Newbie having health issues with chooks

Karen_H · **Posted:** Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:51 pm

Hi All

I know this isn't the right spot for introductions (I'll head over there in a minute) so I'll just ask a couple of questions here first.

We have 2 Silkies (one hen and one rooster), 2 Australorps (both hens) and 2 Moderns (both hens). They all get along fine. We have had 2 moderns die (one was killed by our our other Silkie rooster who is no longer with us) and one we found dead in the hen house. One of our other Silkie hens also died suddenly about 4 weeks prior to the modern. They didn't show any obvious signs of illness. The big concern at the moment is our other two silkies - they were both badly attacked by the rooster we had. (All four silkies we got as young chicks together from the same breeder - everything was fine for about 6 months). Anyhow, the rooster we have left has a bad limp where he hardly weight bears at all. We have checked his leg out and can't see anything obviously wrong with it. He seems to be eating and drinking okay. The hen is the bigger worry - I'm actually surprised she has lived as long as she has after the attack - she was almost dead. She is starting to walk better although if she runs she overbalances badly and then can't get up. She sits down to eat and drink and occasionally just keeps shaking her head, including when she is eating. It's like her balance is completely out of wack. She also had the runs but that seems to be getting better. We have just extended the chook house to give them more room. more spots to nest (low down for the silkies) etc. I guess my question is, is there anything else we can do to make them more comfortable or to help them?

Thanks
Karen

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

Welcome Karen , Thats a tricky one because , even though though were attacked it may be an illness bought on with the stress , such as "mareks" It's hard to say without seeing them,
"Have they lost much weight" ?
one thing that might help is the "Rickets diet" it's been made a sticky at the type of the health and well being section we're on now , it has to help , Good luck Ian

Karen_H · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:47 pm

Thanks Ian. No, they don't seem to have lost much weight and I have watched them eat and drink, pretty much in the same way they always have. The Australorps seem to 'look after' them too.

I will give the Rickets diet a go!

Cheers
Karen :-D

greenaus · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:20 pm

Karen_H wrote:

I will give the Rickets diet a go!

Give some to your chooks some, too. It will do them good.

Karen_H · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:40 pm

Haa haa haa! :lol:

K.

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