stressful. Please keep us updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Honestly I appreciate your help, I'm a big softy when it comes to my girls. Would much rather take her to be checked out than wake up to her in a worse state tomorrow. I've been trying to figure out what's wrong online but can't get a straight answer. Keeping chickens is a lot harder than I thought It'd be! Lol. Will keep you updated x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Ah bless you, good luck at the vets and fingers crossed it's something really silly !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Have just been searching web. Newcastles disease could be a culprit. It causes nasty poos as well as poor balance. Found out too that silkies are prone to vitamin e and selenium deficiency. It's really bad for them if you feed them too many treats and too much corn. I'm definitely taking this on board as I have 2 beautiful silkies. Sunflower seeds are top of the list for containing vitamin e,and selenium, mine already get them, so will continue. Good luck at the vets. Please let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Another name for this is seahorse syndrome. I've had a couple of silkies (youngsters mind) and found the vit e capsules are good I used to put a squeezed out blob on chopped up cucumber or grape (favourites). You should notice a difference in a couple of days. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Great tip daxigirl. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 The vitamin E thing sounds hopeful. Do let us know how she got on at the vets. I so hope you and she are alright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Sounds like Mareks to me, which means no hope sadly I've lost 2 hens (1 pure Silkie, 1 Silkie cross) to Mareks. Now my silkies are vaccinated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 So. ... The vet examined her and said she had inflammation in and around her vent and with the other symptoms he is confident that is egg peritonitis. He give her metacam and oxytetracycline. He seemed Pretty certain, he gave her a full examination and said that she was still really alert. I just hope that's what it is. I must admit the girls get lots of treats, they love sweetcorn and have split corn at bedtime. They have mealworms and sunflower seeds for treats. They won't eat cucumber or grapes for some reason, they are really fussy! Fingers crossed for the morning! To have the mareks vaccination do they need to be chicks? I only have one 20 week girl and the rest are ranging from 10 mths to 2 yrs. Thanks everyone x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) Oh I was keeping an eye on the post to see how she was. Bless her I hope she is ok and at least he has ruled out mareks so there is hope for your girl. Let us know how she is in the morning and I hope you get some sleep tonight x Ps I am sure the vaccine is given to chicks only Edited December 4, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Oh that's sounds more encouraging. Not sure about the vaccine, hopefully someone will be able to tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 Thanks to everyone for their much needed support. Claudia slept in a box next to my bed. We are now downstairs and I can see a difference in her. She's still wobbly but managing to preen herself without falling over. He poo's are a lot more solid and not as smelly. I gave her a syringe of water after her medicine but she's still not eating. Will keep you all updated x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 You could try giving her some Nutri Drops if she's not eating. They're very effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 Oh thanks for that, think I'll only be able to buy them online, so will get some ordered asap. She does have cider vinegar in the water I gave her. Could I use a multi vitamin? X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 Update is that she's now thankfully eating and drinking. I decided to let some of the others in to keep her company and she started to eat and drink almost straight away! House is gonna have poo everywhere, but I dont care as long as Claudia gets better! Thanks again everyone x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 In the house that's devotion for you. So glad she's eating and drinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I an so relived for you, hope I didn't scare you yesterday:( good job you act promptly and got her to the vets quick smart, that probably saved her life xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I'm so impressed debbiedoobs with the excellent care you are giving your little Silkie! It sounds as if she is pulling through but do please keep us updated. I am holding my breath For the Mareks vaccine, it is given as an actual injection so I would imagine could be given at any time but I'm sure your vet would be able to advise you. I think it may be that when they are past a certain age (e.g. 1 year) they are less susceptible but not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 Awe thanks guys, dint scare me, just helped me get to the direction I was already going in. I love my girls to bits, they are excellent company and there's always one willing to cheer me up with a lovely cuddle. My hubby thinks I'm mental! Can't help it though, they are so sweet. Claudia update is that she moaned at me until I gave in and put her back outside to bed with the others. Will bring her in again in the morning to check her over, probably with a friend or two! Had 6 of them in today, thank god for old towels! Will update tomos x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 Claudia update! She's out in the garden with the girls! She's still a little wobbly and doesn't have much in her crop but she's talking again and is happy bein with the others. Will continue with medication and hopefully by next week we'll be back to having a very noisy Claudia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
