Silkie with Neck Issue?

[thebdj]

Hi,

I have just acquired 3 white silkies which are somewhere between 10 and 12 weeks old. They all appear quite healthy and fine apart from the oddity of one of them.

It seems to hold it's head on the side quite a lot and look at everything out of just one eye. When it is not concentrating on me or one of the other ladies near it, it seems quite fine. It brings its head up fairly straight and pecks at food and scrabbles around, all normal chicken behaviour I would guess.

What worries me more is that if you put the keyword 'silkie' into youtube, the first thing you get is a silkie with a very similar neck problem (although much more serious) and some reading into this suggests some sort of Poultry Cholera.

Now am I just being over the top or is this a possibility? Is it also possible that the silkie is just still a little timid as I have only had her a couple of days? Also, if she does have something more serious, is it contagious and should I remove the other silkies?

I'm not desperately concerned at the moment but very curious.

Cheers
Justin

[happychicks]

Hi Justin

Sounds like a lot of Silkies I have come accross. I thinnk its a may be a case of TMI (Too Much Information) and would't worry for the time being unless she is not eating or displaying other characteristics. If you are worried have a blood test done. But IMO and it is just IMO she is just being a nervous Silky and displaying what I would consider to be normal behaviour. Obviously its just my opinion with all things health related and one has to be careful things are not overlooked. If you are seriously worried go to the Vets. I say that to cover myself. I personally would just keep an eye on her.

Kindest regards

Simon

[thebdj]

Great answer Simon. Not sure this was impatience on my behalf this time so much as beliving the scaremongering. The neck issue has now resolved itself and I really think this was an odd reaction to being a bit nervous. She has got better day by day and is now holding herself upright and eating and drinking properly.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but the silkies, particularly at this age, remind me of little ostriches. They have quite long necks in comparison to the rest of their body and I think they are just more prone to moving it about into different angles to look at things and sense things.

Anyway, cheers for the answer, spot on.

Justin

[happychicks]

Hi Justin

Glad to be of help.

Simon